Zephaniah 3:7

Repentance Fear

⁵ The LORD within her is righteous; He does no wrong. He applies His justice morning by morning; He does not fail at dawn, yet the unjust know no shame.

⁶ “I have cut off the nations; their corner towers are destroyed. I have made their streets deserted with no one to pass through. Their cities are laid waste, with no man, no inhabitant.

I said, ‘Surely you will fear Me and accept correction.’ Then her dwelling place would not be cut off despite all for which I punished her. But they rose early to corrupt all their deeds.

⁸ Therefore wait for Me,” declares the LORD, “until the day I rise to testify. For My decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them My indignation— all My burning anger. For all the earth will be consumed by the fire of My jealousy.

⁹ For then I will restore pure lips to the peoples, that all may call upon the name of the LORD and serve Him shoulder to shoulder.

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: I said, ‘Surely you will fear Me and accept correction.’ Then her dwelling place would not be cut off despite all for which I punished her. But they rose early to corrupt all their deeds.
KJV: I said, Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them: but they rose early, and corrupted all their doings.
WEB: I said, “Just fear me. Receive correction,” so that her dwelling won’t be cut off, according to all that I have appointed concerning her. But they rose early and corrupted all their doings.
ASV: I said, Only fear thou me; receive correction; so her dwelling shall not be cut off, [according to] all that I have appointed concerning her: but they rose early and corrupted all their doings.
DARBY: I said, Only fear me, receive correction; so her dwelling shall not be cut off, howsoever I may punish her. But they rose early, they corrupted all their doings.
BLB: I said, ‘Surely you will fear Me; you will receive discipline.’ Then her dwelling would not be cut off, by all that I have visited upon her. Nevertheless, they rose early to corrupt all their deeds.

ÅB: Jeg sa: Bare du[^1] vil frykte meg, ta mot tukt; da skal din bolig ikke bli utryddet, ikke noe skje av det jeg har besluttet mot deg. Men de har tvert imot lagt vinn på å forderve alle sine gjerninger.
OTB: Jeg sa, ‘Du vil sikkert frykte Meg,
Du vil ta imot tilrettevisning.’
Så hennes bolig ikke vil bli ødelagt
I samsvar med alt Jeg har bestemt for henne.
I stedet var de ivrige etter å forderve alle sine gjerninger.
B1930: Jeg sa: Bare du vil frykte mig, ta mot tukt; da skal din bolig ikke bli utryddet, ikke noget skje av det jeg har besluttet mot dig. Men de har tvert imot lagt vinn på å forderve alle sine gjerninger. / < Jerusalem; SEF 3, 1 fg.>

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Hosea 9:9
They have deeply corrupted themselves as in the days of Gibeah; He will remember their guilt; He will punish their sins.
Read in context
Jeremiah 36:3
Perhaps when the people of Judah hear about all the calamity I plan to bring upon them, each of them will turn from his wicked way. Then I will forgive their iniquity and their sin.”
Read in context
Zephaniah 3:2
She heeded no voice; she accepted no correction. She does not trust in the LORD; she has not drawn near to her God.
Read in context
Micah 2:1–2
Woe to those who devise iniquity and plot evil on their beds! At morning’s light they accomplish it because the power is in their hands.
Read in context
Jeremiah 7:7
then I will let you live in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever.
Read in context
Jeremiah 25:5
The prophets told you, ‘Turn now, each of you, from your evil ways and deeds, and you can dwell in the land that the LORD has given to you and your fathers forever and ever.
Read in context
Jeremiah 38:17
Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “This is what the LORD God of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘If you indeed surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, then you will live, this city will not be burned down, and you and your household will survive.
Read in context
Isaiah 5:4
What more could I have done for My vineyard than I already did for it? Why, when I expected sweet grapes, did it bring forth sour fruit?
Read in context