Zephaniah 3:7

Repentance Fear

⁵ The just LORD is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame.

⁶ I have cut off the nations: their towers are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is none inhabitant.

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.

⁸ Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.

⁹ For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent.

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: therefore he will remember their iniquity, he will visit their sins.
Read in context
Jeremiah 36:3
It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpose to do unto them; that they may return every man from his evil way; that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.
Read in context
Zephaniah 3:2
She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her God.
Read in context
Micah 2:1–2
Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand.
Read in context
Jeremiah 7:7
Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever.
Read in context
Jeremiah 25:5
They said, Turn ye again now every one from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that the LORD hath given unto you and to your fathers for ever and ever:
Read in context
Jeremiah 38:17
Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; If thou wilt assuredly go forth unto the king of Babylon’s princes, then thy soul shall live, and this city shall not be burned with fire; and thou shalt live, and thine house:
Read in context
Isaiah 5:4
What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?
Read in context