1 An oracle {massa: burden} of the word of the LORD {YHWH, prophetic oracle} is in the land of Hadrach, and Damascus is its resting place, for the eye of man and of all the tribes of Israel is toward the LORD.
2 And Hamath {hamat: northern fortress} will also border on it, Tyre and Sidon, though they are exceedingly wise {chokhmah: shrewd insight}.
3 And Tyre {tsor: maritime fortress} built for herself a fortress {matzor: military stronghold} and heaped up silver like dust and fine gold like the mud of the streets.
4 Behold, the LORD {Adonai, Supreme Ruler} will dispossess her, and He will strike her strength {cheilah: military and economic force} in the sea, and she will be devoured with fire.
5 Ashkelon {ashqelon: major Philistine city on the Mediterranean coast} will see and be afraid, Gaza will tremble greatly, and Ekron—because her expectation {mevattah: confident hope} will be put to shame. The king will perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon will not be inhabited.
6 And a mixed people {mamzer: excluded outsider} will dwell in Ashdod, and I {YHWH, Judge of nations} will cut off the pride of the Philistines.
7 And I will remove his blood from his mouth and his abominations from between his teeth; and even he will remain for our God {Eloheinu, Supreme Ruler}, and he will be as a chief in Judah; and Ekron will be like a Jebusite {yevusi: ancient Jerusalem inhabitant}.
8 And I will encamp at my house as a guard {mitzavah: watch-post} because of the army, because of those passing through and returning, and no oppressor shall pass over them again, for now I have seen with my eyes, declares the LORD {YHWH, Protector}.
9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter {bat: city personified} of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you, righteous and having salvation, humble and riding on a donkey, even on a colt {ayir: young donkey}, the foal of female donkeys.
10 I{YHWH, Divine Judge} will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off; then the king will speak peace{shalom: complete restoration} to the nations. His dominion will be from sea to sea and from the river to the ends of the earth.
11 Also you, by the blood of your covenant {berit: solemn bond}, I {YHWH, Liberating Sovereign} have sent forth your prisoners from the pit in which there is no water.
12 Return to the stronghold, prisoners of hope; even today I {YHWH, Promise-Giver} declare that I will restore to you double {mishneh: twofold restoration}.
13 For I {YHWH, Sovereign Archer} have bent Judah as my bow {keshet: war bow}; I have made Ephraim its arrow. I have stirred up your sons, Zion, against your sons, Greece, and I have made you like the sword of a mighty warrior.
14 And the LORD {YHWH, Divine Warrior} will appear over them, and His arrow will go forth like lightning; the Lord {Adonai, Sovereign Commander} will blow the trumpet, and will march in the whirlwinds of the south {teman: region toward Edom}.
15 The LORD of hosts {YHWH, Divine Defender} will protect them, and they will devour and subdue the sling-stones; they will drink and make a noise as wine, and they will be filled like a bowl {mizrak: sacrificial basin}, like the corners of the altar.
16 And the LORD their God {YHWH Eloheihem, Rescuing Shepherd} will save them on that day as the flock of His people, for they will be like the stones of a crown lifted up on His land {admato: territory under divine rule}.
17 For how great is His {YHWH, Sovereign Sustainer} goodness, and how great is His beauty! Grain {dagan: covenant provision} will make the young men flourish, and new wine will make the maidens flourish.