Zephaniah 2:4

² Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD’s anger come upon you.

³ Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’s anger.

For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up.

⁵ Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the LORD is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant.

⁶ And the sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: For Gaza will be abandoned, and Ashkelon left in ruins. Ashdod will be driven out at noon, and Ekron will be uprooted.
KJV: For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up.
WEB: For Gaza will be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation. They will drive out Ashdod at noonday, and Ekron will be rooted up.
ASV: For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation; they shall drive out Ashdod at noonday, and Ekron shall be rooted up.
DARBY: For Gazah shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon shall be a desolation; they shall drive out Ashdod at noonday, and Ekron shall be rooted up.
BLB: For Gaza will be forsaken, and Ashkelon as a desolation; they will drive out Ashdod at noon, and Ekron will be uprooted.

ÅB: For Gasa skal bli forlatt, og Askalon en ørken; Asdods folk skal jages ut midt på dagen, og Ekron skal rykkes opp med rot.
OTB: For Gaza skal bli forlatt,
Og Askalon skal bli en ødemark;
Asdod skal bli drevet ut ved middagstid,
Og Ekron skal bli rykket opp med roten.
B1930: For Gasa skal bli forlatt, og Askalon en ørken; Asdods folk skal jages ut midt på dagen, og Ekron skal rykkes op med rot.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Zechariah 9:5–7
Ashkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also shall see it, and be very sorrowful, and Ekron; for her expectation shall be ashamed; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited.
Read in context
Amos 1:6–8
Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they carried away captive the whole captivity, to deliver them up to Edom:
Read in context
Jeremiah 47:1–7
The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before that Pharaoh smote Gaza.
Read in context
Jeremiah 25:20
And all the mingled people, and all the kings of the land of Uz, and all the kings of the land of the Philistines, and Ashkelon, and Azzah, and Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod,
Read in context
Jeremiah 6:4
Prepare ye war against her; arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe unto us! for the day goeth away, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out.
Read in context
Jeremiah 15:8
Their widows are increased to me above the sand of the seas: I have brought upon them against the mother of the young men a spoiler at noonday: I have caused him to fall upon it suddenly, and terrors upon the city.
Read in context
Ezekiel 25:15–17
Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because the Philistines have dealt by revenge, and have taken vengeance with a despiteful heart, to destroy it for the old hatred;
Read in context
Psalms 91:6
Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
Read in context