< Zechariah 9 >
1 An oracle. The word of the LORD is against the land of Hadrach, and will rest upon Damascus; for the eye of man and of all the tribes of Israel is toward the LORD;
“This is a declaration of Yahweh's word concerning the land of Hadrak and Damascus, its resting place; for the eyes of all humanity and all the tribes of Israel are toward Yahweh.
2 and Hamath, also, which borders on it; Tyre and Sidon, because they are very wise.
This declaration also concerns Hamath, which borders on Damascus, and it concerns Tyre and Sidon, for they are very wise.
3 Tyre built herself a stronghold, and heaped up silver like the dust, and fine gold like the mire of the streets.
Tyre has built herself a stronghold and heaped up silver like dust and refined gold like mud in the streets.
4 Look, the LORD will dispossess her, and he will strike her power in the sea; and she will be devoured with fire.
Look! The Lord will dispossess her and destroy her strength on the sea, so she will be devoured by fire.
5 Ashkelon will see it, and fear; Gaza also, and will writhe in agony; as will Ekron, for her expectation will be disappointed; and the king will perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon will not be inhabited.
Ashkelon will see and be afraid! Gaza also will tremble greatly! Ekron, her hopes will be disappointed! The king will perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall no longer be inhabited!
6 Foreigners will dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.
Strangers will make their homes in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.
7 I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth; and he also will be a remnant for our God; and he will be as a chieftain in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite.
For I will remove their blood from their mouths and their abominations from between their teeth. Then they will become a remnant for our God like a clan in Judah, and Ekron will become like the Jebusites.
8 I will camp around my house against the army, that none pass through or return; and no oppressor will pass through them any more: for now I have seen with my eyes.
I will camp around my land against enemy armies, so no one can pass through or return, for no oppressor will overrun them, for now I see with my own eyes!
9 Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion. Shout, daughter of Jerusalem. Look, your king comes to you. He is righteous, and having salvation; lowly, and riding on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Shout with great joy, daughter of Zion! Shout with happiness, daughter of Jerusalem! Behold! Your king is coming to you with righteousness and is rescuing you. He is humble and is riding on a donkey, on the colt of a donkey.
10 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow will be cut off; and he will speak peace to the nations: and his dominion will be from sea to sea, and from the River to the farthest parts of the earth.
Then I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem, and the bow will be cut off from battle; for he will speak peace to the nations, and his dominion will be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth!
11 As for you also, because of the blood of your covenant, I have set free your prisoners from the pit in which is no water.
As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will set your prisoners free from the pit where there is no water.
12 Turn to the stronghold, you prisoners of hope. Even today I declare that I will restore double to you.
Return to the stronghold, prisoners of hope! Even today I am declaring that I will return double to you,
13 For indeed I bend Judah as a bow for me. I have filled the bow with Ephraim; and I will stir up your sons, Zion, against your sons, Greece, and will make you like the sword of a mighty man.
for I have bent Judah as my bow. I have filled my quiver with Ephraim. I have roused your sons, Zion, against your sons, Greece, and have made you, Zion, like a warrior's sword!”
14 The LORD will be seen over them; and his arrow will go forth like lightning; and the LORD will blow the trumpet, and will go with whirlwinds of the south.
Yahweh will appear to them, and his arrows will shoot out like lightning! For my Lord Yahweh will blow the trumpet and will advance with the storms from Teman.
15 The LORD of hosts will defend them; and they will destroy and overcome with sling stones; and they will drink, and roar as through wine; and they will be filled like bowls, like the corners of the altar.
Yahweh of hosts will defend them, and they will devour them and defeat the stones of the slings. Then they will drink and shout like men drunk on wine, and they will be filled with wine like bowls, like the corners of the altar.
16 The LORD their God will save them in that day as the flock of his people; for they are like the jewels of a crown, lifted on high over his land.
So Yahweh their God will rescue them on that day, as the flock of his people. They are the jewels of a crown that will shine on his land.
17 For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty. Grain will make the young men flourish, and new wine the virgins.
How good and how beautiful they will be! The young men will flourish on grain and the virgins on sweet wine!”