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Other Nations Are Judged

¹ The Word of the Lord is against the land of Hadrach and will rest upon Damascus. For the eyes of men and all the family groups of Israel are on the Lord. ² The Word of the Lord is against Hamath also, which is beside Hadrach, and against Tyre and Sidon, even though they are very wise. ³ For Tyre built a strong tower for herself. She gathered silver like dust, and gold like the dirt of the streets. ⁴ But the Lord will take away her riches and throw them into the sea. And she will be destroyed by fire. ⁵ Ashkelon will see it and be afraid. Gaza will suffer with much pain. So will Ekron, for her hope will be destroyed. Gaza will lose her king, and no one will live in Ashkelon. ⁶ A mixed people will live in Ashdod, and I will destroy the pride of the Philistines. ⁷ I will take the blood from their mouths, and the unclean food from between their teeth. Those who are left will belong to our God, and be like a family in Judah. Ekron will be like the Jebusites. ⁸ Then I will camp around My land and keep armies from going through it. No one will make it hard for them again, for now I am keeping watch.

The Future King

⁹ Be full of joy, O people of Zion! Call out in a loud voice, O people of Jerusalem! See, your King is coming to you. He is fair and good and has the power to save. He is not proud and sits on a donkey, on the son of a female donkey. ¹⁰ I will destroy the war-wagon from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem. The battle-bow will be broken. He will make peace among the nations and rule from sea to sea, and from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.

The Lord Will Save His People

¹¹ As for you, because of the blood of My agreement with you, I have set your people free from the deep hole that has no water. ¹² Return to the strong city, you prisoners who have hope. Today I am telling you that I will give you twice as much as you had before. ¹³ I will use Judah as My bow, and Ephraim as My arrow. I will move your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece, and make you like a soldier's sword. ¹⁴ Then the Lord will be seen over them, and His arrow will go out like lightning. The Lord God will blow the horn and go in the storm winds of the south. ¹⁵ The Lord of All will fight for them, and they will destroy, and walk on the stones that were to be thrown at them. They will drink and make much noise as with wine. They will be filled like a cup used for putting blood on the corners of the altar. ¹⁶ The Lord their God will save them on that day as the flock of His people. For they are like the stones of a crown, shining in His land. ¹⁷ How good and how beautiful they will be! Grain will make the young men grow strong. And the young, pure women will grow strong with new wine.