“See, Damascus will no longer be a city
    but will become a heap of ruins.^(C)
2 The cities of Aroer^(D) will be deserted
    and left to flocks,^(E) which will lie down,^(F)
    with no one to make them afraid.^(G)
3 The fortified^(H) city will disappear from Ephraim,
    and royal power from Damascus;
the remnant of Aram will be
    like the glory^(I) of the Israelites,”^(J)
declares the Lord Almighty.

“Hamath^(B) and Arpad^(C) are dismayed,
    for they have heard bad news.
They are disheartened,
    troubled like^[a] the restless sea.^(D)
24 Damascus has become feeble,
    she has turned to flee
    and panic has gripped her;
anguish and pain have seized her,
    pain like that of a woman in labor.^(E)
25 Why has the city of renown not been abandoned,
    the town in which I delight?
²⁶ Surely, her young men^(F) will fall in the streets;
    all her soldiers will be silenced^(G) in that day,”
declares the Lord Almighty.
²⁷ “I will set fire^(H) to the walls of Damascus;^(I)
    it will consume^(J) the fortresses of Ben-Hadad.^(K)”

“For three sins of Damascus,^(A)
    even for four, I will not relent.^(B)
Because she threshed Gilead
    with sledges having iron teeth,
⁴ I will send fire^(C) on the house of Hazael^(D)
    that will consume the fortresses^(E) of Ben-Hadad.^(F)
5 I will break down the gate^(G) of Damascus;
    I will destroy the king who is in^[a] the Valley of Aven^[b]
and the one who holds the scepter in Beth Eden.^(H)
    The people of Aram will go into exile to Kir,^(I)”
says the Lord.^(J)