Dual Panel1I am Zephaniah, the son of Cushi, the grandson of Gedaliah, the great-grandson of Amariah, and the great-great-grandson of Hezekiah. When Josiah son of Amon was king of Judah, the LORD gave me this message.
2I, the LORD, now promise to destroy everything on this earth--
3people and animals, birds and fish. Everyone who is evil will crash to the ground, and I will wipe out the entire human race.
4I will reach out to punish Judah and Jerusalem-- nothing will remain of the god Baal; nothing will be remembered of his pagan priests.
5Not a trace will be found of those who worship stars from their rooftops, or bow down to the god Milcom, while claiming loyalty to me, the LORD.
6Nothing will remain of anyone who has turned away and rejected me.
7Be silent! I am the LORD God, and the time is near. I am preparing to sacrifice my people and to invite my guests.
8On that day I will punish national leaders and sons of the king, along with all who follow foreign customs.
9I will punish worshipers of pagan gods and cruel palace officials who abuse their power.
10I, the LORD, promise that on that day noisy crying will be heard from Fish Gate, New Town, and Upper Hills.
11Everyone in Lower Hollow will mourn loudly, because merchants and money changers will be wiped out.
12I'll search Jerusalem with lamps and punish those people who sit there unworried while thinking, "The LORD won't do anything, good or bad."
13Their possessions will be taken, their homes left in ruins. They won't get to live in the houses they build, or drink wine from the grapes in their own vineyards.
14The great day of the LORD is coming soon, very soon. On that terrible day, fearsome shouts of warriors will be heard everywhere.
15It will be a time of anger-- of trouble and torment, of disaster and destruction, of darkness and despair, of storm clouds and shadows,
16of trumpet calls and battle cries against fortified cities and mighty fortresses.
17The LORD warns everyone who has sinned against him, "I'll strike you blind! Then your blood and your insides will gush out like vomit.
18Not even your silver or gold can save you on that day when I, the LORD, am angry. My anger will flare up like a furious fire scorching the earth and everyone on it."