ZechariahChapter 9

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¹This is a heavy message, the word of the LORD.
It is against the land of Hadrach.
It will come to rest on Damascus.
For the eyes of all people and of all the tribes of Israel are on the LORD.a ²It is also against Hamath, which is next to it.
It is against Tyre and Sidon too, even though they are very clever. ³Tyre has built herself a strong fortress.
She has piled up silver like dust.
She has piled up gold like dirt in the streets. ⁴But look, the Lord will take away all she owns.
He will throw her riches into the sea.
She will be burned up by fire. ⁵Ashkelon will see it and be afraid.
Gaza will twist in pain.
Ekron will too, because her hope will dry up.
Gaza will not have a king anymore.
No one will live in Ashkelon. ⁶People of mixed races will take over Ashdod.
I will cut off the pride of the Philistines. ⁷I will take the blood out of their mouths.
I will take the disgusting food from between their teeth.
Then they too will be people who are left for our God.
They will become like a family group in Judah.
Ekron will be like the Jebusites. ⁸But I will camp around my house to guard it from armies.
I will guard it from those who march back and forth.
No cruel ruler will ever again overrun my people.
For now I am watching with my own eyes. ⁹Be very glad, Daughter Zion!
Shout in victory, Daughter Jerusalem!
Look, your King is coming to you.
He is righteous, and he wins the victory.
He is humble, riding on a donkey.
He rides on a colt, the young one of a donkey. ¹⁰I will take away the chariots from Ephraim.
I will take away the war horses from Jerusalem.
The bows used in war will be broken.
Then he will announce peace to the nations.
He will rule from sea to sea.
He will rule from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth. ¹¹As for you, I will set your prisoners free from the pit with no water.
I will do this because of the blood of my covenant with you. ¹²Come back to your fortress, you prisoners who have hope!
Even today I promise that I will give you back twice as much. ¹³I will bend Judah like my bow.
I will load it with Ephraim like an arrow.
Zion, I will wake up your sons to fight against the sons of Greece.
I will make you like the sword of a mighty warrior. ¹⁴Then the LORD will appear over them.
His arrow will shoot out like lightning.
The Lord GOD will blow the ram's horn.
He will march out in the storms from the south. ¹⁵The LORD of Hosts will protect them.
They will destroy their enemies and beat them with stones from slings.
They will drink and shout as if they had drunk wine.
They will be full like the bowls used for sprinkling.
They will be soaked like the corners of the altar. ¹⁶On that day the LORD their God will save them.
He will save them as the flock of his people.
They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown. ¹⁷How lovely and beautiful they will be!
Grain will make the young men grow strong.
New wine will make the young women grow strong.