Zephaniah 3:4Easy To Read VersionHer prophets {\cf2\super [20]} are always making their secret plans to get more and more. Her priests have treated holy things like they are not holy. They have done bad things to God’s teachings. See the chapter |
I am against the false prophets that preach fake dreams.” This message is from the Lord. “They mislead my people with their lies and false teachings. I did not send those prophets to teach the people. I never commanded them to do anything for me. They can’t help the people of Judah at all.” This message is from the Lord.
So I will give their wives to other men.\par I will give their fields to new owners.\par All the people of Israel want\par more and more money.\par All the people,\par from the least important\par to most important people,\par are like that.\par All the people,\par from prophets to priests,\par tell lies.\par
“The priests have really hurt my teachings. They don’t treat my holy things right—they don’t show they are important. They treat holy things just like things that are not holy. They treat clean {\cf2\super [177]} things just like things that are unclean. They don’t teach the people about these things. They refuse to respect my special days of rest. They treat me like I am not important.
The prophet says, “Israel, learn these things: The time of punishment has come. The time has come for you to pay \{for the evil things you did\}.” But the people of Israel say, “The prophet is a fool. This man with \{God’s\} Spirit is crazy.” The prophet says, “You will be punished for your bad sins. You will be punished for your hate.”
The judges in Jerusalem accept bribes\par to help them decide who wins in court.\par The priests in Jerusalem must be paid\par before they will teach the people.\par People must pay the prophets\par before they will look into the future.\par And then those leaders expect the Lord\par to help them. They say,\par “The Lord lives here with us.\par So nothing bad will happen to us.”\par
But the animal was captured. Also the false prophet {\cf2\super [149]} was captured. This false prophet was the one who did the miracles {\cf2\super [150]} for the animal. The false prophet had used these miracles to trick the people who had the mark of the animal and worshiped his idol. {\cf2\super [151]} The false prophet and the animal were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.