Prophecies against the Philistines

1This is the word of the Lord that came to the prophet Jeremiah about the Philistinesa before Pharaoh defeated Gaza.b 2This is what the Lord says:

Look, water is rising from the northa

and becoming an overflowing wadi.

It will overflow the land and everything in it,b

the cities and their inhabitants.

The people will cry out,

and every inhabitant of the land will wail.

3At the sound of the stomping hooves of his stallions,a

the rumbling of his chariots,

and the clatter of their wheels,b

fathers will not turn back for their sons.

They will be utterly helplessA

4on account of the day that is coming

to destroy all the Philistines,

to cut off from Tyre and Sidon

every remaining ally.a

Indeed, the Lord is about to destroy the Philistines,

the remnant of the coastland of Caphtor.a b

5Baldnessa is coming to Gaza;

Ashkelon will become silent.b

Remnant of their valley,

how long will you gash yourself?

6Oh, sword of the Lord!a

How long will you be restless?

Go back to your sheath;

be still; be silent!

7How can itA rest

when the Lord has given it a command?a

He has assigned itb

against Ashkelon and the shore of the sea.