Zephaniah 3:9 (DRB)

Passage

Because then I will restore to the people a chosen lip, that all may call upon the name of the Lord, and may serve him with one shoulder.

Nearby Context

Zephaniah 3:7 I said: Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive correction: and her dwelling shall not perish, for all things wherein I have visited her: but they rose early, and corrupted all their thoughts.

Zephaniah 3:8 Wherefore expect me, saith the Lord, in the day of my resurrection that is to come, for my judgment is to assemble the Gentiles, and to gather the kingdoms: and to pour upon them my indignation, all my fierce anger: for with the fire of my jealousy shall all the earth be devoured.

Zephaniah 3:9 Because then I will restore to the people a chosen lip, that all may call upon the name of the Lord, and may serve him with one shoulder.

Zephaniah 3:10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia, shall my suppliants, the children of my dispersed people, bring me an offering.

Zephaniah 3:11 In that day thou shalt not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me for then I will take away out of the midst of thee thy proud boasters, and thou shalt no more be lifted up because of my holy mountain.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "restore", "people", "chosen", "call", "upon", "name", "lord", and "serve". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "restore" and "people", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 8's "Wherefore expect me saith the Lord in..." into verse 10's "From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia shall...", so "restore" and "people" belong inside that flow. In Zephaniah context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "restore" and "people" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.