Judgment on Israel’s Enemies
9 A declaration: this message from the Lord in the land of Hadrach,[a]
with Damascus its confederate,[b]
because the eyes of humanity[c] will look to[d] the Lord,
along with those of[e] all the tribes of Israel.
2 Also Hamath, which borders on it—
along with Tyre and Sidon—
indeed they are very wise.
3 “Tyre built itself a fortification,
hoarding silver like dust
and pure gold like mud in a street.
4 Look! The Lord will evict her,
striking at her power in the sea,
and she will be consumed by fire.
5 Ashkelon will see it happen and will be terrified;
Gaza will tremble greatly.
Ekron will be ashamed of her expectations,
Gaza’s king will perish,
and Ashkelon will become uninhabited.
6 A strange people[f] will inhabit Ashdod,
and I will eliminate the arrogance of Philistia.
7 I will remove the blood from its mouth,
along with its abominations from between its teeth.
Its survivors will be dedicated to our God;
It will be like a clan of Judah,
and Ekron will be as a Jebusite.[g]
8 I will set a garrison around my Temple,
to hinder those who might come and go,
and to guard against oppressors who intend to invade;
for I have taken note of this with my eyes.”
The Coming of Zion’s King
9 “Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion;
cry out, daughter of Jerusalem!
Look! Your king is coming to you.
He is righteous,
and he is able to save.
He is humble,
and is riding on a colt,
the foal of a donkey.
10 I will banish[h] chariots from Ephraim
and horses from Jerusalem.
War weapons[i] will be banished,
and your king[j] will speak peace to the nations.
His dominion will extend from sea to sea,
and from the River to the farthest portion of the earth.
11 Now concerning you and my blood covenant with you,
I have liberated your prisoners
from a waterless pit.
12 Return to your fortress, you prisoners who have hope.
Even today I am telling you:
In return I will repay you double.
13 For I have bent Judah as if it were my bow,
loading it with Ephraim.
I raised up your sons, Zion,
against your sons, Greece,
wielding you like a mighty warrior’s sword.”
Israel’s Lord Appears
14 The Lord will appear over them—
his arrow will shoot like lightning.
The Lord God will blow the trumpet,
and go out with the southern windstorm.
15 The Lord of the Heavenly Armies will defend them;
they will devour and conquer those who sling stones.
They will drink and be boisterous like those who are drunk.
They will be filled to the brim with blood,[k]
like the corners of the altar.
16 The Lord their God will save them at that time[l]
as his very own flock of people,
because they are his crown jewels,
exalted throughout his land.
17 For how great is his goodness,
and how great is his beauty!
Grain will make the young men thrive,
and new wine the virgins.
Footnotes
- Zechariah 9:1 I.e. a district near Damascus
- Zechariah 9:1 Cf. Isa 7:2; or resting place
- Zechariah 9:1 Or Aram
- Zechariah 9:1 Lit. will be on
- Zechariah 9:1 The Heb. lacks those of
- Zechariah 9:6 Lit. A bastard
- Zechariah 9:7 I.e. a Jerusalemite
- Zechariah 9:10 Lit. will cut off
- Zechariah 9:10 Lit. The war bow
- Zechariah 9:10 Lit. and he
- Zechariah 9:15 The Heb. lacks with blood
- Zechariah 9:16 Lit. day