Judgement on Israel's Enemies

An Oracle.

1The word of the LORD is against the land of Hadrach

and will rest upon Damascus.

For to the LORD belongs the capital9.1 Heb eye of Aram,9.1 Cn: Heb of Adam (or of humankind)

as do all the tribes of Israel;

2Hamath also, which borders on it,

Tyre and Sidon, though they are very wise.

3Tyre has built itself a rampart,

and heaped up silver like dust,

and gold like the dirt of the streets.

4But now, the Lord will strip it of its possessions

and hurl its wealth into the sea,

and it shall be devoured by fire.

5Ashkelon shall see it and be afraid;

Gaza too, and shall writhe in anguish;

Ekron also, because its hopes are withered.

The king shall perish from Gaza;

Ashkelon shall be uninhabited;

6a mongrel people shall settle in Ashdod,

and I will make an end of the pride of Philistia.

7I will take away its blood from its mouth,

and its abominations from between its teeth;

it too shall be a remnant for our God;

it shall be like a clan in Judah,

and Ekron shall be like the Jebusites.

8Then I will encamp at my house as a guard,

so that no one shall march to and fro;

no oppressor shall again overrun them,

for now I have seen with my own eyes.

The Coming Ruler of God's People

9Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion!

Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem!

Lo, your king comes to you;

triumphant and victorious is he,

humble and riding on a donkey,

on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

10He9.10 Gk: Heb I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim

and the warhorse from Jerusalem;

and the battle-bow shall be cut off,

and he shall command peace to the nations;

his dominion shall be from sea to sea,

and from the River to the ends of the earth.

11As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you,

I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit.

12Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope;

today I declare that I will restore to you double.

13For I have bent Judah as my bow;

I have made Ephraim its arrow.

I will arouse your sons, O Zion,

against your sons, O Greece,

and wield you like a warrior's sword.

14Then the LORD will appear over them,

and his arrow go forth like lightning;

the Lord GOD will sound the trumpet

and march forth in the whirlwinds of the south.

15The LORD of hosts will protect them,

and they shall devour and tread down the slingers;9.15 Cn: Heb the slingstones

they shall drink their blood9.15 Gk: Heb shall drink like wine,

and be full like a bowl,

drenched like the corners of the altar.

16On that day the LORD their God will save them,

for they are the flock of his people;

for like the jewels of a crown

they shall shine on his land.

17For what goodness and beauty are his!

Grain shall make the young men flourish,

and new wine the young women.