CHAPTER 49
Concerning the Ammonites,
this is what
the LORD
says:
“Has Israel
no
sons?
Is he without
heir?
Why then
has Molech
taken possession
of Gad
and his people
settled
in their cities?
Therefore,
behold,
the days
are coming,
declares
the LORD,
when I will sound
the battle
cry
against
Rabbah
of the Ammonites.
It will become
a heap
of ruins,
and its villages
will be burned.
Then Israel
will drive out
their dispossessors,
says
the LORD.
Wail,
O Heshbon,
for
Ai
has been destroyed;
cry out,
O daughters
of Rabbah!
Put on
sackcloth
and mourn;
run back and forth
within your walls,
for
Molech
will go
into exile
together with
his priests
and officials.
Why
do you boast
of your valleys,
your valleys
so fruitful,
O faithless
daughter?
You trust
in your riches and say,
‘Who
can come against
me?’
Behold,
I am about to bring
terror
upon you,
declares
the Lord
GOD
of Hosts,
from all those
around you.
You will each be driven
headlong,
with no one
to regather
the fugitives.
Concerning Edom,
this is what
the LORD
of Hosts
says:
“Is there no
longer
wisdom
in Teman?
Has counsel
perished
from the prudent?
Has their wisdom
decayed?
Turn
and run!
Lie
low,
O residents
of Dedan,
for
I will bring
disaster
on
Esau
at the time
I punish him.
If
grape gatherers
came to you,
would they not
leave
some gleanings?
Were thieves
to come in the night,
would they not steal
only what they wanted?
But
I
will strip Esau
bare;
I will uncover
his hiding places,
and he will be unable
to conceal himself.
His descendants
will be destroyed
along with his relatives
and neighbors,
and he will be no more.
For
this is what
the LORD
says:
“If
those who
do not
deserve
to drink
the cup
must drink it,
can you
possibly remain unpunished?
You will not
go unpunished,
for
you must drink
it too.
For
by Myself I have sworn,
declares
the LORD,
that
Bozrah
will become
a desolation,
a disgrace,
a ruin,
and a curse,
and all
her cities
will be
in ruins
forever.”
I have heard
a message
from the LORD;
an envoy
has been sent
among the nations
to say, “Assemble yourselves
to come
against her!
Rise up
for battle!”
The terror you cause
and the pride of your
heart
have deceived
you,
O dwellers
in the clefts
of the rocks,
O occupiers
of the mountain
summit.
Though
you elevate
your nest
like the eagle,
even from there
I will bring you down,”
declares
the LORD.
“Edom
will become
an object of horror.
Everyone
who passes
by
will be appalled
and will scoff
because of
all
its wounds.
As Sodom
and Gomorrah
were overthrown
along with their neighbors,”
says
the LORD,
“no
one
will reside
there;
no
man
will dwell
there.
Behold,
one will come up
like a lion
from the thickets
of the Jordan
to
the watered pasture.
Indeed,
I will chase Edom
from its land
in an instant.
Who
is the chosen one
I will appoint
for this?
For
who
is like Me?
Who
will summon Me?
And what
shepherd
can stand
against Me?"
Therefore
hear
the plans
that
the LORD
has made
against
Edom
and the strategies
He has devised
against
the people
of Teman:
The little ones
of the flock
will surely
be dragged away,
and their pasture
will be made desolate
because of them.
Look!
An eagle
will soar,
then swoop down
and spread
its wings
over
Bozrah.
In that
day
the hearts
of Edom’s
warriors
will be
like the heart
of a woman
in labor.
Concerning Damascus:
“Hamath
and Arpad
are put to shame,
for
they have heard
a bad
report;
they are agitated
like the sea;
their anxiety
cannot
be calmed.
Damascus
has become feeble;
she has turned
to flee.
Panic
has gripped her;
anguish
and pain
have seized her
like a woman in labor.
For
her young men
will fall
in her streets;
all
the warriors
will be silenced
in that
day.”
declares
the LORD
of Hosts.
Concerning Kedar
and the kingdoms
of Hazor,
which
Nebuchadnezzar
king
of Babylon
defeated,
this is what
the LORD
says:
“Rise up,
advance
against
Kedar,
and destroy
the people
of the east!
They will take
their tents
and flocks,
their tent curtains
and all
their goods.
They will take
their camels for themselves.
They will shout
to them:
‘Terror
is on every side!’
Run!
Escape
quickly!
Lie
low,
O residents
of Hazor,
declares
the LORD,
for
Nebuchadnezzar
king
of Babylon
has drawn up
a plan
against you;
he has devised
a strategy
against you.
Rise up,
advance
against
a nation
at ease,
one that dwells
securely,
declares
the LORD.
They have no
gates
or bars;
they live
alone.
Their camels
will become
plunder,
and their large
herds
will be spoil.
I will scatter
to the wind
in every direction
those who shave
their temples;
I will bring
calamity on them
from all
sides,
declares
the LORD.
Hazor
will become
a haunt
of jackals,
a desolation
forever.
No
one
will reside
there;
no
man
will dwell
there.”
This is the word
of the LORD
that
came
to
Jeremiah
the prophet
concerning
Elam
at the beginning
of the reign
of Zedekiah
king
of Judah.
This is what
the LORD
of Hosts
says:
“Behold,
I will shatter
Elam’s
bow,
the mainstay
of their might.
I will bring
the four
winds
against
Elam
from the four
corners
of the heavens,
and I will scatter them
to all
these
winds.
There will not
be
a nation
to which
Elam’s
exiles
will not
go.
So I will shatter
Elam
before
their foes,
before
those who seek
their lives.
I will bring
disaster
upon them,
even My fierce
anger,
declares
the LORD.
I will send out
the sword
after them
until
I finish them off.