Israel’s enemies will be punished

9 This is another message that I received from Yahweh.

Yahweh said, “I watch [MTY] everyone, especially the tribes of Israel;

so I will punish the people in the Hadrach region and in Damascus city

because of what they did to the people of Israel.

2 I will also punish the people in nearby Hamath city.

I will also punish the people in Tyre and Sidon cities,

even though they are considered to be [IRO] very wise.

3 The people in Tyre built a high wall around their city.

They piled up huge amounts of silver and gold

as though they were piles of dirt in the streets.

4 But I, Yahweh, will cause their precious possessions to be taken away

and all their ships to be destroyed,

and their city will be destroyed by a fire.

5 The people in Ashkelon city will see that happen,

and they will become very afraid.

The people in Gaza city will shake because of being terrified,

and the people in Ekron city will shake too,

because they will no longer expect to prosper.

The king of the city of Gaza will be killed,

and the city of Ashkelon will be deserted.

6 Foreigners will occupy Ashdod city.

I will cause the people in all those cities of Philistia to no longer be proud.

7 I will no longer allow them to eat [MTY] meat that still has blood in it,

and I will forbid them to eat [MTY] food that I [MTY] have not allowed them to eat because it was offered to idols.

At that time, the people in Philistia who survive will worship me,

and they will become my people, like the people of Judah are.

The Philistine people of Ekron will also become my people

like [SIM] the people of Jebus did when they were conquered.

8 I will protect my temple,

and I will not allow any enemy soldiers to enter it.

No enemies will harm my people again,

because I will be watching over my people carefully.