1. This is the word of the Lord that came through Zephaniah while Josiah son of Amon was king of Judah. Zephaniah was the son of Cushi, who was the son of Gedaliah. Gedaliah was the son of Amariah, who was the son of Hezekiah.
2. “I will sweep away everythingfrom the earth,” says the Lord.
3. “I will sweep away the people and animals;I will destroy the birds in the airand the fish of the sea.I will ruin the evil people,and I will remove human beings from the earth,” says the Lord.
4. “I will punish Judahand all the people living in Jerusalem.I will remove from this placeall signs of Baal, the false priests, and the other priests.
5. I will destroy those who worshipthe stars from the roofs,and those who worship and make promisesby both the Lord and the god Molech,
6. and those who turned away from the Lord,and those who quit following the Lord and praying to him for direction.
7. Be silent before the Lord God,because the Lord’s day for judging people is coming soon.The Lord has prepared a sacrifice;he has made holy his invited guests.