Zechariah 9:1-8

New International Reader's Version

It is the Lord’s message
    against the land of Hadrak.
    He will judge Damascus.
That’s because all the tribes of Israel look to him.
    So do all other people.
² The Lord will judge Hamath too.
    It’s next to Damascus.
He will also punish Tyre and Sidon
    even though they are very clever.
³ Tyre’s people have built a fort for themselves.
    They’ve piled up silver like dust.
    They have as much gold as the dirt in the streets.
⁴ But the Lord will take away everything they have.
    He’ll destroy their power on the Mediterranean Sea.
    And Tyre will be completely burned up.
⁵ Ashkelon will see it and become afraid.
    Gaza will groan with pain.
    So will Ekron. Its hope will vanish.
Gaza will no longer have a king.
    Ashkelon will be deserted.
⁶ A people who come from several nations will take over Ashdod.
    The Lord says, “I will put an end to the pride of the Philistines.
⁷ They will no longer drink the blood of their animal sacrifices.
    I will remove the ‘unclean’ food from between their teeth.
The Philistines who are left will belong to our God.
    They will become a family group in Judah.
And Ekron will be like the Jebusites.
    So the Philistines will become part of Israel.
⁸ But I will camp at my temple.
    I will guard it against enemy armies.
No one will ever crush my people again.
    I will make sure it does not happen.