Add parallel Print Page Options

A Message About Ammon

49 Here is what the Lord says about the people of Ammon.

He says,

“Doesn’t Israel have any sons?
    Doesn’t Israel have anyone
    to take over the family property?
Then why has the god named Molek taken over Gad?
    Why do those who worship him live in its towns?
But a new day is coming,”
    announces the Lord.
“At that time I will sound the battle cry.
    I will sound it against Rabbah in the land of Ammon.
It will become a pile of broken-down buildings.
    The villages around it will be set on fire.
Then Israel will drive out
    those who drove her out,”
    says the Lord.
“Heshbon, weep for Ai! It is destroyed!
    Cry out, you who live in Rabbah!
Put on the clothes of sadness and mourn.
    Run here and there inside the walls.
Your god named Molek will be carried away.
    So will its priests and officials.
Why do you brag about your valleys?
    You brag that they produce so many crops.
Ammon, you are an unfaithful country.
    You trust in your riches. You say,
    ‘Who will attack me?’
I will bring terror on you.
    It will come from all those around you,”
    announces the Lord. He is the Lord who rules over all.
“Every one of you will be driven away.
    No one will bring back those who escape.

“But after that, I will bless the people of Ammon
    with great success again,”
    announces the Lord.

A Message About Edom

Here is what the Lord says about Edom.

The Lord who rules over all says,

“Isn’t there wisdom in the town of Teman anymore?
    Can’t those who are wise give advice?
    Has their wisdom disappeared completely?
Turn around and run away, you who live in Dedan.
    Hide in deep caves.
I will bring trouble on Esau’s family line.
    I will do this at the time I punish them.
Edom, suppose grape pickers came to harvest your vines.
    They would still leave a few grapes.
Suppose robbers came at night.
    They would steal only as much as they wanted.
10 But I will strip everything away from Esau’s people.
    I will uncover their hiding places.
    They will not be able to hide anywhere.
Their army is destroyed.
    Their friends and neighbors are destroyed.
    So there is no one to say,
11 ‘Leave your children whose fathers have died.
    I will keep them alive.
    Your widows can also depend on me.’ ”

12 The Lord says, “What if those who do not have to drink the cup must drink it anyway? Then shouldn’t you be punished? You will certainly be punished. You must drink the cup. 13 I make a promise in my own name. Bozrah will be destroyed,” announces the Lord. “People will be shocked at it. They will say Bozrah is a shameful place. They will use its name as a curse. And all its towns will be destroyed forever.”

14 I’ve heard a message from the Lord.
    A messenger was sent to the nations. The Lord told him to say,
“Gather yourselves together to attack Edom!
    Prepare for battle!”

15 The Lord says to Edom, “I will make you weak among the nations.
    They will hate you.
16 You live in the safety of the rocks.
    You live on top of the hills.
But the terror you stir up has now turned against you.
    Your proud heart has tricked you.
You build your nest as high as an eagle does.
    But I will bring you down from there,”
    announces the Lord.
17 “People of Edom,
    all those who pass by you will be shocked.
They will make fun of you
    because of all your wounds.
18 Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed.
    So were the towns that were near them,”
    says the Lord.
“You will be just like them.
    No one will live in your land.
    No human beings will stay there.

19 “I will be like a lion coming up
    from the bushes by the Jordan River.
    I will hunt in rich grasslands.
I will chase you from your land in an instant.
    What nation will I choose to do this?
    Which one will I appoint?
Is anyone like me?
    Who would dare to argue with me?
    What leader can stand against me?”
20 So listen to what the Lord has planned
    against the people of Edom.
    Hear what he has planned against those who live in Teman.
Edom’s young people will be dragged away.
    Their grasslands will be shocked at their fate.
21 When the earth hears Edom fall, it will shake.
    The people’s cries will be heard all the way to the Red Sea.
22 Look! An enemy is coming.
    It’s like an eagle diving down.
    It will spread its wings over Bozrah.
At that time the hearts of Edom’s soldiers
    will tremble in fear.
    They’ll be like the heart of a woman having a baby.

A Message About Damascus

23 Here is what the Lord says about Damascus. He says,

“The people of Hamath and Arpad are terrified.
    They have heard bad news.
They have lost all hope.
    They are troubled like the rolling sea.
24 The people of Damascus have become weak.
    They have turned to run away.
    Panic has taken hold of them.
Suffering and pain have taken hold of them.
    Their pain is like the pain of a woman having a baby.
25 Why hasn’t the famous city been deserted?
    It is the town I take delight in.
26 You can be sure its young men will fall dead in the streets.
    All its soldiers will be put to death at that time,”
    announces the Lord who rules over all.
27 “I will set the walls of Damascus on fire.
    It will burn down the strong towers of King Ben-Hadad.”

