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An oracle. The word of Yahweh is against the land of Hadrach,

and Damascus is its resting place.
    For to Yahweh belongs the eye of humankind,[a]
        and all the tribes of Israel,
and also Hamath, which borders on it;
    Tyre and Sidon—yes, they are very wise![b]
Tyre has built a fortification for itself,[c]
    and it heaped up silver like dust,
    and gold like the mud of the streets.
Look! The Lord will drive it[d] out
    and will hurl its[e] outer ramparts into the sea,
        and it[f] will be consumed by fire.
Ashkelon will see and will be afraid,
    and Gaza will writhe exceedingly,
    and Ekron also, because its hope is ruined.[g]
And the king from Gaza will perish,
    and Ashkelon will not be inhabited.
A mongrel people[h] will dwell in Ashdod,
    and I will cut down the pride of the Philistines.
I will remove its[i] blood from its[j] mouth,
    and its[k] abominations from between its[l] teeth.
And it[m] too will be a remnant for our God;
    and it[n] will be like a tribal chief[o] in Judah,
    and Ekron will be like the Jebusite.
But I will encamp at my temple[p] like a guard,
    against those crossing through and returning;
no oppressor will cross through them again,
    for now I have seen with my own eyes.

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Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 9:1 “Eye of humankind” is difficult to understand in this context; some scholars emend the phrase to “cities of Aram” or “capital of Aram”
  2. Zechariah 9:2 That is, wise in their own eyes (ironic)
  3. Zechariah 9:3 Hebrew “her”
  4. Zechariah 9:4 Hebrew “her”
  5. Zechariah 9:4 Hebrew “her”
  6. Zechariah 9:4 Hebrew “she”
  7. Zechariah 9:5 Traditionally “ashamed”; some presuppose a different Hebrew form and translate “withered”
  8. Zechariah 9:6 That is, a people of mixed marriage; “half-breeds”
  9. Zechariah 9:7 Hebrew “his”
  10. Zechariah 9:7 Hebrew “his”
  11. Zechariah 9:7 Hebrew “his”
  12. Zechariah 9:7 Hebrew “his”
  13. Zechariah 9:7 Hebrew “he”
  14. Zechariah 9:7 Hebrew “he”
  15. Zechariah 9:7 This word is sometimes interpreted as “clan”
  16. Zechariah 9:8 Or “house”

The [a]burden of the word of Jehovah upon the land of Hadrach, and Damascus shall be its resting-place (for [b]the eye of man and of all the tribes of Israel is toward Jehovah); and Hamath, also, which bordereth thereon; Tyre and Sidon, [c]because they are very wise. And Tyre did build herself a stronghold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets. Behold, the Lord will dispossess her, and he will smite [d]her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire. Ashkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also, and shall be sore pained; and Ekron, for her expectation shall be put to shame; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited. And [e]a bastard shall [f]dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines. And I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth; and he also shall be a remnant for our God; and he shall be as a chieftain in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite.

And I will encamp about my house [g]against the army, that none pass through or return; and no [h]oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes.

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Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 9:1 Or, oracle
  2. Zechariah 9:1 Or, Jehovah hath an eye upon men and upon all the tribe of Israel
  3. Zechariah 9:2 Or, though
  4. Zechariah 9:4 Or, the sea which is her rampart. Or, her rampart into the sea
  5. Zechariah 9:6 Or, a bastard race
  6. Zechariah 9:6 Or, sit as king
  7. Zechariah 9:8 Or, as otherwise read, as a garrison
  8. Zechariah 9:8 Or, exactor