Zephaniah 3 Chiasm

"I will gather those who are sorrowful for the solemn assembly"

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. . A a v1 Woe to her that is filthy and polluted,

. . . . . . . . c to the oppressing city!

. . . . B d v2 She obeyed not
. . . . . . . . e the voice;
. . . . . . d she received not
. . . . . . . . e correction;
. . . . . . d she trusted not
. . . . . . . . e in the LORD;
. . . . . . d she drew not
. . . . . . . . e near to her God.

[Compare the wording in verses 3,4 with Ezekiel 22:25-28 (see chiasm)]

. . . . . . C f v3 Her princes within her
. . . . . . . . . . g are roaring lions;
. . . . . . . . f her judges
. . . . . . . . . . g are evening wolves;
. . . . . . . . f they
. . . . . . . . . . g gnaw not the bones till the morrow.

. . . . . . . . D h v4 Her prophets
. . . . . . . . . . . . i are light and treacherous persons:
. . . . . . . . . . h her priests
. . . . . . . . . . . . i have polluted the sanctuary,
. . . . . . . . . . h they
. . . . . . . . . . . . i have done violence to the law.

. . . . . . . . . . E k v5 The just LORD is in the midst thereof;
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . l he will not do iniquity:
. . . . . . . . . . . . k every morning doth he bring his judgment to light,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . l he faileth not;
. . . . . . . . . . . . k but the unjust 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . l knoweth no shame.

. . . . . . . . . . . . F-1  m v6 I have cut off the nations:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . m their towers are desolate;
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . m I made their streets waste,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . n that none passeth by:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . m their cities are destroyed,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . n so that there is no man,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . n that there is none inhabitant.

. . . . . . . . . . . . F-2 o v7 I said,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p Surely thou
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . q wilt fear me,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p thou
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . q wilt receive instruction;
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .so their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them:

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . * but they rose early, and corrupted all their doings.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . G i v8 Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii until the day that I rise up to the prey:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii-1 for my determination
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .iii-2 is to gather
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii-3 the nations,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii-1 that I may
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .iii-2 assemble
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii-3 the kingdoms,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii to pour upon them mine indignation,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii even all my fierce anger:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii for all the earth shall be devoured
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i with the fire of my jealousy.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H r  v9 For then will I turn to the people a pure language,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . s that they may all call upon the name of the LORD,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . t to serve him with one consent.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I u v10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v my suppliants,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v even the daughter of my dispersed,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . w shall bring mine offering.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . x v11 In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . x wherein thou hast transgressed against me:

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J y for then I will take away out of the midst of thee
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . them that rejoice in thy pride,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J y and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I u v12 I will also leave in the midst of thee
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v an afflicted
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v and poor people,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . w and they shall trust in the name of the LORD.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . x v13 The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity,

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H r nor speak lies;
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . s neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . t for they shall feed and lie down,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . t and none shall make them afraid.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . G v14 Sing,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O daughter of Zion;
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . shout,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O Israel;
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . be glad and rejoice with all the heart,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O daughter of Jerusalem.

. . . . . . . . . . . . F-1 m v15 The LORD hath taken away thy judgments,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . m he hath cast out thine enemy:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . n the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of thee:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . n thou shalt not see evil any more.

. . . . . . . . . . . . F-2 o v16 In that day it shall be said
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p to Jerusalem,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . q Fear thou not:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p and to Zion,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . q Let not thine hands be slack.

. . . . . . . . . . E v17 The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty;
. . . . . . . . . . . . * he will save,
. . . . . . . . . . . . * he will rejoice over thee with joy;
. . . . . . . . . . . . * he will rest in his love,
. . . . . . . . . . . . * he will joy over thee with singing.

. . . . . . . . D h v18 I will gather them that are sorrowful
. . . . . . . . . . . . i for the solemn assembly,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . j who are of thee,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . j to whom
. . . . . . . . . . . . i the reproach of it
. . . . . . . . . . h was a burden.

. . . . . . C f v19 Behold, at that time I will undo all
. . . . . . . . . . g that afflict thee:

. . . . B e and I will save her
. . . . . . d that halteth,
. . . . . . . . e and gather her
. . . . . . d that was driven out;

. . A a and I will get them praise and fame
. . . . . . b in every land where they have been put to shame.
. . . . . . . . c v20 At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you:
. . . . a for I will make you a name and a praise
. . . . . . b among all people of the earth,
. . . . . . . . c when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD.

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by Sterling D. Allan; Tucson, Arizona; October 18, 1994

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