Zephaniah 3

Woe to the provoking, and redeemed city^a, the dove^b.

a by the blood of Christ. b The city is called the “dove” because she has been given the Holy Spirit who is described as a dove in Matthew 3:16.

² She hath not hearkened to the voice^c, neither hath she received discipline: she hath not trusted in the Lord, she drew not near to her God.

c the voice of Jesus.

³ Her princes are in the midst of her as roaring lions: her judges are evening wolves, they left nothing for the morning. ⁴ Her prophets^d are senseless men without faith: her priests have polluted the sanctuary^e, they have acted unjustly against the law^f.

d unfaithful New Covenant teachers. e the churches. f the teachings of Christ.

⁵ The just Lord is in the midst thereof, he will not do iniquity: in the morning, in the morning he will bring his judgment to light, and it shall not be hid: but the wicked man hath not known shame.

⁶ I have destroyed the nations, and their towers are beaten down: I have made their ways desert, so that there is none that passeth by: their cities are desolate, there is not a man remaining, nor any inhabitant.

⁷ I said: Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive correction: and her dwelling shall not perish, for all things wherein I have visited her: but they rose early and corrupted all their thoughts.

⁸ 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.

⁹ Because then I will restore to the people a chosen lip, that all may call upon the name of the Lord, and may serve him with one shoulder.

¹⁰ From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia, shall my suppliants the children of my dispersed people bring me an offering.

¹¹ In that day thou shalt not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee thy proud boasters, and thou shalt no more be lifted up because of my holy mountain.

¹² And I will leave in the midst of thee a poor and needy people: and they shall hope in the name of the Lord.

¹³ The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies, nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed, and shall lie down, and there shall be none to make them afraid.

¹⁴ Give praise, O daughter of Sion^g: shout, O Israel: be glad, and rejoice with all thy heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.

g the church.

¹⁵ The Lord hath taken away thy judgment^h, he hath turned away thy enemiesⁱ: the king of Israel the Lord is in the midst of thee, thou shalt fear evil no more.

h through the blood of Christ. i sin, Satan and this world.

¹⁶ In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Fear not: to Sion: Let not thy hands be weakened.

¹⁷ The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty, he will save: he will rejoice over thee with gladness, he will be silent in his love, he will be joyful over thee in praise.

¹⁸ The triflers that were departed from the law, I will gather together, because they were of thee: that thou mayest no more suffer reproach for them.

¹⁹ Behold I will cut off all that have afflicted thee at that time: and I will save her that halteth, and will gather her that was cast out: and I will get them praise, and a name, in all the land where they had been put to confusion.

²⁰ At that time, when I will bring you: and at the time that I will gather you: for I will give you a name, and praise among all the people of the earth, when I shall have brought back your captivity before your eyes, saith the Lord.

3:1-4 LIT: Jerusalem is referred to as the redeemed city because God redeemed her people from the land of Egypt. Her inhabitants and prophets are rebuked for being faithless and corrupt. ALL: The church is called the “redeemed city” because she has been purchased with the blood of Christ. She is called “the dove” because she has been sanctified with the Holy Spirit. However, she is rebuked because she has some in her midst who do not hearken to the voice of God and some of her teachers and priests have polluted her churches by immoral lifestyles and teachings contrary to the deposit of faith. ANA: Though many in the earthly Jerusalem were disobedient to God and did not draw near to her God, all of the inhabitants of the Heavenly Jerusalem will be filled with the Holy Spirit and eternally united to her God.

3:5-7 LIT: God continues to show mercy to the nations yet they continue to reject Him. Therefore, the Lord will not suffer their iniquity forever but will come to render judgment if they do not repent. ALL: The mercy of God towards the Church is longsuffering but for those who persist to live in sin, God will not be merciful forever but will judge those in the Church that do not turn to Him in repentance.

3:10 LIT: The descendants of God’s people scattered among the nations are prophesied to bring the Lord an offering. ALL: The Church is the scattered people among the nations which brings the Lord an offering, this being the pure offering of the Eucharist (Malachi 1:11).

3:11 LIT: On the day God judges the nations, shame will come upon those who practice iniquity. ALL: Shame will come upon those in the Church who continue to transgress God’s commandments.

3:12-13 LIT: It is prophesied some will remain faithful to God in the midst of the nations who practice iniquity. ALL: God promises to preserve a people in the Church Militant who will remain faithful and keep His commandments.

3:14-15 LIT: The faithful are called upon to rejoice since God will spare them of their enemies and His judgment. ALL: The Church is called to praise God for He, in the flesh, has taken away our judgment through the redemption we have in His blood. The Church no longer has to fear her enemies: sin, Satan and this world, since God has cleansed her of her guilt. If God is for her, who can be against her? ANA: The Church Triumphant will rejoice for all eternity since her iniquities have been taken away permanently.

3:16-17 LIT: The Lord will delight in His people and in their salvation from their enemies. ALL: God will rejoice in His Bride, the Church, because of what He has done for her. ANA: The union between God and His Bride will be an everlasting union of love and one in which the Lord delights.