1. This is a messagefrom the Lord:His eyes are on everyone,especially the tribesof Israel.So he pronounces judgmentagainst the citiesof Hadrach and Damascus.
2. Judgment will also fallon the nearby cityof Hamath,as well as on Tyre and Sidon,whose people are clever.
3. Tyre has built a fortressand piled up silver and gold,as though they were dustor mud from the streets.
4. Now the Lord will punish Tyrewith poverty;he will sink its shipsand send it up in flames.
5. Both Ashkelon and Gazawill tremble with fear;Ekron will lose all hope.Gaza's king will be killed,and Ashkelon emptiedof its people.
6. A mob of half-breedswill settle in Ashdod,and the Lord himselfwill rob Philistia of pride.
7. No longer will the Philistineseat meat with blood in itor any unclean food.They will become partof the people of our Godfrom the tribe of Judah.And God will acceptthe people of Ekron,as he did the Jebusites.
8. God says, “I will stand guardto protect my temple from thosewho come to attack.I know what's happening,and no one will ill-treatmy people ever again.”
9. Everyone in Jerusalem,celebrate and shout!Your king has won a victory,and he is coming to you.He is humbleand rides on a donkey;he comes on the coltof a donkey.
10. I, the Lord, will take awaywar chariots and horsesfrom Israel and Jerusalem.Bows that were made for battlewill be broken.I will bring peace to nations,and your king will rulefrom sea to sea.His kingdom will reachfrom the River Euphratesacross the earth.
11. When I made a sacred agreementwith you, my people,we sealed it with blood.Now some of you are captivesin waterless pits,but I will come to your rescue
12. and offer you hope.Return to your fortress,because today I will reward youwith twice what you had.
13. I will use Judah as my bowand Israel as my arrow.I will take the people of Zionas my swordand attack the Greeks.
14. Like a cloud, the Lord Godwill appear over his people,and his arrows will flashlike lightning.God will sound his trumpetand attack in a whirlwindfrom the south.
15. The Lord All-Powerfulwill protect his people,and they will trample downthe sharpshootersand their slingshots.They will drink and get rowdy;they will be as full as a bowlat the time of sacrifice.
16. The Lord God will save themon that day,because they are his people,and they will shine on his landlike jewels in a crown.
17. How lovely they will be.Young people will grow therelike grain in a fieldor grapes in a vineyard.