1   This came to the prophet Jeremiah as the word of the Lord concerning the Philistines before Pharaoh's harrying of Gaza: 2   The Lord has spoken:

  See how waters are rising from the north
  and swelling to a torrent in spate,
  flooding the land and all that is in it,
    cities and all who live in them.
    Men shall shriek in alarm
  and all who live in the land shall howl.
   3   Hark, the pounding of his chargers' hooves,
  the rattle of his chariots and their rumbling wheels!
  Fathers spare no thought for their children;

Prophecies against the nations
    their hands hang powerless,
4   because the day is upon them when Philistia will be despoiled,
and Tyre and Sidon destroyed to the last defender;
  for the Lord will despoil the Philistines,
    that remnant of the isle of Caphtor.
5   Gaza is shorn bare, Ashkelon ruined.
  Poor remnant of their strength,
  how long will you gash yourselves ^note and cry:
   6   Ah, sword in the hand of the Lord,
    how long will it be before you rest?
Sheathe yourself, rest and be quiet.
7   How can it ^note rest? for the Lord has given it work to do
    against Ashkelon and the plain by the sea;
    there he has assigned the sword its task.

Previous section

Next section