[1] Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together, you nation that has
no shame, [2] before the appointed time when the day passes as the chaff,
before the fierce anger of Yahweh comes on you, before the day of Yahweh`s
anger comes on you. [3] Seek Yahweh, all you humble of the land, who have
kept his ordinances. Seek righteousness. Seek humility. It may be that you
will be hidden in the day of Yahweh`s anger. [4] For Gaza will be forsaken,
and Ashkelon a desolation. They will drive out Ashdod at noonday, and Ekron
will be rooted up. [5] Woe to the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation
of the Cherethites! The word of Yahweh is against you, Canaan, the land of
the Philistines. I will destroy you, that there will be no inhabitant. [6]
The sea coast will be pastures, with cottages for shepherds and folds for
flocks. [7] The coast will be for the remnant of the house of Judah. They
will find pasture. In the houses of Ashkelon, they will lie down in the
evening, for Yahweh, their God, will visit them, and restore them. [8] I
have heard the reproach of Moab, and the insults of the children of Ammon,
with which they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against
their border. [9] Therefore as I live, says Yahweh of Hosts, the God of
Israel, surely Moab will be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as
Gomorrah, a possession of nettles, and salt pits, and a perpetual
desolation. The remnant of my people will plunder them, and the survivors
of my nation will inherit them. [10] This they will have for their pride,
because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of
Yahweh of Hosts. [11] Yahweh will be awesome to them, for he will famish
all the gods of the land. Men will worship him, everyone from his place,
even all the shores of the nations. [12] You Cushites also, you will be
killed by my sword. [13] He will stretch out his hand against the north,
destroy Assyria, and will make Nineveh a desolation, and dry like the
wilderness. [14] Herds will lie down in the midst of her, all the animals
of the nations. Both the pelican and the porcupine will lodge in its
capitals. Their calls will echo through the windows. Desolation will be in
the thresholds, for he has laid bare the cedar beams. [15] This is the
joyous city that lived carelessly, that said in her heart, "I am, and there
is none besides me." How she has become a desolation, a place for animals
to lie down in! Everyone who passes by her will hiss, and shake their
fists.
