6 Strangers will take over Ashdod. The Lord says, "I will take away everything the Philistines are so proud of.
7 They will no longer drink the blood of their animal sacrifices. I will remove the 'unclean' food from between their teeth. The Philistines who are left will belong to our God. They will become leaders in Judah. And Ekron will be like the Jebusites. So the Philistines will become part of Israel.
8 But I will guard my temple against enemy armies. No one will ever crush my people again. I will make sure it does not happen.
9 "City of Zion, be full of joy! People of Jerusalem, shout! See, your king comes to you. He always does what is right. He has the power to save. He is gentle and riding on a donkey. He is sitting on a donkey's colt.
10 I will take the chariots away from Ephraim. I will remove the war horses from Jerusalem. I will break the bows that are used in battle. Your king will announce peace to the nations. He will rule from ocean to ocean. His kingdom will reach from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.
11 I will set your prisoners free from where their enemies are keeping them. I will do it because of the blood that put my covenant with you into effect.
12 Return to your place of safety, you prisoners who still have hope. Even now I announce that I will give you back much more than you had before.