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The Word of the Lord Against Israel’s Enemies

A threatening oracle.
The word of the Lord is against the land of Hadrak,
and against Damascus, its resting place,
because the eye of the Lord is on mankind and on all the tribes of Israel.
It is also against Hamath, which borders on Damascus,
and Tyre and Sidon, though they are very wise.
        Tyre has built a stronghold for herself and has piled up silver like dust,
        and gold like dirt from the streets.
    Look, the Lord will seize everything she possesses
    and throw her wealth into the sea,
    and she will be consumed by fire.
    Ashkelon will see it and be afraid.
    Gaza will writhe in anguish,
    and Ekron too, because her hopes have been dashed.
    The kingship will perish from Gaza,
    and Ashkelon will no longer be inhabited.
    A mixed race will live in Ashdod,
    and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.
    I will remove their blood from their mouths
    and their detestable things from between their teeth.
    Philistia too will be a remnant for our God,
    and it will be like a clan in Judah.
    Ekron will be like the Jebusites.
    I will set up camp around my house,
    as a guard against those passing back and forth.
    The oppressor will never again march over them,
    because now I am watching with my own eyes.

Your Savior and King Is Coming!

Rejoice greatly, Daughter of Zion!
    Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem!
    Look! Your King is coming to you.
    He is righteous and brings salvation.
    He is humble and is 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.
    The battle bow will be taken away,
    and he will proclaim peace to the nations.
    His kingdom will extend from sea to sea,
    from the River[a] to the ends of the earth.

11 As for you,
    because of the blood of my covenant with you,
    I will release your prisoners from the waterless pit.
12 Return to the stronghold, you prisoners who have hope.
    This very day I declare that I will restore double to you.
13 For I will bend Judah as my bow,
    and I will load it with Ephraim.
    I will rouse your sons, Zion,
    against your sons, Greece,
    and I will make you like a strong warrior’s sword.

The Lord Will Appear

14 The Lord will appear above them,
    and his arrow will go out like lightning.
    The Lord God will sound the ram’s horn,
    and he will go forth in the windstorms from the south.
15 The Lord of Armies will defend them,
    and they will eat.
    They will overpower their enemies with sling stones.
    Then they will drink,
    and they will be boisterous as if drunk with wine.
    They will be filled like a sprinkling bowl used at the corners of the altar.
16 On that day the Lord their God will save them as the flock of his people.
    For like the jewels of a crown they will shine on his land.
17 Yes, what goodness it will have! What beauty!
    Grain will make the young men thrive,
    and new wine will make the young women thrive.

Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 9:10 That is, the Euphrates

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