“See how the waters are rising in the north;^(C)
    they will become an overflowing torrent.
They will overflow the land and everything in it,
    the towns and those who live in them.
The people will cry out;
    all who dwell in the land will wail^(D)
3 at the sound of the hooves of galloping steeds,
    at the noise of enemy chariots^(E)
    and the rumble of their wheels.
Parents will not turn to help their children;
    their hands will hang limp.^(F)
4 For the day has come
    to destroy all the Philistines
and to remove all survivors
    who could help Tyre^(G) and Sidon.^(H)
The Lord is about to destroy the Philistines,^(I)
    the remnant from the coasts of Caphtor.^[a](J)
5 Gaza will shave^(K) her head in mourning;
    Ashkelon^(L) will be silenced.
You remnant on the plain,
    how long will you cut^(M) yourselves?

⁶ “‘Alas, sword^(N) of the Lord,
    how long till you rest?
Return to your sheath;
    cease and be still.’^(O)
7 But how can it rest
    when the Lord has commanded it,
when he has ordered it
    to attack Ashkelon and the coast?”^(P)