Jeremiah 47

1 This is the word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines before Pharaoh attacked Gaza:

2 This is what the Lord says:

“See how the waters are rising in the north;

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

3 at the sound of the hooves of galloping steeds,

at the noise of enemy chariots

and the rumble of their wheels.

Parents will not turn to help their children;

their hands will hang limp.

4 For the day has come

to destroy all the Philistines

and to remove all survivors

who could help Tyre and Sidon.

The Lord is about to destroy the Philistines,

the remnant from the coasts of Caphtor.

5 Gaza will shave her head in mourning;

Ashkelon will be silenced.

You remnant on the plain,

how long will you cut yourselves?

6 “ ‘Alas, sword of the Lord,

how long till you rest?

Return to your sheath;

cease and be still.’

7 But how can it rest

when the Lord has commanded it,

when he has ordered it

to attack Ashkelon and the coast?”

1 The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines, before Pharaoh struck down Gaza.

2 “Thus says the Lord:

Behold, waters are rising out of the north,

and shall become an overflowing torrent;

they shall overflow the land and all that fills it,

the city and those who dwell in it.

Men shall cry out,

and every inhabitant of the land shall wail.

3 At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his stallions,

at the rushing of his chariots, at the rumbling of their wheels,

the fathers look not back to their children,

so feeble are their hands,

4 because of the day that is coming to destroy

all the Philistines,

to cut off from Tyre and Sidon

every helper that remains.

For the Lord is destroying the Philistines,

the remnant of the coastland of Caphtor.

5 Baldness has come upon Gaza;

Ashkelon has perished.

O remnant of their valley,

how long will you gash yourselves?

6 Ah, sword of the Lord!

How long till you are quiet?

Put yourself into your scabbard;

rest and be still!

7 How can it be quiet

when the Lord has given it a charge?

Against Ashkelon and against the seashore

he has appointed it.”

1 This is the Lord’s message to the prophet Jeremiah concerning the Philistines of Gaza, before it was captured by the Egyptian army. 2 This is what the Lord says:

“A flood is coming from the north

to overflow the land.

It will destroy the land and everything in it—

cities and people alike.

People will scream in terror,

and everyone in the land will wail.

3 Hear the clatter of stallions’ hooves

and the rumble of wheels as the chariots rush by.

Terrified fathers run madly,

without a backward glance at their helpless children.

4 “The time has come for the Philistines to be destroyed,

along with their allies from Tyre and Sidon.

Yes, the Lord is destroying the remnant of the Philistines,

those colonists from the island of Crete.

5 Gaza will be humiliated, its head shaved bald;

Ashkelon will lie silent.

You remnant from the Mediterranean coast,

how long will you cut yourselves in mourning?

6 “Now, O sword of the Lord,

when will you be at rest again?

Go back into your sheath;

rest and be still.

7 “But how can it be still

when the Lord has sent it on a mission?

For the city of Ashkelon

and the people living along the sea

must be destroyed.”

1 The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before Pharaoh attacked Gaza.

2 Thus says the Lord:

“Behold, waters rise out of the north,

And shall be an overflowing flood;

They shall overflow the land and all that is in it,

The city and those who dwell within;

Then the men shall cry,

And all the inhabitants of the land shall wail.

3 At the noise of the stamping hooves of his strong horses,

At the rushing of his chariots,

At the rumbling of his wheels,

The fathers will not look back for their children,

Lacking courage,

4 Because of the day that comes to plunder all the Philistines,

To cut off from Tyre and Sidon every helper who remains;

For the Lord shall plunder the Philistines,

The remnant of the country of Caphtor.

5 Baldness has come upon Gaza,

Ashkelon is cut off

With the remnant of their valley.

How long will you cut yourself?

6 “O you sword of the Lord,

How long until you are quiet?

Put yourself up into your scabbard,

Rest and be still!

7 How can it be quiet,

Seeing the Lord has given it a charge

Against Ashkelon and against the seashore?

There He has appointed it.”

1 Before the king of Egypt attacked the city of Gaza, the Lord spoke his word to Jeremiah the prophet. This message is to the Philistine people.

2 This is what the Lord says:

“See, the enemy is gathering in the north like rising waters.

They will become like an overflowing stream

and will cover the whole country like a flood,

even the towns and the people living in them.

Everyone living in that country

will cry for help;

the people will cry painfully.

3 They will hear the sound of the running horses

and the noisy chariots

and the rumbling chariot wheels.

Parents will not help their children to safety,

because they will be too weak to help.

4 The time has come

to destroy all the Philistines.

