﻿Zephaniah.
Chapter 2.
Gather yourselves, yes, gather, you shameless nation, 
before the decree gives birth—the day passes like chaff—before the fierce anger of the LORD comes upon you, before the day of the LORD’s anger comes upon you. 
Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land who carry out his judgments. Seek righteousness; seek humility. Perhaps you will be hidden on the day of the LORD’s anger. 
For Gaza will be abandoned and Ashkelon a desolation. Ashdod will be driven out at noon, and Ekron will be uprooted. 
Woe to the inhabitants of the seacoast, the nation of the Cherethites! The word of the LORD is against you, Canaan, land of the Philistines: “I will destroy you until no inhabitant remains.” 
The seacoast will become pastures, shelters for shepherds, and folds for sheep. 
The coast will belong to the remnant of the house of Judah. They will graze there and lie down in the houses of Ashkelon in the evening, for the LORD their God will attend to them and restore their fortunes. 
“I have heard the taunts of Moab and the insults of the Ammonites, with which they taunted my people and boasted against their territory. 
Therefore, as I live,” declares the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “Moab will be like Sodom, and the Ammonites like Gomorrah—a place of nettles and salt pits, a desolation forever. The remnant of my people will plunder them, and the survivors of my nation will possess them.” 
This will be their lot for their pride, because they taunted the people of the LORD of hosts and boasted against them. 
The LORD will be dreadful to them, for he will starve all the gods of the earth. All the coastlands of the nations will bow down to him, each from his own place. 
“You too, Cushites—they are slain by my sword.” 
He will stretch out his hand against the north and destroy Assyria. He will make Nineveh a desolation, dry as the wilderness. 
Herds will lie down in her midst, animals of every kind. Both the pelican and the porcupine will lodge on her capitals. A voice will sing in the window; desolation will be on the threshold, for he has laid bare her cedarwork. 
This is the exultant city that lived securely, that said in her heart, “I am, and there is none besides me.” How she has become a desolation, a resting place for wild animals! Everyone who passes by her hisses and waves his hand. 
