9 This is the messagea from the Lord against the land of Aramb and the city of Damascus, for the eyes of humanity, including all the tribes of Israel, are on the Lord.

2
Doom is certain for Hamath,
    near Damascus,
and for the cities of Tyre and Sidon,
    though they are so clever.
3
Tyre has built a strong fortress
    and has made silver and gold
    as plentiful as dust in the streets!
4
But now the Lord will strip away Tyre’s possessions
    and hurl its fortifications into the sea,
    and it will be burned to the ground.
5
The city of Ashkelon will see Tyre fall
    and will be filled with fear.
Gaza will shake with terror,
    as will Ekron, for their hopes will be dashed.
Gaza’s king will be killed,
    and Ashkelon will be deserted.
6
Foreigners will occupy the city of Ashdod.
    I will destroy the pride of the Philistines.
7
I will grab the bloody meat from their mouths
    and snatch the detestable sacrifices from their teeth.
Then the surviving Philistines will worship our God
    and become like a clan in Judah.c
The Philistines of Ekron will join my people,
    as the ancient Jebusites once did.
8
I will guard my Temple
    and protect it from invading armies.
I am watching closely to ensure
    that no more foreign oppressors overrun my people’s land.
--------------------------
Go vegan! Maha Pundit Dr.Suryaraju Mattimalla, poet/vegan