Zechariah 9

1 [This is another] message [that I received] from Yahweh. [Yahweh said, ] “I watch [MTY] everyone, especially the tribes of Israel; [so] I will [punish the people in] the Hadrach [region] and in Damascus [city] [because of what they did to the people of Israel].

The burden of a word of YHWH against the land of Hadrach, and Demmeseh—his place of rest: (When to YHWH [is] the eye of man, And of all the tribes of Israel).

2 [I will also punish the people in] nearby Hamath [city]. I will also [punish the people in] Tyre and Sidon [cities], even though they are [considered to be] [IRO] very wise.

And also Hamath borders thereon, Tyre and Sidon, for—very wise!

3 [The people in] Tyre built a high wall [around their city]. They piled up [huge amounts of] silver and gold as though they were [piles of] dirt in the streets.

And Tyre builds a bulwark for herself, And heaps silver as dust, And gold as mire of out-places.

4 But [I], Yahweh, will cause their precious possessions to be taken away and all their ships to be destroyed, and their city will be destroyed by a fire.

Behold, the Lord dispossesses her, And He has struck her force in the sea, And she is consumed with fire.

5 [The people in Ashkelon city] will see that [happen], and they will become very afraid. [The people in] Gaza [city] will shake because of being terrified, and [the people in Ekron city] will shake too, because they will no longer expect [to prosper]. The king of [the city of] Gaza will be killed, and [the city of] Ashkelon will be deserted.

Ashkelon sees and fears, Also Gaza, and she is exceedingly pained, Also Ekron—for her expectation dried up, And a king has perished from Gaza, And Ashkelon does not remain,

6 Foreigners will occupy Ashdod [city]. I will cause the [people in all those cities of] Philistia to no longer be proud.

“And a foreigner has dwelt in Ashdod, And I have cut off the excellence of the Philistines.

7 I will no longer allow them to eat [MTY] meat that still has blood in it, and I will forbid them to eat [MTY] food that I [MTY] have not allowed them to eat [because it was offered to idols]. [At that time, ] the people [in Philistia] who survive will worship me, and they will become [my people, like] the people of Judah are. The Philistine people of Ekron will also become my people like [SIM] the people of Jebus did [when they were conquered].

And turned aside his blood from his mouth, His abominations from between his teeth, And he has remained, even he, to our God, And he has been as a leader in Judah, And Ekron as a Jebusite.

8 I will protect my temple, and I will not allow any [enemy soldiers] to enter it. No [enemies] will harm my people again, because I will be watching [over my people] carefully.

And I have pitched a camp for My house, Because of the passer through, and of the returner, And an exactor does not pass through against them again, For now, I have seen with My eyes.

9 Rejoice very much, [you people of] Jerusalem [APO, DOU] and shout joyfully, because your king will be coming to you. He is righteous and victorious; [but he will be] gentle, and [he will be] riding on a donkey, on a young female donkey.

Rejoice exceedingly, O daughter of Zion, Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem, Behold, your King comes to you, Righteous and having salvation, Afflicted—and riding on a donkey, And on a colt—a son of female donkeys.

10 I will get rid of the chariots in the Ephraim [region that are used in battles] and [all] the war horses in Jerusalem. [All] the bows used in wars will be broken. [Your king] will proclaim that he will cause things to go well and peacefully in the nations. He will rule [the area] from the [Mediterranean] Sea to the [Dead] Sea, and from the [Euphrates] River to the most distant places on the earth.

And I have cut off the chariot from Ephraim, And the horse from Jerusalem, Indeed, the bow of battle has been cut off, And He has spoken peace to nations, And His rule [is] from sea to sea, And from the river to the ends of the earth.

11 As for you [my people of Jerusalem], because of the blood [of the animals that were sacrificed to make] my agreement with you, I will free your people who were forced to go to other countries where [it was as though they were kept] in a waterless pit.

Also You—by the blood of Your covenant, I have sent Your prisoners out of the pit, There is no water in it.

12 [You people who were] prisoners [in those countries] who [still] confidently expect [God to help you], return to [Judah], where you will be safe. This day I declare that I will give you two blessings for [each of the troubles that you have experienced].

Return to a stronghold, You prisoners of the hope, Even today a second announcer I restore to you.

13 I will cause Judah to be like [MET] my bow, and I will cause Israel to be [like] [MET] my arrow. I will enable you young men of Jerusalem to fight against the soldiers of Greece; you will be like [SIM] a warrior’s sword.”

For I have trodden for Myself with Judah, I have filled a bow [with] Ephraim, And I have stirred up your sons, O Zion, Against your sons, O Javan, And I have set you as the sword of a hero.”

14 [Some day] Yahweh will appear [in the sky] above his people, and the arrows that he shoots will be like [SIM] lightning. Yahweh [our] Lord will blow his trumpet, and he will march [fiercely] like [MET] the storms from the south.

And YHWH appears for them, And His arrow has gone forth as lightning, And Lord YHWH blows with a horn, And He has gone with whirlwinds of the south.

15 The Commander of the armies of angels will protect [his people]; [the soldiers of Judah] will attack and defeat [their enemies who attack them] using slingshots. [Those soldiers of Judah] will drink and celebrate and shout like [SIM] people who are drunk; they will be as full [of wine] as the bowl that holds [the blood of the animals that are sacrificed] and [which is then] sprinkled on the corners of the altar.

YHWH of Hosts covers them over, And they consumed, and subdued sling-stones, Indeed, they have drunk, They have made a noise as wine, And they have been full as a bowl, As corners of an altar.

16 On that day, Yahweh our God will save his people [like a shepherd saves] his flock [of sheep from danger]. In their land, they will be like [SIM] jewels that sparkle on a crown.

And their God YHWH has saved them in that day, As a flock of His people, For stones of a crown are displaying themselves over His ground.

17 They will be delightful and beautiful. The young men will become strong from [eating] grain, and the young women will [become strong] from [drinking] new wine.

For what His goodness! And what His beauty! Grain the young men, And new wine the virgins—make fruitful!