Jeremiah 47

1 The word of YHWH that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines, before that Pharaoh struck Gaza.

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

2 "Thus says YHWH: 'Look, waters rise up out of the north, and shall become an overflowing stream, and shall overflow the land and all that is in it, the city and those who dwell in it; and the men shall cry, and all the inhabitants of the land shall wail.

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 At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong ones, at the rushing of his chariots, at the rumbling of his wheels, the fathers do not look back to their children for 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 comes to destroy all the Philistines, to cut off from Tyre and Sidon every helper who remains: for YHWH will destroy the Philistines, the remnant of the isle 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 on Gaza; Ashkelon is brought to nothing, the remnant of their valley: how long will 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 You sword of YHWH, "how long will it be before you be quiet? Put up yourself into your sheath; rest, and be still."

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

7 How can it be quiet, since YHWH has given you a command? Against Ashkelon, and against the seashore, there has he appointed it.'"

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