Zephaniah 1

1 For itself also is carried into Assyria, a present to the avenging king: shame shall fall upon Ephraim, and Israel shall be confounded in his own will. 2 Samaria hath made her king to pass as froth upon the face of the water. 3 And the high places of the idol, the sin of Israel shall be destroyed: the bur and the thistle shall grow up over their altars: and they shall say to the mountains Cover us; and to the hills: Fall upon us. 4 From the days of Gabaa, Israel hath sinned, there they stood: the battle in Gabaa against the children of iniquity shall not overtake them. 5 According to my desire, I will chastise them: and the nations shall be gathered together against them, when they shall be chastised for their two iniquities. 6 Ephraim is a heifer taught to love to tread out corn, but I passed over upon the beauty of her neck: I will ride upon Ephraim, Juda shall plough, Jacob shall break the furrows for himself. 7 Sow for yourselves in justice, and reap in the mouth of mercy, break up your fallow ground: but the time to seek the Lord is, when he shall come that shall teach you justice. 8 You have ploughed wickedness, you have reaped iniquity, you have eaten the fruit of lying: because thou hast trusted in thy ways, in the multitude of thy strong ones. 9 A tumult shall arise among thy people: and all thy fortresses shall be destroyed as Salmana was destroyed, by the house of him that judged Baal in the day of battle, the mother being dashed in pieces upon her children. 10 So hath Bethel done to you, because of the evil of your iniquities. 12 As the morning passeth, so hath the king of Israel passed away. Because Israel was a child, and I loved him: and I called my son out of Egypt. 13 As they called them, they went away from before their face: they offered victims to Baalim, and sacrificed to idols. 14 And I was like a foster father to Ephraim, I carried them in my arms: and they knew not that I healed them. 15 I will draw them with the cords of Adam, with the bands of love: and I will be to them as one that taketh off the yoke on their jaws: and I put his meat to him that he might eat. 16 He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king: because they would not be converted. 17 The sword hath begun in his cities, and it shall consume his chosen men, and shall devour their heads. 18 And my people shall long for my return: but a yoke shall be put upon them together, which shall not be taken off.