The great day of punishment will soon come

14 The great day of the Lord will soon be here.

It will come very quickly.

That day will bring terrible trouble.

Brave soldiers will cry loudly in the battle.

15 It will be a day when God shows his great anger.

People will be very upset

because of the trouble that comes to them.

Enemies will destroy many things.

The day will be very dark,

and black clouds will cover the sky.

16 There will be the loud noise of trumpets.

Soldiers will shout as they go to fight.

The walls of cities will fall in the battle.

The strong high towers will fall down too.

17 The Lord says,

‘I will cause people to suffer

because they have not obeyed me.

They will walk around like blind people.

Blood will pour out of their bodies like dust.

Their dead bodies will lie on the ground like rubbish.’

18 On that day when the Lord shows his anger,

their money will not save them.

His anger will destroy the whole earth,

as fire completely destroys things.

He will quickly destroy all the people who live on the earth.

It will be a day of terrible trouble.

Zephaniah 2

God's people should turn back to him

1 Come together! Yes, come together now!

You are a nation of people who should be ashamed of yourselves.

2 The Lord has decided the day for your punishment,

so come together before it happens.

It will happen very quickly,

as wind blows away chaff.

The Lord's great anger will suddenly hit you.

Do something before that day arrives!

3 Turn to the Lord,

all you humble people of Judah who obey his commands.

Do things that are good and right

and be humble.

Then perhaps the Lord will protect you from his punishment,

on the day of his great anger.