Zechariah 9

Judgment on Israel’s Enemies

A prophecy:^a

The word of the Lord is against the land of Hadrak

and will come to rest on Damascus^b—

for the eyes of all people and all the tribes of Israel

are on the Lord—

and on Hamath^c too, which borders on it,

and on Tyre^d and Sidon,^e though they are very skillful.

Tyre has built herself a stronghold;

she has heaped up silver like dust,

and gold like the dirt of the streets.^f

But the Lord will take away her possessions

and destroy^g her power on the sea,

and she will be consumed by fire.^h

Ashkelonⁱ will see it and fear;

Gaza will writhe in agony,

and Ekron too, for her hope will wither.

Gaza will lose her king

and Ashkelon will be deserted.

A mongrel people will occupy Ashdod,

and I will put an end^j to the pride of the Philistines.

I will take the blood from their mouths,

the forbidden food from between their teeth.

Those who are left will belong to our God^k

and become a clan in Judah,

and Ekron will be like the Jebusites.^l

But I will encamp^m at my temple

to guard it against marauding forces.ⁿ

Never again will an oppressor overrun my people,

for now I am keeping watch.^o

The Coming of Zion’s King

Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!^a

Shout,^b Daughter Jerusalem!

See, your king comes to you,^c

righteous and having salvation,^d

lowly and riding on a donkey,^e

on a colt, the foal of a donkey.^f

I will take away the chariots from Ephraim

and the warhorses from Jerusalem,

and the battle bow will be broken.^g

He will proclaim peace^h to the nations.

His rule will extend from sea to sea

and from the River to the ends of the earth.ⁱ

As for you, because of the blood of my covenant^j with you,

I will free your prisoners^k from the waterless pit.^l

Return to your fortress,^m you prisoners of hope;

even now I announce that I will restore twiceⁿ as much to you.

I will bend Judah as I bend my bow^o

and fill it with Ephraim.^p

I will rouse your sons, Zion,

against your sons, Greece,^q

and make you like a warrior’s sword.^r

The Lord Will Appear

Then the Lord will appear over them;^a

his arrow will flash like lightning.^b

The Sovereign Lord will sound the trumpet;^c

he will march in the storms^d of the south,

and the Lord Almighty will shield^e them.

They will destroy

and overcome with slingstones.^f

They will drink and roar as with wine;^g

they will be full like a bowl^h

used for sprinkling the cornersⁱ of the altar.

The Lord their God will save his people on that day^j

as a shepherd saves his flock.

They will sparkle in his land

like jewels in a crown.^k

How attractive and beautiful they will be!

Grain will make the young men thrive,

and new wine the young women.