Zechariah 9:1–8

The Lord Destroys Israel’s Enemies

9This is the Lord’s message

against the land of Hadrach.

He will judge Damascus.

That’s because all of the tribes of Israel look to him.

So do other people.

²The Lord will judge Hamath too.

It’s next to Damascus.

He will also punish Tyre and Sidon

even though they are very clever.

³Tyre’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.

⁴But the Lord will take away everything they have.

He’ll destroy their power on the Mediterranean Sea.

And Tyre will be completely burned up.

⁵Ashkelon 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.

⁶Strangers will take over Ashdod.

The Lord says, “I will take away everything

the Philistines are so proud of.

⁷They 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 leaders in Judah.

And Ekron will be like the Jebusites.

So the Philistines will become part of Israel.

⁸But I will guard my temple

against enemy armies.

No one will ever crush my people again.

I will make sure it does not happen.