Zechariah 9

1An oracle: The word of Yahweh is against the land of Hadrach, and Damascus is where it will come to rest—for the eyes of all people and of all the tribes of Israel are on Yahweh—

2and on Hamath too, which borders it, and on Tyre and Sidon, though they are very wise.

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

4But the Lord will take away her possessions and strike down her power on the sea, and she will be consumed by fire.

5Ashkelon will see it and be afraid; Gaza will writhe in great pain, and Ekron too, for her hope will be put to shame. Gaza will lose her king, and Ashkelon will be left without people.

6A mixed people will live in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.

7I will take the blood out of their mouths and the detestable food from between their teeth. They too will be a remnant for our God and will become like a clan in Judah, and Ekron will be like the Jebusites.

8I will camp around my house as a guard against those who march back and forth. No oppressor will overrun them again, for now I am watching with my own eyes.

9Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Cry out for joy, Daughter Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and has been given victory; he is humble, and he rides on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a female donkey.

10I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the warhorse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. 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.

11As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit.

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

13For I will bend Judah as my bow and fill it with Ephraim. I will rouse your sons, Zion, against your sons, Greece, and make you like a warrior’s sword.

14Then Yahweh will appear over them, and his arrow will flash like lightning. Lord Yahweh will blow the ram’s horn and march out in the storms of the south.

15Yahweh of Armies will shield them. They will devour and trample the sling stones; they will drink and roar as if with wine. They will be full like a sprinkling bowl, like the corners of the altar.

16On that day Yahweh their God will save them as the flock of his people; like jewels in a crown they will sparkle over his land.

17How great is his goodness, and how great his beauty! Grain will make the young men flourish, and new wine the young women.