Zephaniah 3:16-19

Israel's Joy and Restoration

16 z On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
"Fear not, O Zion;
m let not your hands grow weak.
 17 l The Lord your God is in your midst,
n a mighty one who will save;
o he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.
 18 I will gather those of you who mourn p for the festival,
so that you will no longer suffer reproach. 1
19 Behold, at that time q I will deal
with all your oppressors.
And r I will save the lame
and gather the outcast,
and I will change s their shame into t praise
and renown in all the earth.

  1. Cross References
    Zephaniah 3:11
    On that day you shall not be put to shame because of the deeds by which you have rebelled against me; for then I will remove from your midst your proudly exultant ones, and you shall no longer be haughty in my holy mountain.
  2. Cross References
    Isaiah 35:3
    Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.
    Hebrews 12:12
    Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees.
  3. Cross References
    Zephaniah 3:15
    The Lord has taken away the judgments against you; he has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil.
  4. Cross References
    Isaiah 63:1
    Who is this who comes from Edom, in crimsoned garments from Bozrah, he who is splendid in his apparel, marching in the greatness of his strength? "It is I, speaking in righteousness, mighty to save.
  5. Cross References
    Isaiah 62:5
    For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your sons marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.
    Jeremiah 32:41
    I will rejoice in doing them good, and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness, with all my heart and all my soul.
  6. Cross References
    Lamentations 1:4
    The roads to Zion mourn, for none come to the festival; all her gates are desolate; her priests groan; her virgins have been afflicted, and she herself suffers bitterly.
    Lamentations 2:6
    He has laid waste his booth like a garden, laid in ruins his meeting place; the Lord has made Zion forget festival and Sabbath, and in his fierce indignation has spurned king and priest.
  7. Cross References
    Isaiah 60:14
    The sons of those who afflicted you shall come bending low to you, and all who despised you shall bow down at your feet; they shall call you the City of the Lord, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
  8. Cross References
    Micah 4:6 - 7
    In that day, declares the Lord, I will assemble the lame and gather those who have been driven away and those whom I have afflicted.
  9. Cross References
    Isaiah 61:7
    Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion; instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot; therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion; they shall have everlasting joy.
  10. Cross References
    Jeremiah 13:11
    For as the loincloth clings to the waist of a man, so I made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to me, declares the Lord, that they might be for me a people, a name, a praise, and a glory, but they would not listen.
    Jeremiah 33:9
    And this city shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and a glory before all the nations of the earth who shall hear of all the good that I do for them. They shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the prosperity I provide for it.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.