Zephaniah 3

A woe to Jerusalem for her sins. A prophecy of the conversion of the Gentiles, and of the poor of Israel: God shall be with them. The Jews shall be converted at last.

1Woe to the provocatrix and the redeemed city, the dove. ▼
▼3:1The word ‘provocatrix’ refers to a female who provokes or instigates trouble. The term as used in this verse does not merely refer to the city (the word for which happens to be feminine in Latin). Rather, it refers to a particular woman who provokes trouble for the people of God. The provocatrix and the city that thinks itself to be redeemed are two separate, but related things. The provocatrix is the false prophet who assists the Antichrist (Assur). The city is a city that thinks itself redeemed by being favored by the false prophet. The name of the city is a name that means ‘dove.’ Perhaps this word should be capitalized.(Conte)
 2She has not heeded the voice, nor has she accepted discipline. She has not trusted in the Lord; she did not draw near to her God. ▼
▼3:2The pronoun ‘she’ in this verse refers both to the provocatrix and to the city.(Conte)
 3Her leaders are in her midst like roaring lions. Her judges are evening wolves; they leave nothing for the morning. 4Her prophets are crazed; men without faith. Her priests have polluted what is holy; they have acted unjustly against the law. ▼
▼3:4The word ‘vesani’ refers to insane behavior and/or to wild or furious behavior. The translation ‘crazed’ captures both of these meanings.(Conte)
 5The just Lord is in their midst; he will not do iniquity. In the morning, in the morning, he will bring his judgment into the light, and it will not be hidden. But the impious one has not known shame. ▼
▼3:5Or, ‘early in the morning,’ with the repetition indicating intensity.(Conte)
 6I have dispersed the nations, and their towers have been torn down. I have made their ways deserts, until there were none who passed through. Their cities have become desolate, with no man remaining, nor any inhabitant. 7I said: Nevertheless, you will fear me; you will accept discipline. And her dwelling place will not perish, despite all the things about which I have visited her. Yet truly, they arose with the dawn and corrupted all their thoughts.

8Because of this, expect me, says the Lord, in the day of my resurrection in the future, for my judgment is to gather together the Gentiles, and to collect the kingdoms, and to pour out over them my indignation, all the fury of my anger. For by the fire of my zeal, all the earth will be devoured. 9For then I will restore to the people a chosen lip, so that all may invoke the name of the Lord and may serve him with one shoulder. 10From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia, my supplicants, the sons of my diaspora, will carry a gift to me. ▼
▼3:10The word ‘dispersorum’ refers to a Christian diaspora, when the Christian people of God will become scattered because the world will reject Christianity.(Conte)
 11In that day, you will not be ashamed over all of your inventions, by which you have transgressed against me. For then I will take away from your midst your arrogant boasters, and you will no longer be exalted on my holy mountain. 12And I will bequeath into your midst a poor and needy people, and they will hope in the name of the Lord. 13The remnant of Israel will not do iniquity, nor speak lies, and a deceitful tongue will not be found in their mouth. For they will pasture and will recline, and there will be no one to strike them with terror. ▼
▼3:13The translation, ‘there will be no one to make them afraid,’ is also possible, but seems more mild than the meaning of the Latin.(Conte)

14Give praise, daughter of Zion. Shout joyfully, Israel. Rejoice and exult with all your heart, daughter of Jerusalem. 15The Lord has taken away your judgment; he has turned aside your foes. The king of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall no longer fear evil. 16In that day, it will be said to Jerusalem, “Do not be afraid,” and to Zion, “Do not let your hands be weakened.” 17The Lord your God is the strength in your midst; he will save. He will rejoice over you with gladness. In his love, he will be silent. He will exult over you with praise. 18The triflers who withdrew from the law, I will gather together, because they were from you, so that you may no longer suffer disgrace over them. ▼
▼3:18The triflers are those who complain about every little problem in the Church, and who have many small complaints about the teaching of the Church. They draw away from the teaching of the Church and the moral law.(Conte)
 19Behold, I will execute all who have afflicted you in that time, and I will save those who are lame, and I will gather together her who had been cast out. And I will place them in praise and in renown, in all the land where they had been put to shame, ▼
▼3:19The phrase ‘her who had been cast out’ refers to those women who will have left the Church or been cast out of the Church. Many of these return, in humility and repentance. Those who are lame are not so much the physically lame, but those who are spiritually lame, having many spiritual faults and sins.(Conte)
 20in that time, when I will lead to you, and in the time when I will gather for you. For I will deliver you into renown and into praise, among all the peoples of the earth, when I will have converted your captivity before your very eyes, says the Lord.

The Prophecy of Zephaniah
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