This is the word of the LORD that came to Zephaniah son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah:

“I will completely sweep awayeverything from the face of the earth,”declares the LORD.

“I will sweep away man and beast;I will sweep away the birds of the air,and the fish of the sea,and the idols with their wicked worshipers. iI will cut off mankindfrom the face of the earth,”declares the LORD.

“I will stretch out My hand against Judahand against all who dwell in Jerusalem.I will cut off from this place every remnant of Baal,the names of the idolatrous and pagan priests—

those who bow on the rooftopsto worship the host of heaven,those who bow down and swear by the LORDbut also swear by Milcom,

and those who turn backfrom following the LORD,neither seeking the LORDnor inquiring of Him.”

Be silent in the presence of the Lord GOD,for the Day of the LORD is near.Indeed, the LORD has prepared a sacrifice;He has consecrated His guests.

“On the Day of the LORD’s sacrificeI will punish the princes,the sons of the king,and all who are dressed in foreign apparel.

On that day I will punishall who leap over the threshold, iwho fill the house of their master iiwith violence and deceit.

On that day,” declares the LORD,“a cry will go up from the Fish Gate,a wail from the Second District, iand a loud crashing from the hills.

Wail, O dwellers of the Hollow, ifor all your merchants iiwill be silenced; all who weigh out silver will be cut off.

And at that time I will search Jerusalem with lampsand punish the men settled in complacency, iwho say to themselves,‘The LORD will do nothing, either good or bad.’

Their wealth will be plunderedand their houses laid waste.They will build houses but not inhabit them,and plant vineyards but never drink their wine.

The great Day of the LORD is near—near and coming quickly.Listen, the Day of the LORD!Then the cry of the mighty will be bitter.

That day will bea day of wrath,a day of trouble and distress,a day of destruction and desolation,a day of darkness and gloom,a day of clouds and blackness,

a day of horn blast and battle cryagainst the fortified cities, and against the high corner towers.

I will bring such distress on mankindthat they will walk like the blind, because they have sinned against the LORD.Their blood will be poured out like dustand their flesh like dung.

Neither their silver nor their goldwill be able to deliver them on the Day of the LORD’s wrath.The whole earth will be consumedby the fire of His jealousy.” For indeed, He will make a sudden endof all who dwell on the earth.