The prophecy of Zephaniah may fittingly be called a treatise on the wrath of God . The dominant characteristic of this Day is that it is a Day of overflowing wrath ( ym ebr ; cf . v . 18 ). From this verse apparently arose the inspiration for the thirteenth-century song written by Thomas of Celano , which may have been translated into more languages than any other hymn :
That day of wrath , that dreadful day
When heav ' n and earth shall pass away !
What pow ' r shall be the sinner ' s stay ?
How shall he meet that dreadful day ?
When , shrivelling like a parched scroll ,
The flaming heav ' ns together roll ;
When louder yet , and yet more dread ,
Swells the high trump that wakes the dead ;
O on that day , that wrathful day
When man to judgment wakes from clay ,
Be thou the trembling sinner ' s stay ,
Though heav ' n and earth shall pass away . (page 242 trinity hymnal)
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