Oracle of Judgment on Philistia

28 In the year of the death of king Ahaz there was this oracle:

• 29 You must not rejoice, all you Philistines, that the rod that struck you is broken,
• for a viper will come forth from the root of the snake,
  • and its fruit will be a flying serpent.
  • 30 And the firstborn of the poor will graze, and the needy will lie down in security;
• but I will cause your root to die in famine,
  • and it will kill your remnant.
  • 31 Wail, gate! Cry, city! Melt,[fn] Philistia, all of you!
• For smoke is coming from the north,
  • and there is no straggler in his ranks.
  
  

32 And what will one answer the messengers of the nation?

• That Yahweh has founded Zion,
  • and the needy of his people will take refuge in it.