Against Ammon
1Concerning the Ammonites. Yahweh says this:
“Has Israel no sons?
Has she no heir?
Why then has Milcom disinherited Gad, why have his people settled in its cities? 2But the days are coming
– says Yahweh –
when I will sound the battle alarm against Rabbah of the Ammonites. It will become a heap of ruins, its villages destroyed by fire.
Then Israel will dispossess
those who had dispossessed her – Yahweh says.
3Wail, Heshbon, for the destroyer marches!
Howl, inhabitants of Rabbah! Put on sackcloth, lament,
run to and fro, gashing yourselves; for Milcom goes into exile, along with his priests and officials. 4Why boast of your valleys, your valleys flowing with fruit, O faithless daughter,
trusting in your riches and saying, ‘Who will dare attack me?’
5Look, I will bring terror upon you; you will be driven away, everyone making his own way, with no one to gather the fugitives. 6Yet I will restore the fortunes of the Ammonites later on.
It is Yahweh Sabaoth who speaks.”
Against Edom
7Concerning Edom, this is what Yahweh says:
“Is there no more wisdom left in Teman? Has counsel perished from the prudent? Has their understanding decayed?
8Flee or hide in dark caves, you inhabitants of Dedan,
for I will bring destruction upon Esau when I come to punish him.
9If grape pickers worked in your vineyard, would they not leave gleanings be hind? If thieves came to you at night,
would they not steal only as much as they want?
10But I will strip Esau bare; his hiding places I will uncover. His relatives, children and neighbors will perish, and he will be no more. 11Leave your widows and orphans behind, and rest assured I will keep them alive.”
12For thus says Yahweh: “Even those not sentenced to drink the cup must drink it. Why then should you go unpunished? You, too, shall drink! 13By my own self have I sworn, says Yahweh: Bozrah shall become an object of horror and disgrace, a desolation and a curse. All her towns and cities shall be ruins forever.”
14I have received a message from Yahweh, a herald has been sent among the nations:
“Assemble! Prepare for battle! March against these people!
15Look, I will reduce you among the nations, make you despised among human kind.
16The terror that you inspire and your pride have deceived you, you who live in the crags, on the rocky heights of the hill.
Though you build your nest as high as the eagle’s,
I will bring you down from there – it is Yahweh who speaks.
17Edom will become a horror, shocking every passerby who will catch his breath at the sight of her wounds. 18As when Sodom, Gomorrah, and their neighboring towns were overthrown, no one shall dwell or visit there – thus Yahweh proclaims.
19As when a lion comes from the thicket of Jordan to a rich feeding ground, so I, in an instant, will drive Edom from its land. Whom will I choose for this task? Who is like me and can call me to account? What shepherd can stand against me?
20Therefore hear Yahweh’s plan against Edom, against those who live in Teman. They will be dragged away, even the smallest sheep; their pasture will be destroyed on account of them.
21The earth will tremble at the sound of their fall; to the Sea of Reeds their cry will resound.
22Look! An eagle will soar and spread its wings over Bozrah. On that day the heart of Edom’s warriors will pound like the heart of a woman in labor.”
About the Syrian cities
23Message concerning Damascus:
“Hamath and Arpad are confused, having heard bad news.
Their hearts are faint with fear like the waters of a troubled sea. 24Damascus has become feeble and turns to flee in panic, gripped by anguish and pain, like a woman in travail.
25How the renowned city is forsaken, the city of delight!
26Her young men will fall in the streets, her soldiers will be silenced on that day. Yahweh declares:
27I will set fire to the walls of Damascus; it will consume Ben-Hadad’s for tresses.”
Against the Arabic tribes
28A message concerning Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon attacked. This is what Yahweh says:
“Arise and attack Kedar,
destroy the people of the east!
29Their tents and flocks will be taken away,
their goods and camels carried off as men shout, ‘Terror on every side!’ 30Flee, dwell in deep caves, you who live in Hazor – says Yahweh.
For Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has devised a plot against you. 31Arise and attack a nation at ease,
which lives in confidence,
a nation that has neither bars nor gates,
a people that dwells alone complacently.
32Their camels will become plunder, their large herds will be spoils;
I will scatter to the winds those who are in far-off places;
I will bring disaster on them from every side.
33Hazor will be a jackal’s haunt, forever a wasteland uninhabited by humans, unvisited by anyone.”
Against Elam
34This is the Word of Yahweh against Elam, which came to the prophet Jeremiah at the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah. 35Yahweh Sabaoth says this:
“See, I will break the bow of Elam, the main stay of their might. 36I will bring the four winds against her from the four quarters of the heavens, and there will be no nation on earth to which Elam’s exiles will not be dispersed.
37I will shatter Elam before their foes, before those who seek their lives. I will bring disaster upon them, even my fierce anger. I will pursue them with the sword until I have made an end of them.
38I will set my throne in Elam and destroy her king and officials. 39Yet I will restore the fortunes of Elam in the days to come – says Yahweh.”
