Zephaniah 2:15 “This carefree city that dwells securely, that thinks to herself: “I am…”

Zephaniah 2:15

This carefree city that dwells securely, that thinks to herself: “I am it, and there is none besides me,” what a ruin she has become, a resting place for beasts. Everyone who passes by her hisses and shakes his fist.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand.

World English Bible

This is the joyous city that lived carelessly, that said in her heart, “I am, and there is no one besides me.” How she has become a desolation, a place for animals to lie down in! Everyone who passes by her will hiss and shake their fists.

American Standard Version

This is the joyous city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none besides me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand.

Geneva Bible 1599

This is the reioycing citie that dwelt carelesse, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none besides me: how is she made waste, and the lodging of the beastes! euery one that passeth by her, shall hisse and wagge his hand.

Darby Translation

This is the rejoicing city that dwelt in security, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none else beside me: how is she become a desolation, a couching-place for beasts! Every one that passeth by her shall hiss, shall wave his hand.

Young's Literal Translation

This [is] the exulting city that is dwelling confidently, That is saying in her heart, 'I [am], and beside me there is none,' How hath she been for a desolation, A crouching-place for beasts, Every one passing by her doth hiss, He doth shake his hand!

Bible in Basic English

This is the town which was full of joy, living without fear of danger, saying in her heart, I am, and there is no other: how has she been made waste, a place for beasts to take their rest in! everyone who goes by her will make hisses, waving his hand.

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Cross references

“the rejoicing”

Isaiah 22:2 Isaiah 10:12–14 Isaiah 47:7 Revelation 18:7–10

Isaiah 22:2 · BSB

O city of commotion, O town of revelry? Your slain did not die by the sword, nor were they killed in battle.

Isaiah 10:12–14 · BSB

So when the Lord has completed all His work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, He will say, “I will punish the king of Assyria for the fruit of his arrogant heart and the proud look in his eyes.

Isaiah 47:7 · BSB

You said, ‘I will be queen forever.’ You did not take these things to heart or consider their outcome.

Revelation 18:7–10 · BSB

As much as she has glorified herself and lived in luxury, give her the same measure of torment and grief. In her heart she says, ‘I sit as queen; I am not a widow and will never see grief.’

“I am”

Ezekiel 28:2 Ezekiel 28:9 Ezekiel 29:3 Isaiah 47:8

Ezekiel 28:2 · BSB

“Son of man, tell the ruler of Tyre that this is what the Lord GOD says: Your heart is proud, and you have said, ‘I am a god; I sit in the seat of gods in the heart of the sea.’ Yet you are a man and not a god, though yo…

Ezekiel 28:9 · BSB

Will you still say, ‘I am a god,’ in the presence of those who slay you? You will be only a man, not a god, in the hands of those who wound you.

Ezekiel 29:3 · BSB

Speak to him and tell him that this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, I am against you, O Pharaoh king of Egypt, O great monster who lies among his rivers, who says, ‘The Nile is mine; I made it myself.’

Isaiah 47:8 · BSB

So now hear this, O lover of luxury who sits securely, who says to herself, ‘I am, and there is none besides me. I will never be a widow or know the loss of children.’

“how is”

Lamentations 1:1 Lamentations 2:1 Isaiah 14:4 Isaiah 14:5 Revelation 18:10–19

Lamentations 1:1 · BSB

How lonely lies the city, once so full of people! She who was great among the nations has become a widow. The princess of the provinces has become a slave.

Lamentations 2:1 · BSB

How the Lord has covered the Daughter of Zion with the cloud of His anger! He has cast the glory of Israel from heaven to earth. He has abandoned His footstool in the day of His anger.

Isaiah 14:4 · BSB

you will sing this song of contempt against the king of Babylon: How the oppressor has ceased, and how his fury has ended!

Isaiah 14:5 · BSB

The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of the rulers.

Revelation 18:10–19 · BSB

In fear of her torment, they will stand at a distance and cry out: “Woe, woe to the great city, the mighty city of Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come.”

“every”

Nahum 3:19 Lamentations 2:15 Job 27:23 Ezekiel 27:36 Matthew 27:39 1 Kings 9:7

Nahum 3:19 · BSB

There is no healing for your injury; your wound is severe. All who hear the news of you applaud your downfall, for who has not experienced your constant cruelty?

Lamentations 2:15 · BSB

All who pass by clap their hands at you in scorn. They hiss and shake their heads at the Daughter of Jerusalem: “Is this the city that was called the perfection of beauty, the joy of all the earth?”

Job 27:23 · BSB

It claps its hands at him and hisses him out of his place.

Ezekiel 27:36 · BSB

Those who trade among the nations hiss at you; you have come to a horrible end and will be no more.’”

Matthew 27:39 · BSB

And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads

1 Kings 9:7 · BSB

then I will cut off Israel from the land that I have given them, and I will banish from My presence this temple I have sanctified for My Name. Then Israel will become an object of scorn and ridicule among all peoples.

Also

Jeremiah 19:8 Isaiah 32:9

Jeremiah 19:8 · BSB

I will make this city a desolation and an object of scorn. All who pass by will be appalled and will scoff at all her wounds.

Isaiah 32:9 · BSB

Stand up, you complacent women; listen to me. Give ear to my word, you overconfident daughters.

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

14Herds will lie down in her midst, creatures of every kind. Both the desert owl and screech owl will roost atop her pillars. Their calls will sound from the window, but desolation will lie on the threshold, for He will expose the beams of cedar.

Read Zephaniah 2