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The earth mourns and fades,
    the world languishes and fades;
    both heaven and earth languish.(A)
The earth is polluted because of its inhabitants,
    for they have transgressed laws, violated statutes,
    broken the ancient covenant.[a](B)
Therefore a curse devours the earth,
    and its inhabitants pay for their guilt;
Therefore they who dwell on earth have dwindled,
    and only a few are left.(C)
The new wine mourns, the vine languishes,
    all the merry-hearted groan.(D)

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Footnotes

  1. 24:5 Ancient covenant: God’s commandments to all humankind (cf. Gn 9:4–6).

The earth dries up(A) and withers,(B)
    the world languishes and withers,
    the heavens(C) languish with the earth.(D)
The earth is defiled(E) by its people;
    they have disobeyed(F) the laws,
violated the statutes
    and broken the everlasting covenant.(G)
Therefore a curse(H) consumes the earth;
    its people must bear their guilt.
Therefore earth’s inhabitants are burned up,(I)
    and very few are left.
The new wine dries up(J) and the vine withers;(K)
    all the merrymakers groan.(L)

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The Day of the Lord: Judgment on Judah

I will completely sweep away all things
    from the face of the land—oracle of the Lord.
I will sweep away human being and beast alike,
    I will sweep away the birds of the sky,
    and the fish of the sea.
I will make the wicked stumble;
    I will eliminate the people
    from the face of the land—oracle of the Lord.(A)

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Judgment on the Whole Earth in the Day of the Lord

“I will sweep away everything
    from the face of the earth,”(A)
declares the Lord.
“I will sweep away both man and beast;(B)
    I will sweep away the birds in the sky(C)
    and the fish in the sea—
    and the idols that cause the wicked to stumble.”[a]

“When I destroy all mankind
    on the face of the earth,”(D)
declares the Lord,(E)

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Footnotes

  1. Zephaniah 1:3 The meaning of the Hebrew for this line is uncertain.