The Great Day of the Lord
Zephaniah 1
The word of the Lord comes to Sophonias in the days of Josias, announcing a sweeping judgment that will sweep away man and beast, and fall on Juda and Jerusalem for idolatry and divided worship. The chapter describes the coming day of the Lord as near, bitter, and full of wrath, a day of darkness and distress from which silver and gold cannot save.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonTHE word of the Lord which came to Sophonias the Chusite, the son of Godolias son of Amorias, son of Ezekias in the days of Josias son of Amos king of Juda:
BrentonThe word of the Lord which came to Sophonias the son of Chusi, the son of Godolias, the son of Amorias, the son of Ezekias, in the days of Josias son of Amon, king of Juda.
GreekΛΟΓΟΣ Κυρίου, ὃς ἐγενήθη πρὸς Σοφονίαν τὸν τοῦ Χουσὶ, υἱὸν Γοδολίου, τοῦ Ἀμορίου τοῦ Ἐζεκίου, ἐν ἡμέραις Ἰωσίου υἱοῦ Ἀμὼν βασιλέως Ἰούδα.
KJVThe word of the LORD which came unto Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hizkiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.
JPSThe word of the LORD which came unto Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.
2
ThomsonLet there be a total failure from the face of this land, saith the Lord.
BrentonLet there be an utter cutting off from the face of the land, saith the Lord.
GreekἘκλείψει ἐκλιπέτω ἀπὸ προσώπου τῆς γῆς, λέγει Κύριος.
KJVI will utterly consume all things from off the land, saith the LORD.
JPSI will utterly consume all things from off the face of the earth, Saith the LORD.
3
ThomsonLet man and beast perish. Let the birds of the air and the fishes of the sea perish. As for the wicked, they shall be without strength; and I will remove transgressions from the face of this land, saith the Lord.
BrentonLet man and cattle be cut off; let the birds of the air and the fishes of the sea be cut off; and the ungodly shall fail, and I will take away the transgressors from the face of the land, saith the Lord.
GreekἘκλιπέτω ἄνθρωπος καὶ κτήνη, ἐκλιπέτω τὰ πετεινὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ οἱ ἰχθύες τῆς θαλάσσης· καὶ ἀσθενήσουσιν οἱ ἀσεβεῖς, καὶ ἐξαρῶ τοὺς ἀνόμους ἀπὸ προσώπου τῆς γῆς, λέγει Κύριος.
KJVI will consume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumbling blocks with the wicked: and I will cut off man from off the land, saith the LORD.
JPSI will consume man and beast, I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, And the stumblingblocks with the wicked; And I will cut off man from off the face of the earth, Saith the LORD.
4
ThomsonI will indeed stretch forth My hand against Juda, and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And I will remove out of this place the names of Baal and the names of the priests;
BrentonAnd I will stretch out mine hand upon Juda, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will remove the names of Baal out of this place, and the names of the priests;
GreekΚαὶ ἐκτενῶ τὴν χεῖρά μου ἐπὶ Ἰούδα, καὶ ἐπὶ πάντας τοὺς κατοικοῦντας Ἱερουσαλήμ· καὶ ἐξαρῶ ἐκ τοῦ τόπου τούτου τὰ ὀνόματα τῆς Βάαλ, καὶ τὰ ὀνόματα τῶν ἱερέων,
KJVI will also stretch out mine hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the Chemarims with the priests;
JPSAnd I will stretch out My hand upon Judah, And upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; And I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, And the name of the idolatrous priests with the priests;
5
Thomsonand them who worship the host of heaven from the housetops—both those worshippers and them also who swear by the Lord and who swear at the same time by their king [Moloch];
Brentonand them that worship the host of heaven upon the house-tops; and them that worship and swear by the Lord, and them that swear by their king;
Greekκαὶ τοὺς προσκυνοῦντας ἐπὶ τὰ δώματα τῇ στρατιᾷ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, καὶ τοὺς προσκυνοῦντας καὶ τοὺς ὀμνύοντας κατὰ τοῦ Κυρίου, καὶ τοὺς ὀμνύοντας κατὰ τοῦ βασιλέως αὐτῶν,
KJVAnd them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham;
JPSAnd them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; And them that worship, that swear to the LORD And swear by Malcam;
6
Thomsonand them who turn aside from the Lord, and them who seek not the Lord, and them who cleave not to Him.
Brentonand them that turn aside from the Lord, and them that seek not the Lord, and them that cleave not to the Lord.
Greekκαὶ τοὺς ἐκκλίνοντας ἀπὸ τοῦ Κυρίου, καὶ τοὺς μὴ ζητοῦντας τὸν Κύριον, καὶ τοὺς μὴ ἀντεχομένους τοῦ Κυρίου.
KJVAnd them that are turned back from the LORD; and those that have not sought the LORD, nor enquired for him.
JPSThem also that are turned back from following the LORD; And those that have not sought the LORD, nor inquired after Him. .
7
ThomsonBe struck with awe at the presence of the Lord God, for the day of the Lord is near at hand.
BrentonFear ye before the Lord God; for the day of the Lord is near; for the Lord has prepared his sacrifice, and has sanctified his guests.
