1Gather yourselves together; yes, gather together, you nation that no one wants,
2before the decree takes effect, before the day passes by like chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD comes upon you, before the day of the LORD's anger comes upon you.
3Seek the LORD, all you meek of the earth, who have done what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek meekness. It may be that you will be hidden in the day of the LORD's anger.
4For Gaza will be abandoned, and Ashkelon left in ruins. Ashdod's people will be driven out at midday, and Ekron will be torn up by the roots.
5Woe to the people who live by the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites. The word of the LORD is against you. Canaan, land of the Philistines, I will destroy you, so that no one is left living there.
6The sea coast will be pastures with huts for shepherds and pens for flocks.
7The coast will belong to those left of the house of Judah. They will feed their flocks there. In the evening they will lie down in the houses of Ashkelon, for the LORD their God will care for them and bring them back from captivity.
8I have heard the insults of Moab and the mocking words of the people of Ammon. They have insulted my people and made themselves great against their border.
9So, as surely as I live, says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, "Moab will be like Sodom, and the people of Ammon like Gomorrah: a place of weeds and salt pits, a waste for ever. Those left of my people will plunder them, and the remnant of my people will take their land."
10This is what they get for their pride, because they insulted the people of the LORD of hosts and made themselves great against them.
11The LORD will be terrible to them, for he will starve away all the gods of the earth. People will worship him, each from his own place, even all the islands of the nations.
12You Ethiopians also will be killed by my sword.
13He will stretch out his hand against the north and destroy Assyria. He will make Nineveh a ruin, dry as a desert.
14Flocks will lie down in the middle of her, all kinds of wild animals. The cormorant and the bittern will roost on the tops of her pillars. Their calls will sound in the windows. The doorways will be in ruins, for he will strip away the cedar work.
15This is the happy city that lived so safely, that said in her heart, "I am, and there is no one besides me." How she has become a ruin, a place for wild animals to lie down in! Everyone who passes by her will hiss and shake his fist.