1 A revelation.

Yahweh’s word is against the land of Hadrach,

and will rest upon Damascus—

for the eye of man

and of all the tribes of Israel is toward Yahweh—

2 and Hamath, also, which borders on it,

Tyre and Sidon, because they are very wise.

3 Tyre built herself a stronghold,

and heaped up silver like the dust,

and fine gold like the mire of the streets.

4 Behold, the Lord will dispossess her,

and he will strike her power in the sea;

and she will be devoured with fire.

5 Ashkelon will see it, and fear;

Gaza also, and will writhe in agony;

as will Ekron, for her expectation will be disappointed;

and the king will perish from Gaza,

and Ashkelon will not be inhabited.

6 Foreigners will dwell in Ashdod,

and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.

7 I will take away his blood out of his mouth,

and his abominations from between his teeth;

and he also will be a remnant for our God;

and he will be as a chieftain in Judah,

and Ekron as a Jebusite.

8 I will encamp around my house against the army,

that no one pass through or return;

and no oppressor will pass through them any more:

for now I have seen with my eyes.

9 Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion!

Shout, daughter of Jerusalem!

Behold, your King comes to you!

He is righteous, and having salvation;

lowly, and riding on a donkey,

even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

10 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim

and the horse from Jerusalem.

The battle bow will be cut off;

and he will speak peace to the nations.

His dominion will be from sea to sea,

and from the River to the ends of the earth.

11 As for you also,

because of the blood of your covenant,

I have set free your prisoners from the pit in which is no water.

12 Turn to the stronghold, you prisoners of hope!

Even today I declare that I will restore double to you.

13 For indeed I bend Judah as a bow for me.

I have loaded the bow with Ephraim.

I will stir up your sons, Zion,

against your sons, Greece,

and will make you like the sword of a mighty man.

14 Yahweh will be seen over them.

His arrow will flash like lightning.

The Lord Yahweh will blow the trumpet,

and will go with whirlwinds of the south.

15 Yahweh of Armies will defend them.

They will destroy and overcome with sling stones.

They will drink, and roar as through wine.

They will be filled like bowls,

like the corners of the altar.

16 Yahweh their God will save them in that day as the flock of his people;

for they are like the jewels of a crown,

lifted on high over his land.

17 For how great is his goodness,

and how great is his beauty!

Grain will make the young men flourish,

and new wine the virgins.

1 Godspraak. Die woord van die HERE teen die land Hadrag, en op Damaskus bly dit rus -- want die HERE hou die oog op die mense en op al die stamme van Israel.

2 En ook teen Hamat wat daaraan grens; teen Tirus saam met Sidon, want hy is baie slim.

3 Ja, Tirus het vir hom 'n vesting gebou; ook het hy silwer opgehoop soos stof en goud soos modder van die strate.

4 Kyk, die Here sal hom in besit neem en sy skans in die see werp, en hy sal deur vuur verteer word.

5 Askelon sal dit sien en vrees; ook Gasa, wat sal sidder van angs; ook Ekron, omdat sy toeverlaat teleurgestel het; en uit Gasa verdwyn die koning, en Askelon bly onbewoond;

6 en die baster sal in Asdod woon -- so sal Ek dan aan die trotsheid van die Filistyn 'n einde maak --

7 en Ek sal die bloed uit sy mond verwyder en sy verfoeisels tussen sy tande uit; so sal hy dan ook vir onse God oorbly en wees soos 'n stamhoof in Juda, en Ekron soos 'n Jebusiet.

8 En Ek sal om my huis 'n laer trek teen die leërmag, teen die wat heen en weer trek, sodat geen oorheerser hulle weer sal oorrompel nie; want nou het Ek dit met my eie oë gesien.

9 Verheug jou grootliks, o dogter van Sion! Juig, o dogter van Jerusalem! Kyk, jou Koning kom na jou; regverdig en 'n oorwinnaar is Hy; nederig en Hy ry op 'n esel -- op 'n jong esel, die vul van 'n eselin.

10 En Ek sal die strydwaens uit Efraim en die perde uit Jerusalem uitroei, en die strydboog sal vernietig word. Dan sal Hy aan die nasies vrede verkondig, en sy heerskappy sal wees van see tot see, en van die Eufraat tot aan die eindes van die aarde.

11 Ook sal Ek, wat jou betref, o Sion, kragtens die bloed van jou verbond jou gevangenes loslaat uit die put sonder water.

12 Keer terug na die vesting, o hoopvolle gevangenes! Ook kondig Ek vandag aan dat Ek jou dubbel sal vergoed.

13 Want Ek span Juda vir My as boog, lê Efraim as pyl daarop; en Ek vuur jou seuns, o Sion, aan teen jou seuns, o Jawan, en Ek maak jou soos die swaard van 'n held.

14 Dan sal die HERE oor hulle verskyn, en soos weerlig sal sy pyl uitskiet; en die Here HERE sal met die basuin blaas en intrek met die storms uit die suide.

15 Die HERE van die leërskare sal hulle beskut; en hulle sal verslind, ja, slingerstene vertrap; ook sal hulle drink, 'n gedruis maak soos deur wyn en vol wees soos die offerkomme, soos die hoeke van 'n altaar.

16 En die HERE hulle God sal hulle in die dag verlos as die kudde wat sy volk is; want hulle is kroongesteentes wat hulle skitterend verhef oor sy land.

17 Want hoe groot is hulle voortreflikheid, en hoe groot hulle skoonheid! Die koring laat jongmanne en die mos jongedogters groei.