Zephaniah 3:8

Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination [is] to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, [even] all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.

Ver. 8. Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the Lord, &c.] Stand forth, and hear your doom; which that ye may know that I do not precipitate or rashly pass upon you, "Wait ye upon me," &c.; and yet, that ye may not presume upon my patience, know that there is a day set, a determination settled for your full payment.

“ Nostra Deus subitis non damnat crimina poenis:

Compensat longas sed gravitate moras. ”

To gather the nations ] To put them up, as it were sheep, into a pound for slaughter. See more of this, Jeremiah 25:15,33

To pour upon them mine indignation ] Here is mention made of God's prey, of his indignation, fierce anger, fire of jealousy against nations and kingdoms; the better to persuade people to that which they are so hardly drawn to believe, viz. that God is not made all of mercy; but, though fury be not in him, to speak properly, Isaiah 27:4 , yet that he will not by any means "clear the guilty," Exodus 34:7 , but punish them severely, taking vengeance of their inventions, Psalms 99:8 .