Chapter 2
1 Gather yourselves together , yes, gather together , you nation that has no shame ,
2 before the appointed time when the day passes as the chaff , before the fierce anger of Yahweh comes on you , before the day of Yahweh ’s anger comes on you .
3 Seek Yahweh , all you humble of the land, who have kept his ordinances . Seek righteousness . Seek humility . It may be that you will be hidden in the day of Yahweh ’s anger.
4 For Gaza will be forsaken , and Ashkelon a desolation . They will drive out Ashdod at noonday , and Ekron will be rooted up .
5 Woe to the inhabitants of the sea coast , the nation of the Cherethites ! Yahweh ’s word is against you , Canaan , the land of the Philistines . I will destroy you until there is no inhabitant .
6 The sea coast will be pastures , with cottages for shepherds and folds for flocks .
7 The coast will be for the remnant of the house of Judah . They will find pasture . In the houses of Ashkelon, they will lie down in the evening , for Yahweh , their God , " (Elohim). will visit them and restore them .
8 I have heard the reproach of Moab and the insults of the children of Ammon , with which they have reproached my people and magnified themselves against their border .
9 Therefore , as I live , says Yahweh of Armies , the God of Israel , surely Moab will be as Sodom , and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah , a possession of nettles and salt pits , and a perpetual desolation . The remnant of my people will plunder them , and the survivors of my nation will inherit them .
10 This they will have for their pride , because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of Yahweh of Armies .
11 Yahweh will be awesome to them , for he will famish all the gods of the land . Men will worship him , everyone from his place , even all the shores of the nations .
12 You Cushites also , you will be killed by my sword .
13 He will stretch out his hand against the north , destroy Assyria, and will make Nineveh a desolation , as dry as the wilderness .
14 Herds will lie down in the middle of her , all kinds of animals . Both the pelican and the porcupine will lodge in its capitals . Their calls will echo through the windows . Desolation will be in the thresholds , for he has laid bare the cedar beams.
15 This is the joyous city that lived carelessly, that said in her heart , " I am , and there is no one besides me ." How she has become a desolation , a place for animals to lie down in ! Everyone who passes by her will hiss and shake their fists.