Judgment against the Nations

For Gaza will be abandoned,
and Ashkelon will become a ruin.
Ashdod will be driven out at noon,
and Ekron will be uprooted.(A)
Woe, inhabitants of the seacoast,
nation of the Cherethites![a](B)
The word of the Lord is against you,
Canaan, land of the Philistines:
I will destroy you until there is no one left.
The seacoast will become pasturelands
with caves for shepherds and folds for sheep.
The coastland will belong
to the remnant of the house of Judah;
they will find pasture there.
They will lie down in the evening
among the houses of Ashkelon,
for the Lord their God will return to them
and restore their fortunes.

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Footnotes

  1. Zephaniah 2:5 = Sea Peoples

Oracles against foreign nations

Gaza will certainly be abandoned;
        and Ashkelon destroyed.
Ashdod will be driven out at noon;
        Ekron will be uprooted.
Doom, inhabitants of the seacoast,
        nation of Cretans.
The Lord’s word is against you,
        Canaan, land of the Philistines.
I will exterminate you, leaving no inhabitant.
The seacoast will become pastureland,
        with wells for shepherds and pens for the flocks.
The coast will belong to the survivors from the house of Judah;
        they will pasture beside the sea;[a]
            in the houses of Ashkelon they will lie down in the evening.
        The Lord their God will visit them and restore their possessions.

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Footnotes

  1. Zephaniah 2:7 Or they will pasture by them.