The Burden against Israel’s Enemies

1This is the burden (burden) of the word of the LORD {YHWH}

against the land of Hadrach (dwelling)

and Damascus (well-watered land) its resting place—

for the eyes of men

and of all the tribes of Israel (he wrestles with God)

are upon the LORDa—

2and also against Hamath (fortress),

which borders it,

as well as Tyre (a rock) and Sidon (hunting),

though they are very shrewd.

3Tyre (a rock) has built herself a fortress;

she has heaped up silver like dust,

and gold like the dirt of the streets.

4Behold, the Lord {Adonai} will impoverish her

and cast her wealth into the sea (strike down her power on the sea),b

and she will be consumed by fire.

5Ashkelon (the fire of infamy) will see and fear;

Gaza (the strong) will writhe in agony,

as will Ekron (torn up by the roots),

for her hope will wither.

There will cease to be a king in Gaza,

and Ashkelon will be uninhabited.

6A mixed race will occupy Ashdod (powerful),

and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines (immigrants).

7I will remove the blood from their mouths

and the abominations from between their teeth.

Then they too will become a remnant for our God {Elohehenu};

they will become like a clan (like a leader)c in Judah (praised),

and Ekron (torn up by the roots) will be like the Jebusites (Jerusalemites).

8But I will camp around My house because of an army,

because of those who march to and fro,

and never again will an oppressor overrun My people,

for now I keep watch with My own eyes.

Zion’s Coming King
(Matthew 21:1–11; Mark 11:1–11; Luke 19:28–40; John 12:12–19)

9Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion!

Shout in triumph, O Daughter of Jerusalem (city of peace)!

See, your King comes to you,

righteous and victorious (righteous and endowed with salvation),d

humble and riding on a donkey,

on a colt, the foal of a donkey <Mat 21:5, Jhn 12:15>.e

10And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim (the northern kingdom of Israel)f

and the horse from Jerusalem (city of peace),

and the bow of war will be broken.

Then He will proclaim peace to the nations.

His dominion will extend from sea to sea,

and from the Euphrates \the River/g

to the ends of the earth.

11As for you,

because of the blood of My covenant,

I will release your prisoners

from the waterless pit.

12Return to your stronghold,

O prisoners of hope;

even today I declare

that I will restore to you double.

13For I will bend Judah (praised) as My bow

and fit it with Ephraim (doubly fruitful).

I will rouse your sons, O Zion,

against the sons of Greece \the sons of Javan/.h

I will make you like the sword

of a mighty man.

The LORD Will Save His People

14Then the LORD {YHWH} will appear over them,

and His arrow will go forth like lightning.

The Lord GOD {Adonai YHWH} will sound the ram’s horn

and advance in the whirlwinds of the south.

15The LORD {YHWH} of Hosts will shield them.

They will destroy and conquer with slingstones;

they will drink and roar as with wine.

And they will be filled like sprinkling bowls,

drenched like the corners of the altar.

16On that day the LORD their God {YHWH Elohehem} will save them

as the flock of His people;

for like jewels in a crown

they will sparkle over His land.

17How lovely they will be,

and how beautiful!

Grain will make the young men flourish,

and new wine, the young women.