¹ 當猶大王亞們的兒子約西亞在位的時候，耶和華的話臨到希西家的玄孫，亞瑪利雅的曾孫，基大利的孫子，古示的兒子西番雅。

² 耶和華說：我必從地上除滅萬類。

³ 我必除滅人和牲畜，與空中的鳥、海裡的魚，以及絆腳石和惡人；我必將人從地上剪除。這是耶和華說的。

⁴ 我必伸手攻擊猶大和耶路撒冷的一切居民，也必從這地方剪除所剩下的巴力，並基瑪林的名和祭司，

⁵ 與那些在房頂上敬拜天上萬象的，並那些敬拜耶和華指著他起誓，又指著瑪勒堪起誓的，

⁶ 與那些轉去不跟從耶和華的，和不尋求耶和華也不訪問他的。

⁷ 你要在主耶和華面前靜默無聲，因為耶和華的日子快到。耶和華已經預備祭物，將他的客分別為聖。

⁸ 到了我─耶和華獻祭的日子，必懲罰首領和王子，並一切穿外邦衣服的。

⁹ 到那日，我必懲罰一切跳過門檻、將強暴和詭詐得來之物充滿主人房屋的。

¹⁰ 耶和華說：當那日，從魚門必發出悲哀的聲音，從二城發出哀號的聲音，從山間發出大破裂的響聲。

¹¹ 瑪革提施的居民哪，你們要哀號，因為迦南的商民都滅亡了！凡搬運銀子的都被剪除。

¹² 那時，我必用燈巡查耶路撒冷；我必懲罰那些如酒在渣滓上澄清的；他們心裡說：耶和華必不降福，也不降禍。

¹³ 他們的財寶必成為掠物；他們的房屋必變為荒場。他們必建造房屋，卻不得住在其內；栽種葡萄園，卻不得喝所出的酒。

¹⁴ 耶和華的大日臨近，臨近而且甚快，乃是耶和華日子的風聲；勇士必痛痛地哭號。

¹⁵ 那日是忿怒的日子，是急難困苦的日子，是荒廢淒涼的日子，是黑暗幽冥、密雲烏黑的日子，

¹⁶ 是吹角吶喊的日子，要攻擊堅固城和高大的城樓。

¹⁷ 我必使災禍臨到人身上，使他們行走如同瞎眼的，因為得罪了我。他們的血必倒出如灰塵；他們的肉必拋棄如糞土。

¹⁸ 當耶和華發怒的日子，他們的金銀不能救他們；他的忿怒如火必燒滅全地，毀滅這地的一切居民，而且大大毀滅。

¹ Behold, Yahweh makes the earth empty, makes it waste, turns it upside down, and scatters its inhabitants.

² It will be as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the creditor, so with the debtor; as with the taker of interest, so with the giver of interest.

³ The earth will be utterly emptied and utterly laid waste; for Yahweh has spoken this word.

⁴ The earth mourns and fades away. The world languishes and fades away. The lofty people of the earth languish.

⁵ The earth also is polluted under its inhabitants, because they have transgressed the laws, violated the statutes, and broken the everlasting covenant.

⁶ Therefore the curse has devoured the earth, and those who dwell therein are found guilty. Therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.

⁷ The new wine mourns. The vine languishes. All the merry-hearted sigh.

⁸ The mirth of tambourines ceases. The sound of those who rejoice ends. The joy of the harp ceases.

⁹ They will not drink wine with a song. Strong drink will be bitter to those who drink it.

¹⁰ The confused city is broken down. Every house is shut up, that no man may come in.

¹¹ There is a crying in the streets because of the wine. All joy is darkened. The mirth of the land is gone.

¹² The city is left in desolation, and the gate is struck with destruction.

¹³ For it will be so in the midst of the earth among the peoples, as the shaking of an olive tree, as the gleanings when the vintage is done.

¹⁴ These shall lift up their voice. They will shout for the majesty of Yahweh. They cry aloud from the sea.

¹⁵ Therefore glorify Yahweh in the east, even the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel, in the islands of the sea!

¹⁶ From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs. Glory to the righteous! But I said, "I pine away! I pine away! woe is me!" The treacherous have dealt treacherously. Yes, the treacherous have dealt very treacherously.

¹⁷ Fear, the pit, and the snare, are on you who inhabitant the earth.

¹⁸ It will happen that he who flees from the noise of the fear will fall into the pit; and he who comes up out of the midst of the pit will be taken in the snare; for the windows on high are opened, and the foundations of the earth tremble.

¹⁹ The earth is utterly broken. The earth is torn apart. The earth is shaken violently.

²⁰ The earth will stagger like a drunken man, and will sway back and forth like a hammock. Its disobedience will be heavy on it, and it will fall and not rise again.

²¹ It shall happen in that day that Yahweh will punish the army of the high ones on high, and the kings of the earth on the earth.

²² They shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison; and after many days shall they be visited.

²³ Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed; for Yahweh of Armies will reign on Mount Zion, and in Jerusalem; and before his elders will be glory.