Zephaniah 1:7

Stillness and meditation God's holiness

⁵ those who bow on the rooftops to worship the host of heaven, those who bow down and swear by the LORD but also swear by Milcom,

⁶ and those who turn back from following the LORD, neither seeking the LORD nor 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.

⁸ “On the Day of the LORD’s sacrifice I will punish the princes, the sons of the king, and all who are dressed in foreign apparel.

⁹ On that day I will punish all who leap over the threshold, who fill the house of their master with violence and deceit.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: 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.
KJV: Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests.
WEB: Be silent at the presence of the Lord GOD, for the day of the LORD is at hand. For the LORD has prepared a sacrifice. He has consecrated his guests.
ASV: Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord Jehovah; for the day of Jehovah is at hand: for Jehovah hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath consecrated his guests.
DARBY: Be silent at the presence of the Lord Jehovah; for the day of Jehovah is at hand; for Jehovah hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath hallowed his guests.
BLB: Be silent before the face of the Lord YHWH, for the day of YHWH [is] near, for YHWH has prepared a sacrifice; He has consecrated those called by Him.

ÅB: Vær stille for Herren, Israels Gud! For Herrens dag er nær; Herren har stelt til en offerslaktning, han har innvidd sine gjester.
OTB: Vær stille for Herren Gud,
for Herrens dag er nær.
Herren har forberedt et offer;
han har helliget sine gjester.
B1930: Vær stille for Herren, Israels Gud! For Herrens dag er nær; Herren har stelt til en offerslaktning, han har innvidd sine gjester.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Habakkuk 2:20
But the LORD is in His holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him.
Read in context
Zechariah 2:13
Be silent before the LORD, all people, for He has roused Himself from His holy dwelling.”
Read in context
Zephaniah 1:14
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.
Read in context
Isaiah 34:6
The sword of the LORD is bathed in blood. It drips with fat— with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams. For the LORD has a sacrifice in Bozrah, a great slaughter in the land of Edom.
Read in context
Jeremiah 46:10
For that day belongs to the Lord GOD of Hosts, a day of vengeance against His foes. The sword will devour until it is satisfied, until it is quenched with their blood. For the Lord GOD of Hosts will hold a sacrifice in the land of the north by the River Euphrates.
Read in context
Isaiah 13:6
Wail, for the Day of the LORD is near; it will come as destruction from the Almighty.
Read in context
Matthew 22:4
Again, he sent other servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner. My oxen and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’
Read in context
Joel 2:31
The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD.
Read in context