GreekΕὐλαβεῖσθε ἀπὸ προσώπου Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ· διότι ἐγγὺς ἡμέρα τοῦ Κυρίου, ὅτι ἡτοίμακε Κύριος τὴν θυσίαν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἡγίακε τοὺς κλητοὺς αὐτοῦ.
KJVHold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests.
JPSHold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD; For the day of the LORD is at hand, For the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, He hath consecrated His guests.
8
ThomsonBecause the Lord hath prepared His sacrifice and hallowed His guests; therefore it shall come to pass in the day of the sacrifice of the Lord, that I will execute vengeance on the chiefs and on the house of the king, and upon all them who are clothed with strange apparel.
BrentonAnd it shall come to pass in the day of the Lord's sacrifice, that I will take vengeance on the princes, and on the king's house, and upon all that wear strange apparel.
GreekΚαὶ ἔσται, ἐν ἡμέρᾳ θυσίας Κυρίου, καὶ ἐκδικήσω ἐπὶ τοὺς ἄρχοντας, καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν οἶκον τοῦ βασιλέως, καὶ ἐπὶ πάντας τοὺς ἐνδεδυμένους ἐνδύματα ἀλλότρια.
KJVAnd it shall come to pass in the day of the LORD’s sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king’s children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel.
JPSAnd it shall come to pass in the day of the LORD’S sacrifice, That I will punish the princes, and the king’s sons, And all such as are clothed with foreign apparel.
9
ThomsonAnd I will punish publicly before the gates, on that day, them who fill the house of the Lord their God with impiety and deceit.
BrentonAnd I will openly take vengeance on the porches in that day, on the men that fill the house of the Lord their God with ungodliness and deceit.
GreekΚαὶ ἐκδικήσω ἐμφανῶς ἐπὶ τὰ πρόπυλα ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ, τοὺς πληροῦντας τὸν οἶκον Κυρίου Θεοῦ αὐτῶν ἀσεβείας καὶ δόλου.
KJV—
JPSIn the same day also will I punish all those that leap over the threshold, That fill their master’s house with violence and deceit.
10
ThomsonAnd it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord, that there shall be a sound of shouting from the gate of the warriors, and a doleful lamentation from the second gate, and a great crashing from the hills.
BrentonAnd there shall be in that day, saith the Lord, the sound of a cry from the gate of men slaying, and a howling from the second gate, and a great crashing from the hills.
GreekΚαὶ ἔσται ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ, λέγει Κύριος, φωνὴ κραυγῆς ἀπὸ πύλης ἀποκεντούντων, καὶ ὀλολυγμὸς ἀπὸ τῆς δευτέρας, καὶ συντριμμὸς μέγας ἀπὸ τῶν βουνῶν.
KJVAnd it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD, that there shall be the noise of a cry from the fish gate, and an howling from the second, and a great crashing from the hills.
JPSAnd in that day, saith the LORD, Hark! a cry from the fish gate, And a wailing from the second quarter, And a great crashing from the hills.
11
ThomsonRaise the song of woe, ye who inhabit the stormed city; because all the people are like Chanaan. And they who were elated over silver are to be all cut off.
BrentonLament, ye that inhabit the city that has been broken down, for all the people has become like Chanaan; and all that were exalted by silver have been utterly destroyed.
GreekΘρηνήσατε οἱ κατοικοῦντες τὴν κατακεκομμένην, ὅτι ὡμοιώθη πᾶς ὁ λαὸς Χαναὰν, καὶ ἐξωλοθρεύθησαν πάντες οἱ ἐπῃρμένοι ἀργυρίῳ.
KJVHowl, ye inhabitants of Maktesh, for all the merchant people are cut down; all they that bear silver are cut off.
JPSWail, ye inhabitants of Maktesh, For all the merchant people are undone; All they that were laden with silver are cut off.
12
ThomsonTherefore it shall come to pass in that day, that I will search Jerusalem with a lamp, and execute vengeance on the men who are despisers—upon their stores. And as for them who say in their hearts, The Lord will neither do good nor harm,
BrentonAnd it shall come to pass in that day, that I will search Jerusalem with a candle, and will take vengeance on the men that despise the things committed to them; but they say in their hearts, The Lord will not do any good, neither will he do any evil.
GreekΚαὶ ἔσται ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ, ἐξερευνήσω τὴν Ἱερουσαλὴμ μετὰ λύχνου, καὶ ἐκδικήσω ἐπὶ τοὺς ἄνδρας τοὺς καταφρονοῦντας ἐπὶ τὰ φυλάγματα αὐτῶν· οἱ δὲ λέγοντες ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν, οὐ μὴ ἀγαθοποιήσῃ Κύριος, οὐδὲ μὴ κακώσῃ·
KJVAnd it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil.
JPSAnd it shall come to pass at that time, That I will search Jerusalem with lamps; And I will punish the men that are settled on their lees, That say in their heart: ‘The LORD will not do good, neither will He do evil.’
