(630 B.C.?) [The word of Zephaniah, son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah, possible king of Judah. If so, then a twice great grandson of the royal throne, cousin to the now king, Josiah.] God's anger will utterly consume (enumerated). False worshipers and their idols will be cut off.
The day of the Lord is at hand.

1:2-11  = The FACT of His Impending Judgment.
1:12  = The WHY of His Impending Judgment.
1:13-18  = The HOW of His Impending Judgment.

The heart of the wicked is the reason for their punishment.
A familiar prophecy of the loss of the wicked. (Build but not dwell, plant but not pluck.)
Six calamities will come in the day of the Lord, with no escaping:

(1)  A Day of Wrath.
(2)  A Day of Trouble and Distress.
(3)  A Day of Wasteness and Desolation.
(4)  A Day of Darkness and Gloominess.
(5)  A Day of Clouds and Thick Darkness.
(6)  A Day of Trumpet and Alarm.

Help will not come in His day and no one will escape it.

[A call to repentance.] The righteous are to seek Him for shelter from His wrath to come. The land and the surrounding cities of other nations will be made desolate and given as a dwelling for the returning remnant in their latter captivity. Moab to be as Sodom, Ammon as Gomorrah, because they exalted themselves against God's people. Assyria and Nineveh will be a desolation because of her arrogance; and all will rejoice at her fall.

[A woe to Jerusalem for not obeying the voice of correction.] She failed to put her trust in God. She oppresses many. All her leaders are corrupt: the princes, judges and prophets; but God who is just will judge all nations. There is no fear of God in the land therefore the Earth will be devoured by the fire of His jealousy! A pure language will be given to a people restored. Israel, in the nations' midst, will do no more evil, nor be afraid. Jerusalem will rejoice, for evil will be cast out forever, as God will be in her midst. The afflicted will be healed and Israel exalted among those who saw her shame. She will be restored before their very eyes, saith the Lord!