Albert Barnes Commentary Zephaniah 1:13

"And their wealth shall become a spoil, and their houses a desolation: yea, they shall build houses, but shall not inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, but shall not drink the wine thereof." — Zephaniah 1:13 (ASV)

Therefore their goods - Literally, “And their strength.” It is the simple sequel in God’s Providence. It is a continued narrative.

God will visit those who say that God does not interfere in human affairs, and it will be seen (Jeremiah 44:28) whose words will stand, God’s or theirs.

All that God had threatened in the law will be fulfilled. God, in the fulfillment of the punishment that He had foretold in the law (Leviticus 26:32–33; Deuteronomy 28:0), would vindicate not only His present Providence but also His continual government of His own world.

All that is strength to man will all the more fail because it is strength, and they presume on it and it deceives them. Its one end is to “become a prey” of devils.

Riches, learning, rule, influence, power, bodily strength, genius, eloquence, popular favor, will all fail a man; and he, when stripped of them, will be all the more bared because he gathered them around him.

“Wealth is ever a runaway and has no stability, but rather intoxicates and inclines to revolt and has unsteady feet. Exceeding folly is it to think much of it. For it will not rescue those lying under the divine displeasure, nor will it free any from guilt, when God decrees punishment and brings the fitting judgment on the transgressors. How utterly useless this eagerness after wealth is to the ungodly, he teaches, saying, that “their strength shall be a prey” to the Chaldaean.”

And their houses a desolation - Cyril: “For they are those of whom it may be said very truly, This is the man that did not take God for his strength, but trusted in the multitude of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness (Psalms 52:7).

But if indeed their houses are adorned in a costly manner, they will not be theirs, for they will be burned, and they themselves will go into captivity, leaving all in their house, and deprived of all that would gladden.

And this God said clearly to the king of Judah by Jeremiah: You have built yourself a large house and wide chambers, ceiled with cedar, and painted with vermilion. Will you reign because you close yourself with cedar! (Jeremiah 22:14–15).

Gregory (Mor. viii. 14): “As the house of the body is the bodily dwelling, so to each mind its house is that in which through desire it is accustomed to dwell,” and “desolate” they will be, being severed forever from the things they desired, and forever deserted by God.

They will also build houses but not inhabit them, as the rich man said to his soul, Soul, you have much goods laid up for many years ... You fool, this night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be, which you have provided? (Luke 12:19–20).

Before the siege by the Romans, Jerusalem and the temple had been greatly beautified, only to be destroyed.

And they will plant vineyards, but not drink the wine thereof. This is the woe, first pronounced in the law (Deuteronomy 28:39), often repeated and ever found true.

Wickedness makes joy its end, yet never finds it, seeking it where it is not, apart from God.