The most sacred Bible, whiche is the Holy Scripture conteyning the Old and New Testament / translated into English, and newly recognised with great diligence after most faythful exemplars, by Rychard Taverner.

THE BOKE OF THE PROPHETE SOPHONY. (Book Zephaniah)

¶ Threatenynges agaynst Iuda and Ierusalem, bycause of theyr Idolatrye.

CAPI. I.

[ A] THis is the worde of the Lorde, whiche came vnto So∣phony the sonne of Chusi, the sonne of Gedoliab, the sonne of Amariah the sonne of Eze∣chiah in the time of Iosiah the sonne of Amon kynge of Iuda.

I wyll gather vp all thynges in the lande (sayth the Lorde) I wyll gather vp man and beest.* 1.1 I will gather vp the foules in the ayre, and the fysshe in the see (to the greate decaye of the wycked) and wyll vtterly destroye the men oute of the lande, saythe the Lorde. I wyll stretche oute myne hande vpon Iu∣da, and vpon all suche as dwell at Ierusa∣lem.

Thus wyll I roote oute the remnaunte of [ B] Baal from this place, and the names of the Remuryns and Preestes: yea, and suche as vpon their house toppes worshyp and bowe them selues vnto the hoste of heuen▪ whiche swere by the Lorde, and by theyr Malchom also: whiche starte a backe frome the Lorde, and neyther seke after the Lorde,* 1.2 ne regarde hym.

Be styll at the presence of the Lorde God for the daye of the Lorde is at hande: yea the Lorde hath prepared a slayne offerynge, and called his gestes therto, and thus wyl it hap∣pen in the daye of the Lordes slayneoffering: I wyll vysit the prynces, the kynges chyldrē, and all suche as we are straunge clothyng.* 1.3 In the the same day also wyll I vysyte all those that treade ouer the thresholde so proudlye, whiche fyll their Lordes house with robbery and falsehed.

At the same tyme (sayth the Lorde) there shall be herde a great crye from the fishporte, and an howlynge from the other porte, and a great murther from the hilles. Howle ye that dwel in the wyll, for all the marchaunt peo∣ple are gone, and all they that were laden w^t syluer, are roted out.

At the same tyme will I seke thorow Ieru∣salem [ C] with lanternes, and visyte them that continue in theyr dregges,* 1.4 and saye in theyr hertes: Tusshe, the Lorde wyll doo neyther good, nor euyll. Thyr goodes shall be spoy∣led, and theyr houses layde waste: they shall buylde houses, and not dwell in them: they shall plante vyneyardes, but not drynke the wyne therof. For the great daye of the Lorde is at hande, it is harde by▪ and commeth on a pace. Horrible is the tydinges of the Lordes daye, then shall the gyaunt crye out: for that daye is a daye of wrathe, a daye of trouble and heuynesse, a daye of vtter destruction and miserye, a darke and glomynge daye, a clou∣dye and stormye daye, a daye of the noyse of trompettes and shawmes, against the strong cities and highe towres.

I will bringe the people into suche vexa∣cion, that they shal go about like blynd men [ D] because they haue synned againste the Lord. Their bloude shall be shed as the duste,* 1.5 and their bodyes as the myre. Neither their syl∣uer ne their golde shall be hable to delyuer them in the wrothfull daye of the Lord,* 1.6 but the hole lande shal be consumed thorow the fyre of his gelousye: for he shall soone make cleane ryddaunce of all theym that dwell in the lande.

¶ He moueth to returne to God, prophecying vnto the one destruction, and to the other delyueraunce,

CAPI. II.

COme togyther and gather you, O fro∣warde people: or the thinge go forth [ A] that is concluded, and or the tyme be passed awaye as the duste: or the fearefull wrath of the Lorde come vpon you, yea or the daye of the Lordes soore dyspleasure, come vpon you. Seke the Lorde all ye meke herted vpon earthe, ye that worke af∣ter his iudgemente: seke ryghtousnesse, seke lowlynesse: that ye maye be defended in the wrothful daye of the Lorde.* 1.7 For Gaza shall be destroyed, and Ascalon shal be layd wast. They shall cast out Asdod at the noone day, and Accaron shall be pluckte vp by the ro∣tes.

Wo vnto you that dwell vpon the see cost [ B] ye murtherous people: the worde of y^e Lord shall come vpon you. O Canaan thou lande of the Philistines, I wyl destroy the, so that there shall no man dwell in the any more: & as for the see coost, it shalbe herdmens cota∣ges and shepe foldes: yea it shall be a porci∣on for suche as remayne of the house of Iu∣da, to fede ther vpon. In the houses of Asca∣lon shal they rest toward night:* 1.8 for the Lord their God shall vysyt them, and turne away their captyuytye. I haue herde the dispyte of Moab, and the blasphemyes of the children of Ammon howe they haue shamefully intre¦ted my people, and magnifyed them selues within the borders of their lande. Therfore as truely as I lyue (saythe the Lorde of ho∣stes the God of Israel) Moab shal be as So¦dome, and Ammon as Gomorra: euen drye thorne hedges, salte pyttes and a perpetuall wyldernesse.

