Zechariah 9

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 A proclamation. The word of Yahweh is against Hadrach, it has come to rest on Damascus, for thesource of Aram belongs to Yahweh no less than al the tribes of Israel;	1 An oracle: The word of the LORD is upon the land of Hadrach, and Damascus is its resting place, For the cities of Aram are the LORD'S, as are all the tribes of Israel,
2 on Hamath too, which borders on it, and on (Tyre and) Sidon, despite her acumen.	2 Hamath also, on its border, Tyre too, and Sidon, however wise they be.
3 Tyre has built herself a fortress, has heaped up silver like dust and gold like the dirt of the streets.	3 Tyre built herself a stronghold, and heaped up silver like dust, and gold like the mire of the streets.
4 And now the Lord is going to dispossess her; at sea he wil break her power, and she herself will go upin flames.	4 Lo, the LORD will strip her of her possessions, and smite her power on the sea, and she shall be devoured by fire.
5 Seeing this, Ashkelon wil be terrified, Gaza too, and writhe with grief, Ekron too, at the ruin of herprospects; the king wil vanish from Gaza and Ashkelon be unpeopled,	5 Ashkelon shall see it and be afraid; Gaza also: she shall be in great anguish; Ekron, too, for her hope shall come to nought. The king shall disappear from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited,
6 while a half-breed wil live in Ashdod! Yes, I shal destroy the pride of the Philistine;	6 and the baseborn shall occupy Ashdod. I will destroy the pride of the Philistine
7 I shal snatch his blood from his mouth, his abominations from between his teeth. But his remnant toowil belong to our God, becoming like a clan in Judah, and Ekron wil become like a Jebusite.	7 and take from his mouth his bloody meat, and his abominations from between his teeth: He also shall become a remnant for our God, and shall be like a family in Judah, and Ekron shall be like the Jebusites.
8 I shal stand guard before my home to defend it against al comers, and no oppressor wil overrun themever again, for now I am on the alert.	8 I will encamp by my house as a guard that none may pass to and fro; No oppressor shall pass over them again, for now I have regard for their affliction.
9 Rejoice heart and soul, daughter of Zion! Shout for joy, daughter of Jerusalem! Look, your king isapproaching, he is vindicated and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.	9 Rejoice heartily, O daughter Zion, shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem! See, your king shall come to you; a just savior is he, Meek, and riding on an ass, on a colt, the foal of an ass.
10 He wil banish chariots from Ephraim and horses from Jerusalem; the bow of war wil be banished. Hewil proclaim peace to the nations, his empire wil stretch from sea to sea, from the River to the limits of the earth.	10 He shall banish the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem; The warrior's bow shall be banished, and he shall proclaim peace to the nations. His dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.
11 As for you, because of the blood of your covenant I have released your prisoners from the pit in whichthere is no water.	11 As for you, for the blood of your covenant with me, I will bring forth your prisoners from the dungeon.
12 Come back to the fortress, you prisoners waiting in hope. This very day, I vow, I shal make it up to youtwice over.	12 In the return to the fortress of the waiting prisoners, This very day, I will return you double for your exile.
13 For I have strung Judah as a bow for myself, laid Ephraim on the string as an arrow, have roused yoursons, Zion, against your sons, Javan, and have made you like a warrior's sword.	13 For I will bend Judah as my bow, I will arm myself with Ephraim; I will arouse your sons, O Zion, (against your sons, O Yavan,) and I will use you as a warrior's sword.
14 Then Yahweh wil appear above them and his arrow wil flash out like lightning. (The Lord) Yahweh wilsound the trumpet and advance in the storm-winds of the south.	14 The LORD shall appear over them, and his arrow shall shoot forth as lightning; The LORD God shall sound the trumpet, and come in a storm from the south.
15 Yahweh Sabaoth will protect them! They wil devour, wil trample on the sling-stones, they wil drinkblood like wine, awash like bowls, like the corners of the altar.	15 The LORD of hosts shall be a shield over them, they shall overcome sling stones and trample them underfoot; They shall drink blood like wine, till they are filled with it like libation bowls, like the corners of the altar.
16 Yahweh their God wil give them victory when that day comes, like the sheep who are his people; yes,the stones of a diadem wil sparkle over his country.	16 And the LORD, their God, shall save them on that day, his people, like a flock. For they are the jewels in a crown raised aloft over his land.
17 How fine, how splendid that will be, with wheat to make the young men flourish, and new wine themaidens!	17 For what wealth is theirs, and what beauty! grain that makes the youths flourish, and new wine, the maidens!