THE DAY OF THE LORD IS NEAR

Zephaniah 1:7-13

7 Be silent before the Sovereign Lord,

FOR THE DAY OF THE LORD IS NEAR

THE LORD HAS PREPARED A SACRIFICE

The Lord has prepared a sacrifice

(Of all those who have rejected His Christ);

He has consecrated those he has invited.

8 ON THE DAY OF THE LORD'S SACRIFICE

I will punish the princes and the king's sons

And all those clad in foreign clothes.

9 ON THAT DAY

I will punish all who avoid stepping

On the threshold (the superstitious),

Who fill the temple of their gods

WITH VIOLENCE AND DECEIT.

10 ON THAT DAY,'

Declares the Lord,

'A cry will go up from the Fish Gate,

Wailing from the New Quarter,

And a Loud Crash from the hills.

11 Wail, you who live in the market district;

All your merchants will be wiped out,

All who trade with silver will be ruined.

12 AT THAT TIME

I will search Jerusalem

(And all the nations in The Time Of The END)

With lamps and Punish those who are Complacent,

Who are like wine left on its dregs,

Who think,

'The Lord will do nothing either good or bad.'

13 Their wealth will be plundered,

Their houses demolished.

They will build houses but not live in them;

They will plant vineyards but not drink the wine.

(Zephaniah 1:7-13)

[Here, Zephaniah is speaking,

Not only of his time,

But of The Time Of The End.

Today, in this Last Day of Time,

It is nearer than ever before.]