1 T he word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before Pharaoh attacked Gaza.

This is the Word of the Lord which came to Jeremiah the man of God about the Philistines, before Pharaoh won the war against Gaza.

2 T hus says the Lord: “Behold, waters rise out of the north, And shall be an overflowing flood; They shall overflow the land and all that is in it, The city and those who dwell within; Then the men shall cry, And all the inhabitants of the land shall wail.

The Lord says, “Waters are going to rise from the north and become a flood. They will flow over the land and everything in it, the cities and all who live in them. The men will cry out. Every person living in the land will cry in a loud voice.

3 A t the noise of the stamping hooves of his strong horses, At the rushing of his chariots, At the rumbling of his wheels, The fathers will not look back for their children, Lacking courage,

Because of the noise of the feet of horses running, the noise of war-wagons and the sound of wheels, fathers have not turned back for their children. Their hands have become too weak,

4 B ecause of the day that comes to plunder all the Philistines, To cut off from Tyre and Sidon every helper who remains; For the Lord shall plunder the Philistines, The remnant of the country of Caphtor.

because of the day that is coming to destroy all the Philistines. And all those who helped Tyre and Sidon will be destroyed. For the Lord is going to destroy the Philistines, those who are left of the land of Caphtor by the sea.

5 B aldness has come upon Gaza, Ashkelon is cut off With the remnant of their valley. How long will you cut yourself?

All the hair is gone from the head of Gaza. Ashkelon has been destroyed. O you who are left of their valley, how long will you cut yourselves?

6 “ O you sword of the Lord, How long until you are quiet? Put yourself up into your scabbard, Rest and be still!

O, sword of the Lord, how long will it be before you are quiet? Return to your holder. Be at rest and do not move.

7 H ow can it be quiet, Seeing the Lord has given it a charge Against Ashkelon and against the seashore? There He has appointed it.”

How can it be quiet, when the Lord has given it work to do? He has sent it against Ashkelon and against the land by the sea.”