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Fate of the nations

A pronouncement. The Lord’s word is against the land of Hadrach,
        and Damascus is its resting place,
        for the city of Aram[a] and all the tribes of Israel belong to the Lord.
Hamath also borders on it.
Tyre and Sidon, indeed, each is exceedingly wise.
Tyre built a fortress for herself.
She piled up silver like dust
        and gold like mud in the streets,
but the Lord will take her possessions away
        and knock her wealth into the sea.
She will be devoured with fire.

Ashkelon will look and be afraid.
    Gaza will writhe in agony,
            and also Ekron, because her hope has dried up.
    The king will perish from Gaza;
            Ashkelon won’t be inhabited.
An illegitimate child will dwell in Ashdod;
    I will eliminate the pride of the Philistines.
I will remove bloody food from his mouth
        and pieces of unclean food from between his teeth.
He will be a survivor who belongs to our God.
        He will be like a chieftain in Judah;
            Ekron will be like a Jebusite.
I will encamp before my house as a guard
    against anyone departing or returning.
        A slave driver will no longer pass through against them,
            for I have seen you[b] with my eyes.

Joy and protection for Judah and Ephraim

Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion.
        Sing aloud, Daughter Jerusalem.
Look, your king will come to you.
        He is righteous and victorious.
        He is humble and riding on an ass,
            on a colt, the offspring of a donkey.
10 He[c] will cut off the chariot from Ephraim
        and the warhorse from Jerusalem.
The bow used in battle will be cut off;
        he will speak peace to the nations.
His rule will stretch from sea to sea,
        and from the river to the ends of the earth.
11 Moreover,[d] by the blood of your covenant,
    I will release your prisoners from the waterless pit.
12 Return to the stronghold, prisoners of hope.
        Moreover, declare today that I will return double to you.
13 Indeed, I myself will bend Judah as a bow;
        I will fill it with Ephraim.
Zion, I will rouse your sons against your sons. Greece, I will make you
        like a warrior’s sword.
14 The Lord will appear above them;
        his arrow will go forth like lightning.
The Lord God will blow the horn;
        he will march forth on the stormy winds of the south.
15 The Lord of heavenly forces will protect them.
        They will devour and subdue like sling stones.[e]
        They will drink, mumbling like one having wine.
        They will be filled like a bowl, like the corners of the altar.
16 The Lord their God will deliver them on that day as the flock of his people;
        they will be the jewels in a crown dotting his land.
17 What is his goodness,
        and what is his beauty?
Grain will make his young men flourish;
        so too wine his young women.

Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 9:1 Or eyes of humanity
  2. Zechariah 9:8 Heb lacks you.
  3. Zechariah 9:10 LXX; MT I
  4. Zechariah 9:11 Heb uncertain
  5. Zechariah 9:15 Heb uncertain

Judgment on Israel’s Enemies

A prophecy:(A)

The word of the Lord is against the land of Hadrak
    and will come to rest on Damascus(B)
for the eyes of all people and all the tribes of Israel
    are on the Lord[a]
and on Hamath(C) too, which borders on it,
    and on Tyre(D) and Sidon,(E) though they are very skillful.
Tyre has built herself a stronghold;
    she has heaped up silver like dust,
    and gold like the dirt of the streets.(F)
But the Lord will take away her possessions
    and destroy(G) her power on the sea,
    and she will be consumed by fire.(H)
Ashkelon(I) will see it and fear;
    Gaza will writhe in agony,
    and Ekron too, for her hope will wither.
Gaza will lose her king
    and Ashkelon will be deserted.
A mongrel people will occupy Ashdod,
    and I will put an end(J) to the pride of the Philistines.
I will take the blood from their mouths,
    the forbidden food from between their teeth.
Those who are left will belong to our God(K)
    and become a clan in Judah,
    and Ekron will be like the Jebusites.(L)
But I will encamp(M) at my temple
    to guard it against marauding forces.(N)
Never again will an oppressor overrun my people,
    for now I am keeping watch.(O)

The Coming of Zion’s King

Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!(P)
    Shout,(Q) Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,(R)
    righteous and victorious,(S)
lowly and riding on a donkey,(T)
    on a colt, the foal of a donkey.(U)
10 I will take away the chariots from Ephraim
    and the warhorses from Jerusalem,
    and the battle bow will be broken.(V)
He will proclaim peace(W) to the nations.
    His rule will extend from sea to sea
    and from the River[b] to the ends of the earth.(X)
11 As for you, because of the blood of my covenant(Y) with you,
    I will free your prisoners(Z) from the waterless pit.(AA)
12 Return to your fortress,(AB) you prisoners of hope;
    even now I announce that I will restore twice(AC) as much to you.
13 I will bend Judah as I bend my bow(AD)
    and fill it with Ephraim.(AE)
I will rouse your sons, Zion,
    against your sons, Greece,(AF)
    and make you like a warrior’s sword.(AG)

The Lord Will Appear

14 Then the Lord will appear over them;(AH)
    his arrow will flash like lightning.(AI)
The Sovereign Lord will sound the trumpet;(AJ)
    he will march in the storms(AK) of the south,
15     and the Lord Almighty will shield(AL) them.
They will destroy
    and overcome with slingstones.(AM)
They will drink and roar as with wine;(AN)
    they will be full like a bowl(AO)
    used for sprinkling[c] the corners(AP) of the altar.
16 The Lord their God will save his people on that day(AQ)
    as a shepherd saves his flock.
They will sparkle in his land
    like jewels in a crown.(AR)
17 How attractive and beautiful they will be!
    Grain will make the young men thrive,
    and new wine the young women.

Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 9:1 Or Damascus. / For the eye of the Lord is on all people, / as well as on the tribes of Israel,
  2. Zechariah 9:10 That is, the Euphrates
  3. Zechariah 9:15 Or bowl, / like