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Zephaniah

Warns of coming judgment but promises joy for those who seek God.

Chapter 2

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1 Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired;

*Come together, all of you, even you, the unwanted nation.

2 Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD’s anger come upon you.

*Before the command happens, before the day is gone like dandelion seeds, before God's intense wrath reaches you, before the day of God's furious displeasure reaches you.

3 Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’s anger.

*Look for God, all you gentle people on Earth who have done what is right; search for fairness and humility. This might help protect you when God is angry.

4 For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up.

*Gaza will be abandoned, and Ashkelon will become empty. At midday, they will remove Ashdod, and Ekron will be completely removed.

5 Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the LORD is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant.

*Oh no, people living near the sea! The people called Cherethites! God has spoken against you. Canaan, where the Philistines live, will be destroyed. No one will live there anymore.

6 And the sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks.

*The seashore will have homes and small houses for shepherds, and areas for their sheep to rest.

7 And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: for the LORD their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity.

*The shore will belong to the remaining people from the family of Judah; they will find food there. In the city of Ashkelon, they can rest at night. The Lord will watch over them and free them from being held captive.

8 I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border.

*I heard Moab and Ammon's kids mocking my people, boasting about themselves while putting down us at our border.

9 Therefore as I live, saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them.

*Therefore, I swear that as I live, God of Israel will make Moab like Sodom and the children of Ammon like Gomorrah - places destroyed long ago. They will become like nettles and salt pits, always uninhabitable. The remaining people will ruin Moab and the children of Ammon, and the rest of my people will take over their land.

10 This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the LORD of hosts.

*For their pride, they will receive this, since they have insulted and boasted about themselves against God's people.

11 The LORD will be terrible unto them: for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the heathen.

*God will be powerful against those who worship other gods. He will make those gods weak. Then, people everywhere, including those in faraway lands, will worship God alone.

12 Ye Ethiopians also, ye shall be slain by my sword.

*Ethiopians, too, will be killed by my sword.

13 And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria; and will make Nineveh a desolation, and dry like a wilderness.

*He will reach out his hand to the north and destroy Assyria. He will turn Nineveh into a wasteland, as dry as a desert.

14 And flocks shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both the cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the upper lintels of it; their voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in the thresholds: for he shall uncover the cedar work.

*In the center, many animals from different countries will rest. Cormorants and bitterns will live in the top parts of the buildings, singing loudly through the windows. The place will feel empty, and the beautiful wooden decorations will be exposed.

15 This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand.

*This city celebrated without worry, thinking she was alone and had no equal. Now, she's abandoned and a home for animals. Anyone who passes by will scoff and wave at her.

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* work in progress, there will be mistakes