Zephaniah 3:14

Zep 3:14 Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.

Ver. 14. Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel ] Joy is the just man’s portion, which the wicked may not meddle with, Hosea 9:1 . In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare or a cord to strangle his joy with, to check and choke all his comforts, but the righteous sing and rejoice, Proverbs 29:6 , they are commanded so to do; yea, the command is doubled and trebled here and elsewhere in both Testaments; and it is a sin for such not to rejoice, as well as not to repent.

Be glad and rejoice with all the heart ] Which no wicked man can do: his mirth is but the hypocrisy of mirth; like a little counterfeit complexion. It may smooth the face, never cheer up the heart; like a slight dash of rain that soaketh not to the root, or a handful of brushwood or sear thorns under the pot, Ecclesiastes 7:6 . As their humiliations are but skin deep, they rent their garments and not their hearts, they grieve in the face and not in the heart, Matthew 6:16 , so do they rejoice in the face and not with all their heart, 2 Corinthians 5:12 .