Zechariah 9

English EASY 2024

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1This is a message from the Lord against the land of Hadrach. It speaks about the city of Damascus. Everyone looks to see what the Lord will do, including all the tribes of Israel.

2The people of Hamath, which is near Damascus, also wait to see what the Lord will do. The people in the cities of Tyre and Sidon also do this, even though they are very wise.

3Tyre's people have built strong walls around their city to keep it safe. They have stored a lot of silver and gold, as much as the dirt and mud in their streets!

4But now the Lord God will take away all Tyre's valuable things. He will throw all its power into the sea! Fire will destroy the whole city.

5The people in Ashkelon city will see what has happened to Tyre. They will be afraid. The people in Gaza city will shake with fear. The people in Ekron city will also be afraid. They will no longer hope for good things. The people of Gaza will no longer have a king. Ashkelon will become an empty place.

6Foreign people will make Ashdod city their home. I, the Lord, will cause the proud Philistine people to be ashamed.

7I will remove from their mouths the meat of sacrifices that they have offered to their idols. Those Philistines who remain will become a group of people who belong to me. They will be like a clan in the tribe of Judah. The Philistines of Ekron will join the people of Judah, as the Jebusites did long ago.

8Then I will keep my temple safe. I will protect it like a guard. I will not allow an enemy to attack my people any more. Now I am watching carefully and I will take care of them.

9Be happy and sing, people of Zion! Shout with joy, people of Jerusalem! Look! Your king is coming to you. He is righteous and he has won against his enemies. He is humble and he is riding on a donkey. Yes, he is riding on a young donkey.

10I will remove the chariots from Ephraim. I will remove the soldiers' horses from Jerusalem, and I will destroy their bows and their arrows. The king will tell the nations that they will live in peace. He will rule as king from the sea in the west to the sea in the east. He will rule everywhere, from the Euphrates River to the furthest places on the earth.

11I made a covenant with you, my people. The blood of sacrifices showed that you agreed with that covenant. Now some of you are prisoners. I will rescue those prisoners from dark places where there is no water.

12Yes, you prisoners who now have hope of better things, return home where you will be safe. I tell you this today: I will give back to you twice as much as you have lost.

13I will use Judah as my bow and Ephraim as my arrow to attack my enemies! I will use you, young men of Zion, to attack the soldiers of Greece. I will cause Zion to be like a soldier's sword in my hand.

14Then the Lord will appear above his people. He will shoot his arrows like lightning in the sky. The Almighty Lord will make a loud noise with his trumpet. He will march into battle like a storm from the south.

15The Lord Almighty will protect his people. They will attack their enemies with stones from their slings and they will win the battle. They will drink and they will shout loudly, like men who are drunk. The blood of their enemies will make them full, as a priest's bowl is full of blood when he pours it on the corners of the altar.

16On that day, the Lord their God will rescue his people, as a shepherd rescues his sheep. They will live in his land, like bright jewels that shine in a crown.

17It will all be very good and beautiful! Grain from the land will make the young men strong. The young women will become strong as they drink new wine.

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