It is time to destroy all who are left alive

who could help the cities of Tyre and Sidon.

The Lord will soon destroy the Philistines,

those left alive from the island of Crete.

5 The people from the city of Gaza will be sad and shave their heads.

The people from the city of Ashkelon will be made silent.

Those left alive from the valley,

how long will you cut yourselves?

6 “You cry, ‘Sword of the Lord,

how long will you keep fighting?

Return to your holder.

Stop and be still.’

7 But how can his sword rest

when the Lord has given it a command?

He has ordered it

to attack Ashkelon and the seacoast.”

1 The word of Jehovah that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines, before that Pharaoh smote Gaza.

2 Thus saith Jehovah: Behold, waters rise up out of the north, and shall become an overflowing stream, and shall overflow the land and all that is therein, the city and them that dwell therein; and the men shall cry, and all the inhabitants of the land shall wail. 3 At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong ones, at the rushing of his chariots, at the rumbling of his wheels, the fathers look not back to their children for feebleness of hands; 4 because of the day that cometh to destroy all the Philistines, to cut off from Tyre and Sidon every helper that remaineth: for Jehovah will destroy the Philistines, the remnant of the isle of Caphtor. 5 Baldness is come upon Gaza; Ashkelon is brought to nought, the remnant of their valley: how long wilt thou cut thyself? 6 O thou sword of Jehovah, how long will it be ere thou be quiet? put up thyself into thy scabbard; rest, and be still. 7 How canst thou be quiet, seeing Jehovah hath given thee a charge? Against Ashkelon, and against the sea-shore, there hath he appointed it.

1 The word of Jehovah that came to the prophet Jeremiah concerning the Philistines, before Pharaoh smote Gazah. 2 Thus saith Jehovah: Behold, waters rise up out of the north, and shall become an overflowing flood, and shall overflow the land, and all that is therein; the city, and them that dwell therein: and the men shall cry, and all the inhabitants of the land shall howl, 3 at the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his steeds, at the rushing of his chariots, at the rumbling of his wheels: fathers shall not look back for their children, from feebleness of hands; 4 because of the day that cometh to lay waste all the Philistines, to cut off from Tyre and Sidon every helper that remaineth; for Jehovah will lay waste the Philistines, the remnant of the island of Caphtor. 5 Baldness is come upon Gazah; Ashkelon is cut off, the remnant of their valley: how long wilt thou cut thyself? 6 Alas! sword of Jehovah, how long wilt thou not be quiet? Withdraw into thy scabbard, rest, and be still. 7 How shouldest thou be quiet? —For Jehovah hath given it a charge: against Ashkelon, and against the sea shore, there hath he appointed it.

1 The Lord spoke this message to the prophet Jeremiah about the Philistines before Pharaoh defeated Gaza. 2 This is what the Lord says: 

Water is rising in the north. 

It will become an overflowing river. 

It will overflow the land and everything in it, 

the cities and those who live in them. 

People will cry out and everyone who lives in the land will cry loudly. 

3 They will hear the sound of galloping war horses, 

the rattling of enemy chariots, 

and the rumbling of their wheels. 

Fathers who lack courage abandon their children. 

4 The time has come to destroy all the Philistines, 

to cut off from Tyre and Sidon any Philistine 

who might have escaped to get help. 

The Lord will destroy the Philistines 

and anyone who is left from the island of Crete. 

5 Gaza will shave its head in mourning. 

Ashkelon will be destroyed. 

How long will you cut yourselves, you people left on the plains? 

6 You cry out, “Sword of the Lord, 

how long will you keep on fighting? 

Go back into your scabbard. 

Stay there and rest!” 

7 How can the sword of the Lord rest? 

The Lord has ordered it to attack Ashkelon and the coast. 

He has put it there. 

1 This is the word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet about the Philistines before Pharaoh defeated Gaza. 2 This is what the Lord says:

Look, waters are rising from the north

and becoming an overflowing wadi.

They will overflow the land and everything in it,

the cities and their inhabitants.

The people will cry out,

and every inhabitant of the land will wail.

3 At the sound of the stomping hooves of his stallions,

the rumbling of his chariots,

and the clatter of their wheels,

fathers will not turn back for their sons,

because they will be utterly helpless

4 on account of the day that is coming

to destroy all the Philistines,

to cut off from Tyre and Sidon

every remaining ally.

Indeed, the Lord is about to destroy the Philistines,

the remnant of the islands of Caphtor.

5 Baldness is coming to Gaza.

Ashkelon will become silent,

a remnant of their valley.

How long will you gash yourself?

