The Father Brings Judgment on Ammon
49 1 Concerning the Ammonites. This is what our Father says: Has Israel no sons? Has he no heir? Why then has Milcom taken possession of Gad, and his people settled in its cities? 2 Therefore the days are coming, declares our Father, when I will sound the battle cry against Rabbah of the Ammonites; it will become a desolate mound, and its villages will be burned with fire. Then Israel will dispossess those who dispossessed him, says our Father. 3 Wail, Heshbon, for Ai is laid waste! Cry out, daughters of Rabbah! Put on mourning clothes and mourn; run back and forth among the walls, for Milcom will go into exile, together with his priests and officials. 4 Why do you boast of your valleys, your fruitful valley, faithless daughter — you who trusted in your treasures, saying, 'Who would dare come against me?' 5 I am about to bring terror upon you, declares the Father of heaven's armies, from all those around you. You will be driven out, each one headlong, with no one to gather the fugitives. 6 Yet afterward I will restore the fortunes of the Ammonites, declares our Father.
The Father Humbles Edom's Pride
7 Concerning Edom. This is what the Father of heaven's armies says: Is there no longer wisdom in Teman? Has wise counsel abandoned the prudent? Has their wisdom decayed? 8 Flee, turn back, hide in the depths, you who live in Dedan, for I will bring disaster on Esau at the time I punish him. 9 If grape-pickers came to you, would they not leave a few gleanings? If thieves came in the night, would they not steal only what they wanted? 10 But I myself have stripped Esau bare; I have uncovered his hiding places, and he cannot conceal himself. His offspring are destroyed, his brothers and his neighbors, and he is no more. 11 Leave your orphans behind; I will keep them alive. Let your widows trust in me.
12 For this is what our Father says: If those who did not deserve to drink the cup must drink it, why should you go unpunished? You will not go unpunished; you must drink it. 13 For I have sworn by myself, declares our Father, that Bozrah will become a ruin and an object of horror, a reproach and a curse; and all its towns will be desolate forever.
14 I have heard a message from our Father: an envoy has been sent among the nations to say, 'Gather together and march against her! Rise up for battle!'
15 Now I will make you small among the nations, despised among mankind. 16 The terror you inspire and the pride of your heart have deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, who occupy the height of the hill. Though you build your nest as high as the eagle's, from there I will bring you down, declares our Father.
17 Edom will become an object of horror; all who pass by will be appalled and will scoff at all her wounds.
18 As Sodom and Gomorrah were overthrown, along with their neighboring towns, says our Father, so no one will live there, no human being will reside in her. 19 Like a lion coming up from the thickets of the Jordan to a lush, green pasture, I will suddenly chase Edom from its land. Who is the chosen one I will appoint over it? For who is like me, and who can summon me? What shepherd can stand against me?
20 Therefore hear the plan our Father has devised against Edom, and the purposes he has formed against those who live in Teman: Even the little ones of the flock will be dragged away; surely their pasture will be appalled at their fate. 21 At the sound of their fall the earth will quake; the sound of their cry will be heard at the Red Sea. 22 Look! An eagle will soar and swoop, spreading its wings over Bozrah. In that day the hearts of Edom's warriors will be like the heart of a woman in labor.
The Father Brings Judgment on Damascus
23 Concerning Damascus. Hamath and Arpad are dismayed, for they have heard bad news. They are disheartened, troubled like the restless sea that cannot be still. 24 Damascus has grown feeble; she has turned to flee, and panic has gripped her. Anguish and pain have seized her, like the pain of a woman in labor.
25 Why has the city of praise not been abandoned, the town in which I delight? 26 Surely her young men will fall in her streets; all her soldiers will be silenced in that day, declares the Father of heaven's armies. 27 I will set fire to the walls of Damascus; it will consume the fortresses of Ben-hadad.
The Father Judges Kedar and Hazor
28 Concerning Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon struck down. This is what our Father says: Rise up, advance against Kedar! Destroy the people of the east! 29 Their tents and their flocks will be taken — their tent curtains and all their goods. Their camels will be carried off, and people will shout to them, 'Terror on every side!' 30 Flee quickly! Hide in the depths, you who live in Hazor, declares our Father, for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has formed a plan against you; he has devised a strategy against you. 31 Rise up, advance against a nation at ease, that lives in confidence, declares our Father — a nation with neither gates nor bars, that dwells alone. 32 Their camels will become plunder, and their great herds will be spoil. I will scatter to every wind those who clip the corners of their hair, and from every side I will bring disaster on them, declares our Father. a a v32 Clipping the corners of the hair was a distinctive custom of certain Arab desert tribes.
33 Hazor will become a haunt of jackals, a desolation forever. No one will live there, no human being will reside in her.
The Father Scatters and Restores Elam
34 The word of our Father that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning Elam, at the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah:
35 This is what the Father of heaven's armies says: I am about to break the bow of Elam, the very source of their strength. 36 I will bring against Elam the four winds from the four quarters of heaven; I will scatter them to all these winds, and there will be no nation where Elam's exiles do not go. 37 I will shatter Elam before their enemies, before those who seek to kill them. I will bring disaster on them, my fierce anger, declares our Father; I will pursue them with the sword until I have made an end of them. 38 I will set my throne in Elam and destroy her king and officials, declares our Father. 39 Yet in the days to come I will restore the fortunes of Elam, declares our Father.