Judgment on Philistia

29“Do not rejoice, O Philistia, all of you,
         Because the rod that struck you is broken;
         For from the serpent’s root a viper will come out,
         And its fruit will be a flying serpent.

30“Those who are most helpless will eat,
         And the needy will lie down in security;
         I will destroy your root with famine,
         And it will kill off your survivors.

31“Wail, O gate; cry, O city;
         Melt away, O Philistia, all of you;
         For smoke comes from the north,
         And there is no straggler in his ranks.

32“How then will one answer the messengers of the nation?
         That the LORD has founded Zion,
         And the afflicted of His people will seek refuge in it.”

NASB ©1995