Open English Translation ZEC Chapter 9

9 This is a declaration of Yahweh’s message concerning the Syrian Hadrak region and focussing on Damascus city, because the eyes of all humanity, including all of Yisrael’s tribes, are toward Yahweh.[ref] 2 It’s also about the Hamat region which borders on Tsor (Tyre) and Tsidon (Sidon) which is very wise. 3 Tsor has built herself a stronghold and heaped up silver like dust and refined gold like mud in the streets. 4 Listen, my master will dispossess her and throw her wealth into the sea, and she’ll be consumed by fire.

5 Ashkelon city will see and be afraid. Azzah city (Gaza) will also squirm in pain. Ekron city will have her hopes dashed. Azzah’s king will die, and Ashkelon will no longer be inhabited.[ref] 6 Strangers will move into Ashdod, and I’ll end the Philistines’ pride. 7 I will remove the meat with blood still in it from their mouths and their foods offered to idols from between their teeth. Then they’ll become a remnant for our god like a clan in Yehudah, and Ekron will end up like the Yebusites did. 8 I’ll camp around my house as a guard to prevent anyone from passing through or returning so no oppressor can overrun them, because I’ve now looked with my own eyes.

9 Shout with a huge celebration, daughter of Tsiyyon (Zion).

≈ Shout with happiness, Yerushalem’s daughter.

Look! Your king is coming to you bringing justice and victory.

He’s humble and is riding on a donkey, i.e., a donkey’s foal.[ref]

10 Then I’ll neutralise the chariots heading to Efrayim,

≈ and the horses heading to Yerushalem,

and the bows won’t make it into battle.

He’ll speak peace to the nations,

and his dominion will be from sea to sea,

≈ and from the Euphrates to the ends of the earth.[ref]

11 You people of Yerushalem, because of the blood of my agreement with you,

I’ll set your prisoners free from that pit without water in it.[ref]

12 You prisoners with hope, return back inside the walls.

Even today I’m declaring that I will return double to you,

13 because I’ve bent Yehudah as my bow.

≈ I have filled my quiver with Efrayim.

Tsiyyon (Zion), I’ve roused your sons, against your sons, Greece,

and Tsiyyon, I’ve made you like a warrior’s sword.”

14 Then Yahweh will appear to them,

and his arrow will shoot out like lightning,

because my master Yahweh will sound the trumpet

and will advance with the storms from the south.

15 Army commander Yahweh will defend them,

and they will devour them and deflect the stones from the slings.

Then they’ll drink and shout like men drunk on wine,

and they’ll be filled with wine like bowls,

drenched like the corners of the altar.

16 Then on that day, their god Yahweh will rescue them,

as the flock of his people.

They’re the jewels of a crown that will sparkle over his land.

17 How good and how beautiful they’ll be.

The young men will flourish on grain

≈ and the young women on new wine!