The Burden against Israel’s Enemies

1This 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 ²⁹—

2and also against Hamath, which borders it, as well as Tyre and Sidon, though they are very shrewd.

3Tyre has built herself a fortress; she has heaped up silver like dust,
and gold like the dirt of the streets.

4Behold, the Lord will impoverish her and cast her wealth into the sea, ³⁰
and she will be consumed by fire.

5Ashkelon 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.

6A mixed race will occupy Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.

7I 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 ³¹in Judah,
and Ekron will be like the Jebusites.

8But 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.

Zion’s Coming King

9Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, ³²humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. ³³

10And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim ³⁴and 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 ³⁵to the ends of the earth.

11As for you, because of the blood of My covenant, I will release your prisoners from the waterless pit.

12Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; even today I declare that I will restore to you double.

13For I will bend Judah as My bow and fit it with Ephraim. I will rouse your sons, O Zion, against the sons of Greece. ³⁶I will make you like the sword of a mighty man.

The LORD Will Save His People

14Then 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.

15The 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.

16On 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.

17How lovely they will be, and how beautiful! Grain will make the young men flourish, and new wine, the young women.