<t /><p class="bodytext">This is the prophetic message that the <sc>Lordsc> gave to<n id="1" /> Zephaniah son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah. Zephaniah delivered this message during the reign of<n id="2" /> King Josiah son of Amon of Judah:p>

<p class="poetry">&#8220;On the day of the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s sacrificial meal,p> <p class="poetry">I will punish the princes<n id="1" /> and the king&#8217;s sons,p> <p class="poetry">and all who wear foreign styles of clothing.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">&#8220;I have heard Moab&#8217;s tauntsp> <p class="poetry">and the Ammonites&#8217; insults.p> <p class="poetry">They<n id="1" /> taunted my peoplep> <p class="poetry">and verbally harassed those living in Judah.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">Therefore, as surely as I live,&#8221; says the <sc>Lordsc> who commands armies, the God of Israel,p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;be certain that Moab will become like Sodomp> <p class="poetry">and the Ammonites like Gomorrah.p> <p class="poetry">They will be overrun by weeds,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">filled with salt pits,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">and permanently desolate.p> <p class="poetry">Those of my people who are left<n id="3" /> will plunder their belongings;<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">those who are left in Judah<n id="5" /> will take possession of their land.&#8221;p>