A Message About Kedar and Hazor

28 Here is what the Lord says about the people of Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor. Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, was planning to attack them.

The Lord says to the armies of Babylon,

“Prepare for battle. Attack Kedar.
    Destroy the people of the east.
29 Their tents and flocks will be taken away from them.
    Their tents will be carried off.
    All their goods and camels will be stolen.
People will shout to them,
    ‘There is terror on every side!’

30 “Run away quickly!
    You who live in Hazor, stay in deep caves,”
    announces the Lord.
“Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon,
    has made plans against you.
    He has decided to attack you.

31 “Armies of Babylon, prepare for battle.
Attack a nation that feels secure.
    Its people do not have any worries,”
    announces the Lord.
“That nation does not have gates or bars that lock them.
    Its people live far from danger.
32 Their camels will be stolen.
    Their large herds will be taken away.
I will scatter to the winds those who are in places far away.
    I will bring trouble on them from every side,”
    announces the Lord.
33 “Hazor will become a home for wild dogs.
    It will be a dry and empty desert forever.
No one will live in that land.
    No human beings will stay there.”

A Message About Elam

34 A message from the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet. It was about Elam. It came shortly after Zedekiah became king of Judah.

35 The Lord who rules over all said,

“Elam’s bow is the secret of its strength.
    But I will break it.
36 I will bring the four winds against Elam.
    I will bring them from all four directions.
I will scatter Elam’s people to the four winds.
    They will be taken away
    to every nation on earth.
37 I will use Elam’s enemies to smash them.
    Those who want to kill them will kill them.
I will bring trouble on Elam’s people.
    My anger will be great against them,”
    announces the Lord.
“I will chase them with swords.
    I will hunt them down
    until I have destroyed them.
38 I will set up my throne in Elam.
    I will destroy its king and officials,”
    announces the Lord.

39 “But in days to come I will bless Elam
    with great success again,”
    announces the Lord.

A Message About Ammon

49 Concerning the Ammonites:(A)

This is what the Lord says:

“Has Israel no sons?
    Has Israel no heir?
Why then has Molek[a](B) taken possession of Gad?(C)
    Why do his people live in its towns?
But the days are coming,”
    declares the Lord,
“when I will sound the battle cry(D)
    against Rabbah(E) of the Ammonites;
it will become a mound of ruins,(F)
    and its surrounding villages will be set on fire.
Then Israel will drive out
    those who drove her out,(G)
says the Lord.
“Wail, Heshbon,(H) for Ai(I) is destroyed!
    Cry out, you inhabitants of Rabbah!
Put on sackcloth(J) and mourn;
    rush here and there inside the walls,
for Molek(K) will go into exile,(L)
    together with his priests and officials.
Why do you boast of your valleys,
    boast of your valleys so fruitful?
Unfaithful Daughter Ammon,(M)
    you trust in your riches(N) and say,
    ‘Who will attack me?’(O)
I will bring terror on you
    from all those around you,”
declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty.
“Every one of you will be driven away,
    and no one will gather the fugitives.(P)

“Yet afterward, I will restore(Q) the fortunes of the Ammonites,”
declares the Lord.

A Message About Edom(R)(S)

Concerning Edom:(T)

This is what the Lord Almighty says:

“Is there no longer wisdom in Teman?(U)
    Has counsel perished from the prudent?
    Has their wisdom decayed?
Turn and flee, hide in deep caves,(V)
    you who live in Dedan,(W)
for I will bring disaster on Esau
    at the time when I punish him.
If grape pickers came to you,
    would they not leave a few grapes?
If thieves came during the night,
    would they not steal only as much as they wanted?
10 But I will strip Esau bare;
    I will uncover his hiding places,(X)
    so that he cannot conceal himself.
His armed men are destroyed,
    also his allies and neighbors,
    so there is no one(Y) to say,
11 ‘Leave your fatherless children;(Z) I will keep them alive.
    Your widows(AA) too can depend on me.’”

12 This is what the Lord says: “If those who do not deserve to drink the cup(AB) must drink it, why should you go unpunished?(AC) You will not go unpunished, but must drink it. 13 I swear(AD) by myself,” declares the Lord, “that Bozrah(AE) will become a ruin and a curse,[b] an object of horror(AF) and reproach;(AG) and all its towns will be in ruins forever.”(AH)

14 I have heard a message from the Lord;
    an envoy was sent to the nations to say,
“Assemble yourselves to attack it!
    Rise up for battle!”

