Zechariah 9

1The burden of the word of the LORD in the land of Hadrach, and Damascus shall be the rest thereof: when the eyes of man, as of all the tribes of Israel, shall be toward the LORD.

2And Hamath also shall border thereby; Tyrus, and Zidon, though it be very wise.

3And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets.

4Behold, the Lord will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire.

5Ashkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also shall see it, and be very sorrowful, and Ekron; for her expectation shall be ashamed; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited.

6And a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.

7And I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth: but he that remaineth, even he, shall be for our God, and he shall be as a governor in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite.footnote a

8And I will encamp about mine house because of the army, because of him that passeth by, and because of him that returneth: and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes.

9Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.footnote b

10And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.

11As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.footnote c

12Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee;

13When I have bent Judah for me, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and made thee as the sword of a mighty man.

14And the LORD shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the Lord GOD shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south.

15The LORD of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, and subdue with sling stones; and they shall drink, and make a noise as through wine; and they shall be filled like bowls, and as the corners of the altar.footnote dfootnote e

16And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land.

17For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids.footnote f

The Burden against Israel’s Enemies

1This is the burden of the word of the LORDagainst the land of Hadrachand Damascus its resting place—for the eyes of menand of all the tribes of Israelare upon the LORDfootnote a— 2and also against Hamath,which borders it,as well as Tyre and Sidon,though they are very shrewd.

3Tyre has built herself a fortress;she has heaped up silver like dust,and gold like the dirt of the streets. 4Behold, the Lord will impoverish herand cast her wealth into the sea,footnote band she will be consumed by fire.

5Ashkelon will see and fear;Gaza will writhe in agony,as will Ekron,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,and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines. 7I will remove the blood from their mouthsand the abominations from between their teeth.Then they too will become a remnant for our God;they will become like a clanfootnote cin Judah,and Ekron will be like the Jebusites. 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

9Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion!Shout in triumph, O Daughter of Jerusalem!See, your King comes to you,righteous and victorious,footnote dhumble and riding on a donkey,on a colt, the foal of a donkey.footnote e 10And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraimfootnote fand the horse from Jerusalem,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 Euphratesfootnote gto the ends of the earth. 11As for you,because of the blood of My covenant,I will release your prisonersfrom the waterless pit. 12Return to your stronghold,O prisoners of hope;even today I declarethat I will restore to you double. 13For I will bend Judah as My bowand fit it with Ephraim.I will rouse your sons, O Zion,against the sons of Greece.footnote hI will make you like the swordof a mighty man.

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 ram’s hornand advance in the whirlwinds of the south. 15The LORD 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 will save themas the flock of His people;for like jewels in a crownthey 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.