| NET Bible | English Standard Version |
| 1The LORD spoke to the prophet Jeremiah about the Philistines before Pharaoh attacked Gaza. | 1The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines, before Pharaoh struck down Gaza. |
| 2"Look! Enemies are gathering in the north like water rising in a river. They will be like an overflowing stream. They will overwhelm the whole country and everything in it like a flood. They will overwhelm the cities and their inhabitants. People will cry out in alarm. Everyone living in the country will cry out in pain. | 2“Thus says the LORD: Behold, waters are rising out of the north, and shall become an overflowing torrent; they shall overflow the land and all that fills it, the city and those who dwell in it. Men shall cry out, and every inhabitant of the land shall wail. |
| 3Fathers will hear the hoofbeats of the enemies' horses, the clatter of their chariots and the rumbling of their wheels. They will not turn back to save their children because they will be paralyzed with fear. | 3At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his stallions, at the rushing of his chariots, at the rumbling of their wheels, the fathers look not back to their children, so feeble are their hands, |
| 4For the time has come to destroy all the Philistines. The time has come to destroy all the help that remains for Tyre and Sidon. For I, the LORD, will destroy the Philistines, that remnant that came from the island of Crete. | 4because of the day that is coming to destroy all the Philistines, to cut off from Tyre and Sidon every helper that remains. For the LORD is destroying the Philistines, the remnant of the coastland of Caphtor. |
| 5The people of Gaza will shave their heads in mourning. The people of Ashkelon will be struck dumb. How long will you gash yourselves to show your sorrow, you who remain of Philistia's power? | 5Baldness has come upon Gaza; Ashkelon has perished. O remnant of their valley, how long will you gash yourselves? |
| 6How long will you cry out, 'Oh, sword of the LORD, how long will it be before you stop killing? Go back into your sheath! Stay there and rest!' | 6Ah, sword of the LORD! How long till you are quiet? Put yourself into your scabbard; rest and be still! |
| 7But how can it rest when I, the LORD, have given it orders? I have ordered it to attack the people of Ashkelon and the seacoast. | 7How can it be quiet when the LORD has given it a charge? Against Ashkelon and against the seashore he has appointed it.” |
|
    |