15 “Now I will make you small among the nations,
    despised by mankind.
16 The terror you inspire
    and the pride(AI) of your heart have deceived you,
you who live in the clefts of the rocks,(AJ)
    who occupy the heights of the hill.
Though you build your nest(AK) as high as the eagle’s,
    from there I will bring you down,”
declares the Lord.
17 “Edom will become an object of horror;(AL)
    all who pass by will be appalled and will scoff
    because of all its wounds.(AM)
18 As Sodom(AN) and Gomorrah(AO) were overthrown,
    along with their neighboring towns,”
says the Lord,
“so no one will live there;
    no people will dwell(AP) in it.

19 “Like a lion(AQ) coming up from Jordan’s thickets(AR)
    to a rich pastureland,
I will chase Edom from its land in an instant.
    Who is the chosen one I will appoint for this?
Who is like(AS) me and who can challenge me?(AT)
    And what shepherd(AU) can stand against me?”

20 Therefore, hear what the Lord has planned against Edom,(AV)
    what he has purposed(AW) against those who live in Teman:(AX)
The young of the flock(AY) will be dragged away;
    their pasture will be appalled at their fate.(AZ)
21 At the sound of their fall the earth will tremble;(BA)
    their cry(BB) will resound to the Red Sea.[c]
22 Look! An eagle will soar and swoop(BC) down,
    spreading its wings over Bozrah.(BD)
In that day the hearts of Edom’s warriors(BE)
    will be like the heart of a woman in labor.(BF)

A Message About Damascus

23 Concerning Damascus:(BG)

“Hamath(BH) and Arpad(BI) are dismayed,
    for they have heard bad news.
They are disheartened,
    troubled like[d] the restless sea.(BJ)
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.(BK)
25 Why has the city of renown not been abandoned,
    the town in which I delight?
26 Surely, her young men(BL) will fall in the streets;
    all her soldiers will be silenced(BM) in that day,”
declares the Lord Almighty.
27 “I will set fire(BN) to the walls of Damascus;(BO)
    it will consume(BP) the fortresses of Ben-Hadad.(BQ)

A Message About Kedar and Hazor

28 Concerning Kedar(BR) and the kingdoms of Hazor,(BS) which Nebuchadnezzar(BT) king of Babylon attacked:

This is what the Lord says:

“Arise, and attack Kedar
    and destroy the people of the East.(BU)
29 Their tents and their flocks(BV) will be taken;
    their shelters will be carried off
    with all their goods and camels.
People will shout to them,
    ‘Terror(BW) on every side!’

30 “Flee quickly away!
    Stay in deep caves,(BX) you who live in Hazor,(BY)
declares the Lord.
“Nebuchadnezzar(BZ) king of Babylon has plotted against you;
    he has devised a plan against you.

31 “Arise and attack a nation at ease,
    which lives in confidence,”
declares the Lord,
“a nation that has neither gates nor bars;(CA)
    its people live far from danger.
32 Their camels(CB) will become plunder,
    and their large herds(CC) will be spoils of war.
I will scatter to the winds(CD) those who are in distant places[e](CE)
    and will bring disaster on them from every side,”
declares the Lord.
33 “Hazor(CF) will become a haunt of jackals,(CG)
    a desolate(CH) place forever.
No one will live there;
    no people will dwell(CI) in it.”

A Message About Elam

34 This is the word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning Elam,(CJ) early in the reign of Zedekiah(CK) king of Judah:

35 This is what the Lord Almighty says:

“See, I will break the bow(CL) of Elam,
    the mainstay of their might.
36 I will bring against Elam the four winds(CM)
    from the four quarters of heaven;(CN)
I will scatter them to the four winds,
    and there will not be a nation
    where Elam’s exiles do not go.
37 I will shatter Elam before their foes,
    before those who want to kill them;
I will bring disaster on them,
    even my fierce anger,”(CO)
declares the Lord.
“I will pursue them with the sword(CP)
    until I have made an end of them.
38 I will set my throne in Elam
    and destroy her king and officials,”
declares the Lord.

39 “Yet I will restore(CQ) the fortunes of Elam
    in days to come,”
declares the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 49:1 Or their king; also in verse 3
  2. Jeremiah 49:13 That is, its name will be used in cursing (see 29:22); or, others will see that it is cursed.
  3. Jeremiah 49:21 Or the Sea of Reeds
  4. Jeremiah 49:23 Hebrew on or by
  5. Jeremiah 49:32 Or who clip the hair by their foreheads

49 Concerning the Ammonites, thus saith the Lord; Hath Israel no sons? hath he no heir? why then doth their king inherit Gad, and his people dwell in his cities?

Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will cause an alarm of war to be heard in Rabbah of the Ammonites; and it shall be a desolate heap, and her daughters shall be burned with fire: then shall Israel be heir unto them that were his heirs, saith the Lord.

Howl, O Heshbon, for Ai is spoiled: cry, ye daughters of Rabbah, gird you with sackcloth; lament, and run to and fro by the hedges; for their king shall go into captivity, and his priests and his princes together.

Wherefore gloriest thou in the valleys, thy flowing valley, O backsliding daughter? that trusted in her treasures, saying, Who shall come unto me?

Behold, I will bring a fear upon thee, saith the Lord God of hosts, from all those that be about thee; and ye shall be driven out every man right forth; and none shall gather up him that wandereth.

And afterward I will bring again the captivity of the children of Ammon, saith the Lord.

Concerning Edom, thus saith the Lord of hosts; Is wisdom no more in Teman? is counsel perished from the prudent? is their wisdom vanished?

Flee ye, turn back, dwell deep, O inhabitants of Dedan; for I will bring the calamity of Esau upon him, the time that I will visit him.

If grapegatherers come to thee, would they not leave some gleaning grapes? if thieves by night, they will destroy till they have enough.

10 But I have made Esau bare, I have uncovered his secret places, and he shall not be able to hide himself: his seed is spoiled, and his brethren, and his neighbours, and he is not.

11 Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive; and let thy widows trust in me.

12 For thus saith the Lord; Behold, they whose judgment was not to drink of the cup have assuredly drunken; and art thou he that shall altogether go unpunished? thou shalt not go unpunished, but thou shalt surely drink of it.

13 For I have sworn by myself, saith the Lord, that Bozrah shall become a desolation, a reproach, a waste, and a curse; and all the cities thereof shall be perpetual wastes.

14 I have heard a rumour from the Lord, and an ambassador is sent unto the heathen, saying, Gather ye together, and come against her, and rise up to the battle.

15 For, lo, I will make thee small among the heathen, and despised among men.

16 Thy terribleness hath deceived thee, and the pride of thine heart, O thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, that holdest the height of the hill: though thou shouldest make thy nest as high as the eagle, I will bring thee down from thence, saith the Lord.

17 Also Edom shall be a desolation: every one that goeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss at all the plagues thereof.

18 As in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the Lord, no man shall abide there, neither shall a son of man dwell in it.

19 Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan against the habitation of the strong: but I will suddenly make him run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who is that shepherd that will stand before me?

20 Therefore hear the counsel of the Lord, that he hath taken against Edom; and his purposes, that he hath purposed against the inhabitants of Teman: Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out: surely he shall make their habitations desolate with them.

21 The earth is moved at the noise of their fall, at the cry the noise thereof was heard in the Red sea.

22 Behold, he shall come up and fly as the eagle, and spread his wings over Bozrah: and at that day shall the heart of the mighty men of Edom be as the heart of a woman in her pangs.

23 Concerning Damascus. Hamath is confounded, and Arpad: for they have heard evil tidings: they are fainthearted; there is sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet.

24 Damascus is waxed feeble, and turneth herself to flee, and fear hath seized on her: anguish and sorrows have taken her, as a woman in travail.

25 How is the city of praise not left, the city of my joy!

26 Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets, and all the men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the Lord of hosts.

27 And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, and it shall consume the palaces of Benhadad.

28 Concerning Kedar, and concerning the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon shall smite, thus saith the Lord; Arise ye, go up to Kedar, and spoil the men of the east.

29 Their tents and their flocks shall they take away: they shall take to themselves their curtains, and all their vessels, and their camels; and they shall cry unto them, Fear is on every side.

30 Flee, get you far off, dwell deep, O ye inhabitants of Hazor, saith the Lord; for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath taken counsel against you, and hath conceived a purpose against you.

31 Arise, get you up unto the wealthy nation, that dwelleth without care, saith the Lord, which have neither gates nor bars, which dwell alone.

32 And their camels shall be a booty, and the multitude of their cattle a spoil: and I will scatter into all winds them that are in the utmost corners; and I will bring their calamity from all sides thereof, saith the Lord.

33 And Hazor shall be a dwelling for dragons, and a desolation for ever: there shall no man abide there, nor any son of man dwell in it.

34 The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet against Elam in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, saying,

35 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the chief of their might.

36 And upon Elam will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them toward all those winds; and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts of Elam shall not come.

37 For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies, and before them that seek their life: and I will bring evil upon them, even my fierce anger, saith the Lord; and I will send the sword after them, till I have consumed them:

38 And I will set my throne in Elam, and will destroy from thence the king and the princes, saith the Lord.

39 But it shall come to pass in the latter days, that I will bring again the captivity of Elam, saith the Lord.