2 Thus says the Lord: "Behold, waters are going to rise from the north And become an overflowing torrent, And overflow the land and all its fulness, The city and those who live in it; And the men will cry out, And every inhabitant of the land will wail.

3 "Because of the noise of the galloping hoofs of his stallions, The tumult of his chariots, [and] the rumbling of his wheels, The fathers have not turned back for [their] children, Because of the limpness of [their] hands,

4 On account of the day that is coming To destroy all the Philistines, To cut off from Tyre and Sidon Every ally that is left; For the Lord is going to destroy the Philistines, The remnant of the coastland of Caphtor.

5 "Baldness has come upon Gaza; Ashkelon has been ruined. O remnant of their valley, How long will you gash yourself?

6 "Ah, sword of the Lord, How long will you not be quiet? Withdraw into your sheath; Be at rest and stay still.

7 "How can it be quiet, When the Lord has given it an order? Against Ashkelon and against the seacoast – There He has assigned it."