1This is a prophecy. It is the LORD’s message against the land of Hadrak. He will judge Damascus. That’s because all the tribes of Israel look to him. So do all 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 burnt.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.6A people who come from several nations will take over Ashdod. The LORD says, ‘I will put an end to the pride of the Philistines.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 a family group in Judah. And Ekron will be like the Jebusites. So the Philistines will become part of Israel.8But I will camp at my temple. I will guard it against enemy armies. No one will ever crush my people again. I will make sure it does not happen.
A king comes to Zion
9‘City of Zion, be full of joy! People of Jerusalem, shout! See, your king comes to you. He always does what is right. He has won the victory. He is humble and riding on a donkey. He is sitting on a donkey’s colt.10I will take the chariots away from Ephraim. I will remove the war horses from Jerusalem. I will break the bows that are used in battle. Your king will announce peace to the nations. He will rule from ocean to ocean. His kingdom will reach from the River Euphrates to the ends of the earth.11I will set your prisoners free from where their enemies are keeping them. I will do it because of the blood that put into effect my covenant with you.12Return to your place of safety, you prisoners who still have hope. Even now I announce that I will give you back much more than you had before.13I will bend Judah as I bend my bow. I will make Ephraim’s people my arrows. Zion, I will stir up your sons. Greece, they will attack your sons. My people, I will use you as my sword.’
The Lord will appear
14Then the LORD will appear over his people. His arrows will flash like lightning. The LORD and King will blow the trumpet of his thunder. He’ll march out like a storm in the south.15The LORD who rules over all will be like a shield to his people. They will destroy their enemies. They’ll use slings to throw stones at them. They’ll drink the blood of their enemies as if it were wine. They’ll be full like the bowl that is used for sprinkling the corners of the altar.16The LORD their God will save his people on that day. He will be like a shepherd who saves his flock. They will gleam in his land like jewels in a crown.17How very beautiful they will be! Corn and fresh wine will make the young men and young women strong.
Zechariah 9
English Standard Version
Judgment on Israel’s Enemies
1The oracle of the word of the Lord is against the land of Hadrach and Damascus is its resting place. For the Lord has an eye on mankind and on all the tribes of Israel,[1] (Isa 17:1)2and on Hamath also, which borders on it, Tyre and Sidon, though they are very wise. (Jos 19:28; 1Ki 8:65; Isa 23:1; Jer 49:23; Eze 28:3)3Tyre has built herself a rampart and heaped up silver like dust, and fine gold like the mud of the streets. (Jos 19:29; Eze 28:4)4But behold, the Lord will strip her of her possessions and strike down her power on the sea, and she shall be devoured by fire. (Eze 26:17; Eze 28:18)5Ashkelon shall see it, and be afraid; Gaza too, and shall writhe in anguish; Ekron also, because its hopes are confounded. The king shall perish from Gaza; Ashkelon shall be uninhabited; (Zep 2:4)6a mixed people[2] shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of Philistia. (De 23:2)7I will take away its blood from its mouth, and its abominations from between its teeth; it too shall be a remnant for our God; it shall be like a clan in Judah, and Ekron shall be like the Jebusites. (Le 3:17; Isa 14:1; Isa 66:17; Zec 12:5)8Then I will encamp at my house as a guard, so that none shall march to and fro; no oppressor shall again march over them, for now I see with my own eyes. (Isa 60:17; Zec 2:5; Zec 7:14; Zec 10:4; Zec 12:4)
The Coming King of Zion
9Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (Jer 23:5; Zep 3:14; Mt 11:29; Mt 21:5; Joh 12:15)10I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall speak peace to the nations; his rule shall be from sea to sea, and from the River[3] to the ends of the earth. (Ex 23:31; Ps 72:8; Ho 1:7; Mic 5:5; Mic 5:10)11As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. (Ge 37:24; Ex 24:8; Isa 42:7; Isa 51:14; Isa 61:1; Jer 38:6)12Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double. (Isa 61:7; Jer 31:17)13For I have bent Judah as my bow; I have made Ephraim its arrow. I will stir up your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece, and wield you like a warrior’s sword. (Ge 10:2; Eze 27:13; Zec 10:3)
The Lord Will Save His People
14Then the Lord will appear over them, and his arrow will go forth like lightning; the Lord God will sound the trumpet and will march forth in the whirlwinds of the south. (2Sa 22:15; Isa 21:1; Isa 27:13; Zec 6:6)15The Lord of hosts will protect them, and they shall devour, and tread down the sling stones, and they shall drink and roar as if drunk with wine, and be full like a bowl, drenched like the corners of the altar. (Le 4:18; Le 4:25; Zec 10:5; Zec 10:7; Zec 12:6; Zec 12:8)16On that day the Lord their God will save them, as the flock of his people; for like the jewels of a crown they shall shine on his land. (Ps 100:3; Isa 62:3; Mal 3:17)17For how great is his goodness, and how great his beauty! Grain shall make the young men flourish, and new wine the young women. (Isa 62:3; Isa 62:8; Jer 31:12)