The resydue of my folke shall spoyle thē the remnaunt of my people shall haue them [ C] in possession. This shall happen vnto theym for their pride, because they haue dealte so shamefully with the Lord of hostes people, and magnyfyed them selues aboue them. The Lorde shall be grym vpon them, and destroye all the goodes in the lande. And all the Iles of the heithen shal worship him e∣uerye man in his place.

Ye Morians also shall perisshe with my [ D]

swerde: yea he shal stretche out his hand ouer the North, and destroye Assur. As for Niniue, he shal make it desolate, drye and waste. The flockes and all the beestes of the people shall lye in the myddest of it pe••licanes and storkes shall abyde in the vpper postes of it, foules shall syng in the wyndowes, and rauens shal syt vpon the balkes, for the borders of Cedre shal be ryuen downe.* 1.9 This is the proude and carelesse city, that said in her herte: I am, and there is els none. O how is she made so waste that the beastes lye therin? Who so goeth by mocketh her, and poynteth at her with his fynger.

¶ Agaynst the gouerners of Ierusalem. Of the callynge of all the Gentyles. A comfort to the resy∣due of Israel.

CAPI. III.

[ A] WO to the abhominable, fylthy and cruel city: which wil not heare, ne be refour∣med. Her trust is not in y^e Lorde, neither wyll she holde her to her God. Her rulers w^t∣in her, are as rorynge lyons: her iudges are as wolues in the euenyng, whiche leaue nothing behind them till the morowe. Her Prophetes are lyghte persons and vnfaythfull men: her preestes vnhalowe the Sanctuarye, and doo wronge vnder the pretence of the lawe. But the iust Lorde that dothe no vnryght, was a∣monges them, euery mornyng shewyng them his lawe clerely, and ceased not. But the vn∣godly wil not serue to be ashamed. Therfore wil I tore out this people, and destroye theyr towres: yea and make their stretes so voyde, y^t no man shall go therin. Their cityes shall be broken downe, so that no body shal be left, ne dwell there any more.

[ B] I sayd vnto them: feare me, and be contēt to be refourmed, that their dwellinge be not destroyed, and that there happen vnto theym none of these thynges, wherwith I shal visit them. But neuerthelesse, they stande vp early to folowe the fylthynesse of their owne yma∣ginacions. Therfore ye shall wayte vpon me sayth the Lorde, tyl the time that I stand vp: for I am determined to gather the people, and to bring the kyngdomes togither, that I may poure out myne angre, yea all my wrathfull displeasure vpon them.* 1.10 For all the world shal be consumed with the fire of my gelousy. And then wil I clense the lyppes of y^e people, that they may euery one call vpon the name of the Lorde, and serue him with one shoulder. Such as I haue subdued, and my chyldren also whō I haue scatred abrode, shall bring me presētes beyond the waters or Ethiopia.

In that time shalt thou be no more confoū¦ded bicause of all thy ymaginaciōs, whertho∣row [ C] thou haddest offended me:* 1.11 for I wil take awaye the proude bosters of thyne honour frō the, so that thou shalt no more tryumphe by∣cause of my holy hyl. In the also wil I leaue a small poore symple people, which shal trust in the name of the Lorde. The remanaunt of Israel shal do no wickednesse, nor speke lies: neither shall any disceytfull tonge be founde in their mouthes. For they shall be fedde, and take theyr reste, and no man shall make them afrayde. Gyue thankes, O doughter Syon, be ioyful, O Israel: reioyse and be glad from thy hole hert, O doughter Ierusalem / for the Lorde hath taken awaye thy punysshement, and turned backe thyne ennemyes. The kyng of Israell, euen the Lorde him selfe is with the, so that thou nede it no more to feare anye mysfortune.

In that tyme it shal be sayd to Ierusalem: [ D] feare not, and to Sion: let not thyne eyes be slacke, for the Lorde thy God is with the, it is he that hath power to saue: he hath a spe∣ciall pleasure in the, and a marueylous loue towarde the: yea he reioyseth ouer the with gladnesse. Suche as hathe ben in heuynesse, wyl I gather togyther, & take out of thy con∣gregacio: yea and the shame and reprofe that hath ben layde vpon the, shall be farre from the. And lo, in that tyme wyll I destroye all those that vexe the: I wyll helpe the lame, and gather vp the cast awaye: yea I wyl get them prayse and honoure in all landes, where they haue ben put to shame. At the same tyme will I bring you in, and at y^e same time wil I gather you. I wyll get you a name and a good reporte a∣amonge all people of the earthe, when I turne backe your captiuitie be∣fore youre eyes, saythe the Lorde.

¶ The ende of the prophecye of Sophony.

Notes

• * 1.1

  iiii. Reg .xxi .xxiii.
• * 1.2

  Deute .xvii. b Ieremy .v. b
• * 1.3

  iiii. Re .xxv. b Ierm .xxxix. b
• * 1.4

  Ieremy .v .c Deut .xxix .c Ierem .xxiii .c
• * 1.5

  Ez••••
• * 1.6

  S••••
• * 1.7

  iiii. Reg •• Ion•••• ••
• * 1.8

  Esay. •••• Iere. •••• Ezech••. ••
• * 1.9

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.10

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.11

  Ieremy .i. b