2:1  Gather yourselves together, yes, gather, O nation without shame,

2:2  Before the decree takes effect-- The day passes like the chaff-- Before the burning anger of the LORD comes upon you, Before the day of the LORD'S anger comes upon you.

2:3  Seek the LORD, All you humble of the earth Who have carried out His ordinances; Seek righteousness, seek humility. Perhaps you will be hidden In the day of the LORD'S anger.

2:4  For Gaza will be abandoned And Ashkelon a desolation; Ashdod will be driven out at noon And Ekron will be uprooted.

2:5  Woe to the inhabitants of the seacoast, The nation of the Cherethites! The word of the LORD is against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines; And I will destroy you So that there will be no inhabitant.

2:6  So the seacoast will be pastures, {With} caves for shepherds and folds for flocks.

2:7  And the coast will be For the remnant of the house of Judah, They will pasture on it. In the houses of Ashkelon they will lie down at evening; For the LORD their God will care for them And restore their fortune.

2:8  "I have heard the taunting of Moab And the revilings of the sons of Ammon, With which they have taunted My people And become arrogant against their territory.

2:9  "Therefore, as I live, declares the LORD of hosts, The God of Israel, "Surely Moab will be like Sodom And the sons of Ammon like Gomorrah-- A place possessed by nettles and salt pits, And a perpetual desolation. The remnant of My people will plunder them And the remainder of My nation will inherit them.""

2:10  This they will have in return for their pride, because they have taunted and become arrogant against the people of the LORD of hosts.

2:11  The LORD will be terrifying to them, for He will starve all the gods of the earth; and all the coastlands of the nations will bow down to Him, everyone from his {own} place.

2:12  "You also, O Ethiopians, will be slain by My sword."

2:13  And He will stretch out His hand against the north And destroy Assyria, And He will make Nineveh a desolation, Parched like the wilderness.

2:14  Flocks will lie down in her midst, All beasts which range in herds; Both the pelican and the hedgehog Will lodge in the tops of her pillars; Birds will sing in the window, Desolation {will be} on the threshold; For He has laid bare the cedar work.

2:15  This is the exultant city Which dwells securely, Who says in her heart, "I am, and there is no one besides me. How she has become a desolation, A resting place for beasts! Everyone who passes by her will hiss {And} wave his hand {in contempt.}"