Now the handof the LORDwas heavyon the Ashdodites,and He ravagedthem and smotethem with tumors,both Ashdodand its territories.
"So the abundancewill be unknownin the landbecauseof that subsequentfamine;for it [will be] verysevere.
"Is it not calamityto the unjustAnd disasterto those who workiniquity?
The LORDkeepsallwho loveHim, But allthe wickedHe will destroy.
The LORDsupportsthe afflicted;He bringsdownthe wickedto the ground.
For dayand nightYour handwas heavyupon me; My vitalitywas drainedaway [as] with the feverheatof summer.Selah.
He droveHis adversariesbackward;He puton them an everlastingreproach.
behold,the handof the LORDwill come[with] a veryseverepestilenceon your livestockwhichare in the field,on the horses,on the donkeys,on the camels,on the herds,and on the flocks.
"Now,behold,the handof the Lordis upon you, and you will be blindand not seethe sunfor a time."And immediatelya mistand a darknessfellupon him, and he went aboutseekingthose who would lead him by the hand.
"The LORDwill smiteyou with the boilsof Egyptand with tumorsand with the scaband with the itch,from whichyou cannotbe healed.
They senttherefore and gatheredallthe lordsof the Philistinesand said,"Sendawaythe arkof the Godof Israel,and let it returnto its own place,sothat it will not killus and our people."For there was a deadlyconfusionthroughoutthe city;the handof Godwas veryheavythere.
When the menof Ashdodsawthat it was so,they said,"The arkof the Godof Israelmust not remainwith us, for His handis severeon us and on Dagonour god."
Afterthey had broughtit around,the handof the LORDwas against the citywith verygreatconfusion;and He smotethe menof the city,bothyoungand old,so that tumorsbrokeout on them.