13
Thomsontheir wealth shall be for plunder; and their houses, for desolation. Though they build houses, they shall not inhabit them; and though they plant vineyards; they shall not drink the wine thereof;
BrentonAnd their power shall be for a spoil, and their houses for utter desolation; and they shall build houses, but shall not dwell in them; and they shall plant vineyards, but shall not drink the wine of them.
Greekκαὶ ἔσται ἡ δύναμις αὐτῶν εἰς διαρπαγὴν, καὶ οἱ οἶκοι αὐτῶν εἰς ἀφανισμόν· καὶ οἰκοδομήσουσιν οἰκίας, καὶ οὐ μὴ κατοικήσουσιν ἐν αὐταῖς· καὶ καταφυτεύσουσιν ἀμπελῶνας, καὶ οὐ μὴ πίωσι τὸν οἶνον αὐτῶν.
KJVTherefore their goods shall become a booty, and their houses a desolation: they shall also build houses, but not inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, but not drink the wine thereof.
JPSTherefore their wealth shall become a booty, And their houses a desolation; Yea, they shall build houses, but shall not inhabit them, And they shall plant vineyards, but shall not drink the wine thereof.
14
Thomsonbecause the great day of the Lord is near—is near and hasting with great speed. The sound of the day of the Lord is bitter, and dreadful things are ordained:
BrentonFor the great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and very speedy; the sound of the day of the Lord is made bitter and harsh.
GreekὍτι ἐγγὺς ἡμέρα Κυρίου ἡ μεγάλη, ἐγγὺς καὶ ταχεῖα σφόδρα· φωνὴ ἡμέρας Κυρίου πικρὰ καὶ σκληρὰ τέτακται·
KJVThe great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.
JPSThe great day of the LORD is near, It is near and hasteth greatly, Even the voice of the day of the LORD, Wherein the mighty man crieth bitterly.
15
Thomsonthat day will be a mighty day of wrath, a day of tribulation and distress; a day of wasting and desolation, a day of gloom and darkness, a day of clouds and thick darkness;
BrentonA mighty day of wrath is that day, a day of affliction and distress, a day of desolation and destruction, a day of gloominess and darkness, a day of cloud and vapour,
Greekδυνατὴ ἡμέρα ὀργῆς, ἡ ἡμέρα ἐκείνη, ἡμέρα θλίψεως καὶ ἀνάγκης, ἡμέρα ἀωρίας καὶ ἀφανισμοῦ, ἡμέρα γνόφου καὶ σκότους, ἡμέρα νεφέλης καὶ ὁμίχλης,
KJVThat day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,
JPSThat day is a day of wrath, A day of trouble and distress, A day of wasteness and desolation, A day of darkness and gloominess, A day of clouds and thick darkness,
16
Thomsona day of the trumpet and shouting against the fortified cities and against the lofty towers.
Brentona day of the trumpet and cry against the strong cities, and against the high towers.
Greekἡμέρα σάλπιγγος καὶ κραυγῆς ἐπὶ τὰς πόλεις τὰς ὀχυρὰς, καὶ ἐπὶ τὰς γωνίας τὰς ὑψηλάς.
KJVA day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers.
JPSA day of the horn and alarm, Against the fortified cities, and against the high towers.
17
ThomsonAnd I will bring distress upon the men and they shall walk as if blind. Because they have sinned against the Lord, therefore He will pour out their blood like dust and their flesh as dung.
BrentonAnd I will greatly afflict the men, and they shall walk as blind men, because they have sinned against the Lord; therefore he shall pour out their blood as dust, and their flesh as dung.
GreekΚαὶ ἐκθλίψω τοὺς ἀνθρώπους, καὶ πορεύσονται ὡς τυφλοὶ, ὅτι τῷ Κυρίῳ ἐξήμαρτον· καὶ ἐκχεεῖ τὸ αἷμα αὐτῶν ὡς χοῦν, καὶ τὰς σάρκας αὐτῶν ὡς βόλβιτα.
KJVAnd I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung.
JPSAnd I will bring distress upon men, That they shall walk like the blind, Because they have sinned against the LORD; And their blood shall be poured out as dust, And their flesh as dung.
18
ThomsonAnd their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the indignation of the Lord. By the fire of His zeal the whole land shall be consumed, for He will bring speedy destruction on all the inhabitants of this land.
BrentonAnd their silver and their gold shall in nowise be able to rescue them in the day of the Lord's wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy; for he will bring a speedy destruction on all them that inhabit the land.
GreekΚαὶ τὸ ἀργύριον αὐτῶν καὶ τὸ χρυσίον αὐτῶν οὐ μὴ δύνηται ἐξελέσθαι αὐτοὺς ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ὀργῆς Κυρίου· καὶ ἐν πυρὶ ζήλου αὐτοῦ καταναλωθήσεται πᾶσα ἡ γῆ, διότι συντέλειαν καὶ σπουδὴν ποιήσει ἐπὶ πάντας τοὺς κατοικοῦντας τὴν γῆν.
KJVNeither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD’s wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.
JPSNeither their silver nor their gold Shall be able to deliver them In the day of the LORD’S wrath; But the whole earth shall be devoured by the fire of His jealousy; For He will make and end, yea, a terrible end, Of all them that dwell in the earth.