But the Lord says:\par “Bad people stole from the poor people.\par They took things from helpless people.\par But now I will stand and defend those weary (tired) people.”\par
Zephaniah 3:8 - Easy To Read Version The Lord said, “So just wait! Wait for me to stand and judge you. I have the right to bring people from many nations and use them to punish you. I will use those people to show my anger against you. I will use them to show how upset I am—and the whole country will be destroyed! Tuilleadh leaganachaKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 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. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition Therefore [earnestly] wait for Me, says the Lord, [waiting] for the day when I rise up to the attack [as a witness, accuser, or judge, and a testimony]. For My decision and determination and right it is to gather the nations together, to assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them My indignation, even all [the heat of] My fierce anger; for [in that day] all the earth shall be consumed with the fire of My zeal and jealousy. American Standard Version (1901) Therefore wait ye for me, saith Jehovah, 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. Common English Bible Therefore, wait for me, says the LORD, wait for the day when I rise up as a witness, when I decide to gather nations, to collect kingdoms, to pour out my indignation upon them, all the heat of my anger. In the fire of my jealousy, all the earth will be devoured. Catholic Public Domain Version Because of this, expect me, says the Lord, in the day of my resurrection in the future, for my judgment is to gather together the Gentiles, and to collect the kingdoms, and to pour out over them my indignation, all the fury of my anger. For by the fire of my zeal, all the earth will be devoured. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version Wherefore expect me, saith the Lord, in the day of my resurrection that is to come, for my judgment is to assemble the Gentiles, and to gather the kingdoms: and to pour upon them my indignation, all my fierce anger: for with the fire of my jealousy shall all the earth be devoured. |
But the Lord says:\par “Bad people stole from the poor people.\par They took things from helpless people.\par But now I will stand and defend those weary (tired) people.”\par
Wait for the Lord’s help!\par Be strong and brave,\par and wait for the Lord’s help!\par
Do what the Lord says\par and wait for his help.\par The Lord will make you the winner,\par and you will get the land \{God promised\},\par when he forces the bad people to leave.\par
Trust the Lord and wait for his help.\par Don’t be upset\par when bad people succeed.\par Don’t be upset\par when bad people make evil plans\par and their plans succeed.\par
\{No matter what happens,\}\par my soul waits patiently\par for God \{to save me\}.\par My salvation comes only from him. {\cf2\super [364]} \par
My soul, wait patiently for God \{to save me\}!\par God is my only hope.\par
God, will you be angry at us forever?\par Will your strong feelings {\cf2\super [455]} \par continue to burn like a fire?\par
God, turn your anger against the nations that don’t know you.\par Turn your anger against nations\par that don’t worship your name.\par
If someone does something against you, don’t try to punish him yourself. Wait for the Lord! In the end, he will make you the winner.
That is the thing I plan to do for my people. And I will use my arm (power) to punish all nations.”
The Lord wants to show his mercy to you. The Lord is waiting. The Lord wants to rise and comfort you. The Lord God is fair, and every person that waits for the Lord’s help will be blessed (happy).
The Lord is angry at all the nations and their armies. The Lord will destroy them all. He will cause them all to be killed.
While I was angry, I walked on people.\par I punished them while I was mad.\par I poured their blood {\cf2\super [461]} on the ground.”\par
If you are angry, then punish the other nations.\par They don’t know or respect you.\par Those people don’t worship you.\par Those nations destroyed Jacob’s family.\par They destroyed Israel completely.\par They destroyed Israel’s homeland.\par
So come back to your God. Be loyal to him. Do the right thing! Always trust your God!
I will also gather all the nations together. I will bring all these nations down into Jehoshaphat Valley. {\cf2\super [24]} There I will judge them. Those nations scattered my people, Israel. They forced them to live in other nations. So I will punish those nations. Those nations divided up my land.
So I will look to the Lord \{for help\}!\par I will wait for God to save me.\par My God will hear me.\par
This message is about a special time in the future. This message is about the end, and it will come true! \{It may seem like that time will never come.\} But be patient and wait for it. That time will come. It will not be late.
Their gold and silver won’t help them! At that time, the Lord will become very upset and angry. The Lord will destroy the whole world! {\cf2\super [8]} The Lord will completely destroy everyone on earth! {\cf2\super [9]} ”
And I will overthrow many kings and kingdoms. I will destroy the power of the kingdoms of those other people. I will destroy their chariots {\cf2\super [12]} and their riders. I will defeat their war horses and riders. Those armies are friends now, but they will turn against each other and kill each other with swords.
All the people of the world will be gathered before the Son of Man. Then the Son of Man will separate all people into two groups. This is like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
But the Day when the Lord comes again will be a surprise like a thief. The sky will disappear with a loud noise. All the things in the sky will be destroyed with fire. And the earth and everything in it will be burned. {\cf2\super [13]}
Then I heard a loud voice from the temple. {\cf2\super [116]} The voice said to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the seven bowls of God’s anger on the earth.”
These evil spirits are the spirits of demons. {\cf2\super [122]} They \{have power to\} do miracles. {\cf2\super [123]} These evil spirits go out to the rulers of the whole world. They go out to gather the rulers for battle on the great day of God the All-Powerful.