Jeremiah 47

1 That which has been the word of YHWH to Jeremiah concerning the Philistines, before Pharaoh strikes Gaza:

This is the message from the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet about the Philistines before Pharaoh attacked Gaza.

2 “Thus said YHWH: Behold, waters are going up from the north, And have been for an overflowing stream, And they overflow the land and its fullness, The city, and those dwelling in it, And men have cried out, And every inhabitant of the land has howled.

This is what the Lord says: Look at the waters rising from the north! They will become an overflowing river that sweeps across the country and everything in it, flooding the towns and everyone's homes. The people will cry out for help; everyone who lives in the country will weep,

3 From the sound of the stamping of the hooves of his mighty ones, From the rushing of his chariot, The noise of his wheels, Fathers have not turned to sons, From feebleness of hands,

as they hear the sound of stallions charging, the rattling of chariots and the rumble of their wheels. Fathers won't go back to help their sons—they have no strength because they're terrified.

4 Because of the day that has come to spoil all the Philistines, To cut off every helping remnant from Tyre and from Sidon. For YHWH is spoiling the Philistines, The remnant of the island of Caphtor.

The day has arrived when all the Philistines will be destroyed, when Tyre and Sidon will have no more allies to help them. The Lord is going to destroy the Philistines, those who are left from the island of Crete.

5 Baldness has come to Gaza, Ashkelon has been cut off, O remnant of their valley, Until when do you cut yourself?

The people of Gaza will shave their heads; the town of Ashkelon lies in ruins. You who are left on the coastal plain, how long will you go on cutting yourself?

6 Behold, sword of YHWH, until when are you not quiet? Be removed to your sheath, rest and cease.

Oh sword of the Lord, when are you going to stop killing? Go back in your sheath. Stop killing and stay there!

7 How will it be quiet, And YHWH has given a charge to it, Against Ashkelon and against the seashore? He has appointed it there!”

But how can the sword stop killing when the Lord has given it orders to attack Ashkelon and its coastlands?