Zechariah 9 - Prayer Tents

Zechariah 9

New Living Translation

Judgment against Israel’s Enemies

9This is the message[1] from the Lord against the land of Aram[2] and the city of Damascus, for the eyes of humanity, including all the tribes of Israel, are on the Lord.

2Doom is certain for Hamath, near Damascus, and for the cities of Tyre and Sidon, though they are so clever.

3Tyre has built a strong fortress and has made silver and gold as plentiful as dust in the streets!

4But now the Lord will strip away Tyre’s possessions and hurl its fortifications into the sea, and it will be burned to the ground.

5The city of Ashkelon will see Tyre fall and will be filled with fear. Gaza will shake with terror, as will Ekron, for their hopes will be dashed. Gaza’s king will be killed, and Ashkelon will be deserted.

6Foreigners will occupy the city of Ashdod. I will destroy the pride of the Philistines.

7I will grab the bloody meat from their mouths and snatch the detestable sacrifices from their teeth. Then the surviving Philistines will worship our God and become like a clan in Judah[3]. The Philistines of Ekron will join my people, as the ancient Jebusites once did.

8I will guard my Temple and protect it from invading armies. I am watching closely to ensure that no more foreign oppressors overrun my people’s land.

Zion’s Coming King

9Rejoice, O people of Zion![4] Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious[5], yet he is humble, riding on a donkey - riding on a donkey’s colt.

10I will remove the battle chariots from Israel[6] and the warhorses from Jerusalem. I will destroy all the weapons used in battle, and your king will bring peace to the nations. His realm will stretch from sea to sea and from the Euphrates River[7] to the ends of the earth[8].

11Because of the covenant I made with you, sealed with blood, I will free your prisoners from death in a waterless dungeon.

12Come back to the place of safety, all you prisoners who still have hope! I promise this very day that I will repay two blessings for each of your troubles.

13Judah is my bow, and Israel is my arrow. Jerusalem[9] is my sword, and like a warrior, I will brandish it against the Greeks[10].

14The Lord will appear above his people; his arrows will fly like lightning! The Sovereign Lord will sound the ram’s horn and attack like a whirlwind from the southern desert.

15The Lord of Heaven’s Armies will protect his people, and they will defeat their enemies by hurling great stones. They will shout in battle as though drunk with wine. They will be filled with blood like a bowl, drenched with blood like the corners of the altar.

16On that day the Lord their God will rescue his people, just as a shepherd rescues his sheep. They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown.

17How wonderful and beautiful they will be! The young men will thrive on abundant grain, and the young women will flourish on new wine.

[1] Zechariah 9:1Hebrew An Oracle： The message.
[2] Zechariah 9:1Hebrew land of Hadrach.
[3] Zechariah 9:7Hebrew and will become a leader in Judah.
[4] Zechariah 9:9Hebrew O daughter of Zion!
[5] Zechariah 9:9Hebrew and is being vindicated.
[6] Zechariah 9:10Hebrew Ephraim, referring to the northern kingdom of Israel; also in 9.13.
[7] Zechariah 9:10Hebrew the river.
[8] Zechariah 9:10Or the end of the land.
[9] Zechariah 9:13Hebrew Zion.
[10] Zechariah 9:13Hebrew the sons of Javan.