Zephaniah 3:18

New International Reader's Version

The Lord says to his people, “You used to celebrate my appointed feasts in Jerusalem. You are sad because you can’t do that anymore. Other people make fun of you because of that. That sadness was a heavy load for you to carry. But I will remove that load from you.

Cross References

Psalm 43:3

Send me your light and your faithful care. Let them lead me. Let them bring me back to your holy mountain, to the place where you live.

Psalm 79:4

We are something our neighbors joke about. The nations around us laugh at us and make fun of us.

Jeremiah 23:3

“I myself will gather together those who are left alive in my flock. I will gather them out of all the countries where I have driven them. And I will bring them back to their own land. There my sheep will have many lambs. There will be many more of them.

Lamentations 1:4

The roads to Zion are empty. No one travels to her appointed feasts. All the public places near her gates are deserted. Her priests groan. Her young women are sad. And Zion herself weeps bitterly.

Lamentations 1:7

Jerusalem’s people are suffering and wandering. They remember all the treasures they used to have. But they fell into the hands of their enemies. And no one was there to help them. Their enemies looked at them. They laughed because Jerusalem had been destroyed.

Ezekiel 34:13

I will bring them out from among the nations. I will gather them together from other countries. I will bring them into their own land. There they will eat grass on the mountains and in the valleys. And they will eat in all the fields of Israel.

Ezekiel 36:24

“ ‘ “I will take you out of the nations. I will gather you together from all the countries. I will bring you back into your own land.

Ezekiel 9:4

The Lord said to him, “Go all through Jerusalem. Look for those who are sad and sorry about all the things being done there. I hate those things. Put a mark on the foreheads of those people.”

Hosea 1:11

The people of Judah and Israel will come together again. They will appoint one leader and come up out of the land. And Jezreel’s day will be great.

Hosea 9:5

What will you do when your appointed feasts come? What will you do on the Lord’s special days?

Zephaniah 3:20

At that time I will gather you together. And I will bring you home. I will give you honor and praise among all the nations on earth. I will bless you with great success again,” says the Lord.