Zephaniah 2

1Gather yourselves and gather together, you nation not desired.

2Before the decree gives birth, before the day passes like chaff, before Yahweh's burning anger comes upon you, before the day of Yahweh's anger comes upon you.

3Seek Yahweh, all you humble of the land who have practiced his justice; seek righteousness, seek humility—perhaps you will be hidden in the day of Yahweh's anger.

4For Gaza will be deserted, and Ashkelon a wasteland; at noon they will drive Ashdod out, and Ekron will be uprooted.

5Woe to the seacoast dwellers, Cherethite nation! Yahweh's word is against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines—I will destroy you until no inhabitant remains.

6The seacoast will become pastures, cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks.

7The coast will belong to the remnant of the house of Judah, and they will pasture upon it; in the houses of Ashkelon they will lie down in the evening, for Yahweh their God will visit them and return their captivity.

8I have heard Moab's taunts and the scorn of Ammon's sons, with which they defied my people and boasted against their borders.

9Therefore, as I live, declares Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel, Moab will surely become like Sodom, and the sons of Ammon like Gomorrah—a haunt for nettles, salt pits, and endless desolation. The remnant of my people will plunder them, and the survivors of my nation will inherit them.

10This they deserve for their arrogance, because they taunted and exalted themselves against the people of Yahweh of hosts.

11Yahweh will strike dread into them, for he will famish all the gods of the earth, and everyone will bow before him, each from his own place—all the islands of the nations.

12Even you Cushites will be slain by my sword.

13He will extend his hand against the north, destroy Assyria, and make Nineveh a desolation, dry like the wilderness.

14Flocks will lie down in her midst, all the beasts of the nations; both the cormorant and the bittern will lodge in her capitals, their voice singing in the windows, desolation in the threshold, because he has stripped the cedar beams bare.

15This is the exultant city that dwells secure, saying in her heart, "I am, and there is none besides me still." How has she become a desolation, a couching place for beasts! Everyone passing over her will hiss and shake his hand.