1. This is the message from the lord against the land of Aram and the city of Damascus, for the eyes of humanity, including all the tribes of Israel, are on the lord.
2. Doom is certain for Hamath,near Damascus,and for the cities of Tyre and Sidon,though they are so clever.
3. Tyre has built a strong fortressand has made silver and goldas plentiful as dust in the streets!
4. But now the Lord will strip away Tyre’s possessionsand hurl its fortifications into the sea,and it will be burned to the ground.
5. The city of Ashkelon will see Tyre falland will be filled with fear.Gaza will shake with terror,as will Ekron, for their hopes will be dashed.Gaza’s king will be killed,and Ashkelon will be deserted.
6. Foreigners will occupy the city of Ashdod.I will destroy the pride of the Philistines.
7. I will grab the bloody meat from their mouthsand snatch the detestable sacrifices from their teeth.Then the surviving Philistines will worship our Godand become like a clan in Judah.The Philistines of Ekron will join my people,as the ancient Jebusites once did.
8. I will guard my Templeand protect it from invading armies.I am watching closely to ensurethat no more foreign oppressors overrun my people’s land.
9. Rejoice, O people of Zion!Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem!Look, your king is coming to you.He is righteous and victorious,yet he is humble, riding on a donkey—riding on a donkey’s colt.