1Before the king of Egypt attacked the city of Gaza, the Lord spoke his word to Jeremiah the prophet. This message is to the Philistine people.
2This is what the Lord says: "See, the enemy is gathering in the north like rising waters. They will become like an overflowing stream and will cover the whole country like a flood, even the towns and the people living in them. Everyone living in that country will cry for help; the people will cry painfully.
3They will hear the sound of the running horses and the noisy chariots and the rumbling chariot wheels. Parents will not help their children to safety, because they will be too weak to help.
4The time has come to destroy all the Philistines. It is time to destroy all who are left alive who could help the cities of Tyre and Sidon. The Lord will soon destroy the Philistines, those left alive from the island of Crete.
5The people from the city of Gaza will be sad and shave their heads. The people from the city of Ashkelon will be made silent. Those left alive from the valley, how long will you cut yourselves?
6"You cry, 'Sword of the Lord, how long will you keep fighting? Return to your holder. Stop and be still.'
7But how can his sword rest when the Lord has given it a command? He has ordered it to attack Ashkelon and the seacoast."