1 T he Word of the Lord is against the land of Hadrach and will rest upon Damascus. For the eyes of men and all the family groups of Israel are on the Lord.

The burden or oracle (the thing to be lifted up) of the word of the Lord is against the land of Hadrach, and Damascus shall be its resting place, for the Lord has an eye upon mankind as upon all the tribes of Israel,

2 T he Word of the Lord is against Hamath also, which is beside Hadrach, and against Tyre and Sidon, even though they are very wise.

And Hamath also, which borders on, Tyre with Sidon, though they are very wise.

3 F or Tyre built a strong tower for herself. She gathered silver like dust, and gold like the dirt of the streets.

And Tyre has built herself a stronghold, and heaped up silver like dust and fine gold like the mire of the streets.

4 B ut the Lord will take away her riches and throw them into the sea. And she will be destroyed by fire.

Behold, the Lord will cast her out and dispossess her; He will smite her power in the sea and into it and shall be devoured by fire.

5 A shkelon will see it and be afraid. Gaza will suffer with much pain. So will Ekron, for her hope will be destroyed. Gaza will lose her king, and no one will live in Ashkelon.

shall see it and fear; Ashkelon, Gaza also, and be sorely pained, and Ekron, for her confidence and expectation shall be put to shame, and a king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited.

6 A mixed people will live in Ashdod, and I will destroy the pride of the Philistines.

And a mongrel people shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will put an end to the pride of the Philistines.

7 I will take the blood from their mouths, and the unclean food from between their teeth. Those who are left will belong to our God, and be like a family in Judah. Ekron will be like the Jebusites.

And I will take out of mouths and from between their teeth the abominable idolatrous sacrifices eaten with the blood. And they too shall remain and be a remnant for our God, and they shall be like chieftains (the head over a thousand) in Judah, and Ekron shall be like one of the Jebusites.

8 T hen I will camp around My land and keep armies from going through it. No one will make it hard for them again, for now I am keeping watch. The Future King

Then I will encamp about My house as a guard or a garrison so that none shall march back and forth, and no oppressor or demanding collector shall again overrun them, for now My eyes are upon them.

9 B e full of joy, O people of Zion! Call out in a loud voice, O people of Jerusalem! See, your King is coming to you. He is fair and good and has the power to save. He is not proud and sits on a donkey, on the son of a female donkey.

Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O Daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King comes to you; He is just and having salvation, patient, meek, lowly, and riding on a donkey, upon a colt, the foal of a donkey.

10 I will destroy the war-wagon from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem. The battle-bow will be broken. He will make peace among the nations and rule from sea to sea, and from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth. The Lord Will Save His People

And I will cut off and exterminate the war chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off; and He shall speak the word and peace shall come to the nations, and His dominion shall be from the Sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth!

11 A s for you, because of the blood of My agreement with you, I have set your people free from the deep hole that has no water.

As for you also, because of and for the sake of the covenant blood, I have released and sent forth your imprisoned people out of the waterless pit.

12 R eturn to the strong city, you prisoners who have hope. Today I am telling you that I will give you twice as much as you had before.

Return to the stronghold, you prisoners of hope; even today do I declare that I will restore double your former prosperity to you.

13 I will use Judah as My bow, and Ephraim as My arrow. I will move your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece, and make you like a soldier’s sword.

For I have bent Judah for Myself as My bow, filled the bow with Ephraim as My arrow, and will stir up your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece, and will make you as the sword of a mighty man.

14 T hen the Lord will be seen over them, and His arrow will go out like lightning. The Lord God will blow the horn and go in the storm winds of the south.

And the Lord shall be seen over them and His arrow shall go forth as the lightning, and the Lord God will blow the trumpet and will go forth in the windstorms of the south.

15 T he Lord of All will fight for them, and they will destroy, and walk on the stones that were to be thrown at them. They will drink and make much noise as with wine. They will be filled like a cup used for putting blood on the corners of the altar.

The Lord of hosts shall defend and protect them; and they shall devour and they shall tread on as on slingstones, and they shall drink and be noisy and turbulent as from wine and become full like bowls, like the corners of the altar.

16 T he Lord their God will save them on that day as the flock of His people. For they are like the stones of a crown, shining in His land.

And the Lord their God will save them on that day as the flock of His people, for they shall be as the jewels of a crown, lifted high over and shining glitteringly upon His land.

17 H ow good and how beautiful they will be! Grain will make the young men grow strong. And the young, pure women will grow strong with new wine.

For how great is God’s goodness and how great is His beauty! And how great goodliness and beauty! Grain shall make the young men thrive and fresh wine the maidens.