Zechariah 9
1 A pronouncement: The word of the LORD in the land of Hadrach, with Damascus as its resting place. For the LORD’s eye is on humanity and all the tribes of Israel.
2 Hamath also borders it, along with Tyre and Sidon, though they are very wise.
3 Tyre built herself a stronghold; she piled up silver like dust and fine gold like street mud.
4 Look, the Lord will take possession of her, strike down her power in the sea, and she will be consumed by fire.
5 Ashkelon will see and be afraid; Gaza too will writhe in great anguish, and Ekron, because her hope has dried up. The king will vanish from Gaza, and Ashkelon will no longer be inhabited.
6 A bastard will live in Ashdod, and I will destroy the pride of the Philistines.
7 I will take the blood from his mouth and the detestable things from between his teeth. He too will remain as a remnant for our God; he will be like a clan leader in Judah, and Ekron will be like the Jebusites.
8 I will camp beside my house as a guard, against those who pass by and those who return. No oppressor will pass over them again, for now I watch with my own eyes.
9 Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion! Shout for joy, daughter of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you, righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a young donkey, the foal of a she-donkey.
10 I will destroy the war chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem; the battle bow will be destroyed, and he will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.
11 As for you, because of the blood of your covenant, I have released your prisoners from the waterless pit.
12 Return to the stronghold, prisoners of hope! Even today I declare: I will restore double to you.
13 For I have bent Judah as my bow; I have filled the bow with Ephraim. I have roused your sons, Zion, against your sons, Greece, and made you like a warrior’s sword.
14 The LORD will appear over them, and his arrow will flash like lightning. The Lord GOD will sound the trumpet and advance in the whirlwinds of the south.
15 The LORD of Armies will protect them. They will devour and trample the sling stones; they will drink and roar as if with wine, and be filled like a sprinkling bowl, like the corners of the altar.
16 On that day the LORD their God will save them as the flock of his people, for they are stones in a crown, sparkling over his land.
17 How great is his goodness, and how great his beauty! Grain will make the young men flourish, and new wine the young women.
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