Zephaniah 2

Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired;

Come together, yes, unite, O overlooked nation;

Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD’s anger come upon you.

Act quickly, before God's decree is issued, before the day fades away like chaff, before God's intense anger descends upon you.

Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’s anger.

Humbly search for the Lord, all you gentle souls who follow His ways. Pursue what is right and embrace humility. Perhaps, you will find shelter during the Lord's time of wrath.

For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up.

Gaza will be left abandoned, and Ashkelon will turn into ruins. Ashdod will be expelled under the harsh midday sun, and Ekron will be completely uprooted.

Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the LORD is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant.

Alas, for those living by the sea, the Cherethites! God's word stands against you. Oh Canaan, home of the Philistines, you're marked for destruction, leaving no one behind.

And the sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks.

The shoreline will become a home for shepherds, a sanctuary for their sheep.

And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: for the LORD their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity.

The remaining people of Judah will find solace along the coast, nourishing themselves there. They'll find rest in the homes of Ashkelon as night falls. For God, their protector, will come to them, liberating them from their bondage.

I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border.

I've felt the scorn from Moab and the insults from Ammon's children, who belittled my people and boasted about their power over our lands.

Therefore as I live, saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them.

As God, the Lord of all, promises, Moab will face the same fate as Sodom, and Ammon will suffer like Gomorrah. They will become barren, filled with nettles and salt pits, forever desolate. But my people, those who remain, will reclaim and thrive in these lands.

This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the LORD of hosts.

Their arrogance will be their downfall, for they have belittled and inflated themselves against God's people.

The LORD will be terrible unto them: for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the heathen.

God's power will be awe-inspiring and fearsome. He will diminish all other deities, leaving them powerless. People everywhere, even in the most remote islands, will turn to Him in reverence and worship.

Ye Ethiopians also, ye shall be slain by my sword.

Even you, Ethiopians, will fall victim to my blade.

And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria; and will make Nineveh a desolation, and dry like a wilderness.

He will reach out against the north, bringing down Assyria; turning Nineveh into a barren wasteland.

And flocks shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both the cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the upper lintels of it; their voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in the thresholds; for he shall uncover the cedar work.

Flocks and herds will lie down in the middle of her, all kinds of wild animals. The cormorant and bittern will roost on the tops of her pillars, their calls echoing through the windows. Rubble will fill the doorways, for He will strip away her cedar panelling.

This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand.

This once vibrant city, so full of life and pride, believed it was invincible, that nothing could touch it. Now, it lies in ruins, a haunting shell of its former glory, a mere resting place for wild animals. Everyone who passes by can't help but scoff and shake their heads in disbelief.