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 the burden of the word of the LORD against the land of Hadrach and Damascus its resting place— for the eyes of men and of all the tribes of Israel are upon the LORD —

2 and Hamath, also, which borders on it; Tyre and Sidon, because they are very wise.

and also against Hamath, which borders it, as well as Tyre and Sidon, though they are very shrewd.

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 fortress; she has heaped up silver like dust, and gold like the dirt of 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.

Behold, the Lord will impoverish her and cast her wealth into the sea, and she will be consumed 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 fear; Gaza will writhe in agony, as will Ekron, for her hope will wither. There will cease to be a king in Gaza, and Ashkelon will be uninhabited.

6 Foreigners will dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.

A mixed race will occupy 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.

I will remove the blood from their mouths and the abominations from between their teeth. Then they too will become a remnant for our God; they will become like a clan in Judah, and Ekron will be 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.

But I will camp around My house because of an army, because of those who march to and fro, and never again will an oppressor overrun My people, for now I keep watch 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.

Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal 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.

And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem, and the bow of war will be broken. Then He will proclaim peace to the nations. His dominion will extend from sea to sea, and from the Euphrates 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, I will release your prisoners from the waterless pit.

12 Turn to the stronghold, you prisoners of hope. Even today I declare that I will restore double to you.

Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; even today I declare that I will restore to you double.

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 will bend Judah as My bow and fit it with Ephraim. I will rouse your sons, O Zion, against the sons of Greece. I will make you like the sword of a mighty man.

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.

Then the LORD will appear over them, and His arrow will go forth like lightning. The Lord GOD will sound the ram’s horn and advance in the whirlwinds of the south.

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.

The LORD of Hosts will shield them. They will destroy and conquer with slingstones; they will drink and roar as with wine. And they will be filled like sprinkling bowls, drenched 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.

On that day the LORD their God will save them as the flock of His people; for like jewels in a crown they will sparkle over 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 lovely they will be, and how beautiful! Grain will make the young men flourish, and new wine, the young women.