49:1 In regard to the Ammonites, thus says the Lord: Has Israel no sons? Has he no heir? Why then has Milcom inherited Gad, and why have his people settled in its towns?
49:2 Therefore, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will sound the battle cry against Rabbah of the Ammonites. It will become a desolate mound, and its villages will be burned to the ground. Then Israel will dispossess those who dispossessed her, says the Lord.
49:3 Wail, O Heshbon, for Ai has been laid waste. Cry out, O daughters of Rabbah. Wrap yourselves in sackcloth and mourn; run to and fro and gash your bodies. For Milcom will go into exile together with his priests and his attendants.
49:4 Why do you glory in your strength that is now beginning to ebb? O rebellious daughter, you place your trust in your treasures, saying, “Who will dare to attack me?”
49:5 I will bring terror upon you from every side, says the Lord God of hosts. Every one of you will be driven away and scattered, with no one to rally the fugitives.
49:6 But afterward, says the Lord, I will restore the fortunes of the Ammonites.
49:7 In regard to Edom, thus says the Lord of hosts: Can wisdom no longer be found in Teman? Has counsel ceased to exist in the prudent? Has their wisdom become a thing of the past?
49:8 Turn away and flee, O inhabitants of Dedan; seek refuge in remote locales. For I will inflict retribution on Esau when I decide upon the time to punish him.
49:9 If those who gather grapes were to come upon you, would they not leave behind some gleanings? If thieves came during the night, would they not steal only what they wanted?
49:10 But I for my part will strip Esau bare; I will discover his hiding places, and he will have nowhere to conceal himself. His children will perish, as will his relatives and neighbors, and he will be no more.
49:11 Leave behind your orphans; I will support them, and your widows will place their trust in me.
49:12 For thus says the Lord: If those who were not doomed to drink the cup still must drink it, should you alone be the one to go unpunished? You will not go unpunished. You will be required to drink it.
49:13 For by my own self I have sworn, says the Lord, that Bozrah will become an object of horror and reproach, a desolate wasteland, and a curse, and all her towns will be ruins forevermore.
49:14 I have received a message from the Lord, a herald has been sent to all the nations, “Gather together and prepare to attack her; rise up for battle.”
49:15 I will make you the least among the nations, the most despised of people, O Edom.
49:16 You have been deceived by your proud heart and by the terror you inspire, you who dwell in rocky crags and look down from the heights of the hill. Even though you build your nest as high as the eagle’s, I will drag you down from there, says the Lord.
49:17 Edom will become an object of horror. Everyone who passes by will be appalled and astounded at the sight of all her wounds.
49:18 As when Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighbors were overthrown, no one will live there, nor will anyone ever again settle there.
49:19 As when a lion comes up to rich pastures from the dense thickets of the Jordan, so will I in an instant drive away Edom from its land and designate those whom I wish to settle there. For who is like me? Who can bring charges against me? What shepherd can stand his ground against me?
49:20 Therefore, hear the plan that the Lord has devised against Edom and the schemes that he has in mind to forestall the inhabitants of Teman. They will be dragged away like the smallest of the flock, and their pastures will be completely destroyed.
49:21 At the sound of their downfall, the earth will tremble, and their anguished cries will be heard as far away as the Red Sea.
49:22 Like an eagle he will soar and swoop down and spread his wings against Bozrah, and the hearts of Edom’s warriors on that day will be like the heart of a woman in labor.
49:23 Concerning Damascus: Hamath and Arpad are deeply troubled, for they have heard distressing news. In their concern, they are filled with anxiety, tossed about like the sea that cannot be calmed.
49:24 Damascus has been weakened; gripped with panic, she prepares to flee. Anguish and sorrow have overwhelmed her; her pain is like that of a woman in labor.
49:25 How can this renowned city be forsaken in which I take such delight?
49:26 Her young men will fall in her squares, and all her warriors will perish on that day, says the Lord of hosts.
49:27 Then I will set fire to the walls of Damascus that will devour the palaces of Benhadad.
49:28 In regard to Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor that were conquered by Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, thus says the Lord: Rise up and attack Kedar. Destroy the desert dwellers of the east.
49:29 Carry away their tents and their flocks, their tent curtains and all their goods. Seize their camels for yourselves and let the shout be raised, “There is terror on every side.”
49:30 Flee quickly to distant areas, and take refuge in remote places, inhabitants of Hazor, says the Lord. For King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon is determined to eradicate you and has formulated a plan against you.
49:31 Thus says the Lord: Rise up against a nation that never bothers to strengthen its security, that has no gates or bars and is located in a remote area.
49:32 Their camels will become your booty, and their herds of cattle will be your spoil. I will scatter to the winds those who shave their temples, and I will bring ruin on them from every side, says the Lord.
49:33 Hazor will become the lair of jackals, an everlasting place of desolation, where no one will live anymore, nor will anyone stay there again.
49:34 This word of the Lord came to the prophet Jeremiah in regard to Elam, at the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah, the king of Judah.
49:35 Thus says the Lord of hosts: Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the mainstay of their might.
49:36 I will bring upon Elam the four winds from the four quarters of the heavens. I will scatter them to all these winds, and there will not be a single nation to which the exiles of Elam will not go.
49:37 I will cause the people of Elam to tremble before their foes and before those who are determined to kill them. I will bring disaster upon them, my burning anger, says the Lord. I will pursue them with the sword until I have completely destroyed them.
49:38 Then I will establish my throne in Elam and destroy their king and his officials, says the Lord.
49:39 However, in the days to come I will restore the fortunes of Elam, says the Lord.
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