6 Oh, sword of the Lord!

How long will you be restless?

Go back to your sheath;

be still; be silent!

7 How can it rest

when the Lord has given it a command?

He has assigned it

against Ashkelon and the shore of the sea.

1 The word of the Lord that came to the prophet Jeremiah concerning the Philistines, before Pharaoh attacked Gaza:

2 Thus says the Lord:

See, waters are rising out of the north

and shall become an overflowing torrent;

they shall overflow the land and all that fills it,

the city and those who live in it.

People shall cry out,

and all the inhabitants of the land shall wail.

3 At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his stallions,

at the clatter of his chariots, at the rumbling of their wheels,

parents do not turn back for children,

so feeble are their hands,

4 because of the day that is coming

to destroy all the Philistines,

to cut off from Tyre and Sidon

every helper that remains.

For the Lord is destroying the Philistines,

the remnant of the coastland of Caphtor.

5 Baldness has come upon Gaza;

Ashkelon is silenced.

O remnant of Anakim!

How long will you gash yourselves?

6 Ah, sword of the Lord!

How long until you are quiet?

Put yourself into your scabbard;

rest and be still!

7 How can it be quiet,

when the Lord has given it an order?

Against Ashkelon and against the seashore—

there he has appointed it.

1 The word of Yahweh that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines before Pharaoh attacked Gaza. 2 Thus says Yahweh:

“Look, waters are rising from the north,

and they will become as a raging torrent,

and they will overflow the land,

and that which fills it,

the city and those who live in it.

And the people will cry out,

and every inhabitant of the land will wail,

3 from the sound of the stamping of the hoofs of his stallions,

from the clattering of his chariots,

the noise of their wheels.

Fathers do not turn to their children

because of the slackness of their hands.

4 Because of the day that is coming

to destroy all the Philistines,

to cut off from Tyre and from Sidon

every survivor who could help,

for Yahweh is destroying the Philistines,

the remnant of the coastland of Caphtor.

5 Baldness has come upon Gaza,

Ashkelon is destroyed.

O remnant of their valley,

how long will you cut yourself with a blade?

6 Ah, sword of Yahweh,

how long will you not be quiet?

Gather to your sheath,

keep quiet and stand still.

7 How can you be quiet

when Yahweh has given an order to it?

Against Ashkelon and against the shore of the sea,

there he has appointed it.”

1 A message came to me from the Lord. It was about the Philistines before Pharaoh attacked Gaza.

2 The Lord said,

“The armies of Babylonia are like waters rising in the north.

They will become a great flood.

They will flow over the land and everything in it.

They will flow over the towns and those who live in them.

The people will cry out.

All those who live in the land will sob.

3 They will sob when they hear galloping horses.

They will sob at the noise of enemy chariots.

They will sob at the rumble of their wheels.

Fathers will not even try to help their children.

Their hands will not be able to help them.

4 The day has come

to destroy all of the Philistines.

The time has come to cut off all those

who could help Tyre and Sidon.

I am about to destroy the Philistines.

I will not leave anyone alive

who came from the coasts of Crete.

5 The people of Gaza will be so sad

they will shave their heads.

And Ashkelon’s people will be silent.

You who remain on the flatlands,

how long will you cut yourselves?

6 “ ‘Sword of the Lord!’ you cry out.

‘How long will it be until you rest?

Return to the place you came from.

Stop killing us! Be still!’

7 But how can my sword rest

when I have given it a command?

I have ordered it

to attack Ashkelon and the Philistine coast.”

1 That which came as the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines, before Pharaoh conquered Gaza.

2 Thus says the Lord:

“Behold, waters are going to rise from the north

And become an overflowing torrent,

And overflow the land and all its fullness,

The city and those who live in it;

And the men will cry out,

And every inhabitant of the land will wail.

3 “Because of the noise of the galloping hoofs of his stallions,

The tumult of his chariots, and the rumbling of his wheels,

The fathers have not turned back for their children,

Because of the limpness of their hands,

4 On account of the day that is coming

To destroy all the Philistines,

To cut off from Tyre and Sidon

Every ally that is left;

For the Lord is going to destroy the Philistines,

The remnant of the coastland of Caphtor.

5 “Baldness has come upon Gaza;

Ashkelon has been ruined.

O remnant of their valley,

How long will you gash yourself?

6 “Ah, sword of the Lord,

How long will you not be quiet?

Withdraw into your sheath;

Be at rest and stay still.

7 “How can it be quiet,

When the Lord has given it an order?

Against Ashkelon and against the seacoast—

There He has assigned it.”