The coming King

9 Rejoice very much, you people of Jerusalem [APO, DOU]

and shout joyfully,

because your king will be coming to you.

He is righteous and victorious;

but he will be gentle,

and he will be riding on a donkey,

on a young female donkey.

10 I will get rid of the chariots in the Ephraim region that are used in battles

and all the war horses in Jerusalem.

All the bows used in wars will be broken.

Your king will proclaim that he will cause things to go well and peacefully in the nations.

He will rule the area from the Mediterranean Sea to the Dead Sea,

and from the Euphrates River to the most distant places on the earth.

11 As for you my people of Jerusalem,

because of the blood of the animals that were sacrificed to make my agreement with you,

I will free your people who were forced to go to other countries

where it was as though they were kept in a waterless pit.

12 You people who were prisoners in those countries who still confidently expect God to help you,

return to Judah, where you will be safe.

This day I declare that I will give you two blessings

for each of the troubles that you have experienced.

13 I will cause Judah to be like [MET] my bow,

and I will cause Israel to be like [MET] my arrow.

I will enable you young men of Jerusalem to fight against the soldiers of Greece;

you will be like [SIM] a warrior’s sword.”