Ashkelonwill see[it] and be afraid.Gazatoo will writhein greatpain;Also Ekron,for her expectationhas beenconfounded.Moreover, the kingwill perishfrom Gaza,And Ashkelonwill not be inhabited.
In the yearthat KingAhazdiedthisoraclecame:
That whichcameas the wordof the LORDto Jeremiahthe prophetconcerningthe Philistines,beforePharaohconqueredGaza.
"Moreover,whatare you to Me, O Tyre,Sidonand allthe regionsof Philistia?Are you renderingMe a recompense?But ifyou do recompenseMe, swiftlyand speedilyI will returnyour recompenseon your head.
Thussaysthe LORD,"For threetransgressionsof Gazaand for fourI will not revokeits [punishment], Becausethey deportedan entirepopulationTo deliver[it] up to Edom.
"I will also cutoffthe inhabitantfrom Ashdod,And him who holdsthe scepter,from Ashkelon;I will even unleashMy powerupon Ekron,And the remnantof the Philistineswill perish,"Saysthe LordGOD.
Behold,the Lordwill dispossessher And casther wealthinto the sea;And she will be consumedwith fire.
And a mongrelracewill dwellin Ashdod,And I will cutoffthe prideof the Philistines.
But an angelof the Lordspoketo Philipsaying,"Getup and gosouthto the roadthat descendsfrom Jerusalemto Gaza."(Thisis a desert[road].)
and hopedoes not disappoint,becausethe loveof Godhas been pouredout withinour heartsthroughthe HolySpiritwho was givento us.
accordingto my earnest expectationand hope,that I will not be put to shamein anything,but [that] with allboldness,Christwill evennow,as always,be exaltedin my body,whetherby lifeorby death.
