6 “I have cut off nations, Their fortresses are devastated; I have made their streets desolate, With none passing by. Their cities are destroyed; Thereis no one, no inhabitant.
7aI said, ‘Surely you will fear Me, You will receive instruction’— So that her dwelling would not be cut off, Despite everything for which I punished her. But1 they rose early and bcorrupted all their deeds.
A Faithful Remnant
8 “Therefore await for Me,” says the Lord, “Until the day I rise up1 for plunder; My determination is to bgather the nations To My assembly of kingdoms, To pour on them My indignation, All My fierce anger; All the earth cshall be devoured With the fire of My jealousy.
9 “For then I will restore to the peoples aa pure language, That they all may call on the name of the Lord, To serve Him with one accord.
10aFrom beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My worshipers, The daughter of My dispersed ones, Shall bring My offering.
11 In that day you shall not be shamed for any of your deeds In which you transgress against Me; For then I will take away from your midst Those who arejoice in your pride, And you shall no longer be haughty In My holy mountain.
12 I will leave in your midst aA meek and humble people, And they shall trust in the name of the Lord.
13aThe remnant of Israel bshall do no unrighteousness cAnd speak no lies, Nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth; For dthey shall feed their flocks and lie down, And no one shall make them afraid.”
Joy in God’s Faithfulness
14aSing, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!
15 The Lord has taken away your judgments, He has cast out your enemy. aThe King of Israel, the Lord, bis in your midst; You shall1 see disaster no more.
16 In that day ait shall be said to Jerusalem: “Do not fear; Zion, blet not your hands be weak.
17 The Lord your God ain your midst, The Mighty One, will save; bHe will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”
18 “I will gather those who asorrow over the appointed assembly, Who are among you, Towhom its reproach is a burden.
19 Behold, at that time I will deal with all who afflict you; I will save the alame, And gather those who were driven out; I will appoint them for praise and fame In every land where they were put to shame.
20 At that time aI will bring you back, Even at the time I gather you; For I will give you1 fame and praise Among all the peoples of the earth, When I return your captives before your eyes,” Says the Lord.
Revelation 14, 16, and 19 also speak of the gathering of the nations—in opposition to God—but they are also gathered so that God can judge them all at once. Zephaniah 3:8 also speaks of a devouring fire, an image echoed in II Peter 3:7-12. The context of all this is the Day of the Lord.
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