Jeremiah 49

The Ammonites

1Concerning the Ammonites. This is what the LORD says:
“Has Israel no sons?
Has it no heir?
Why has Milcom taken possession of Gad,
and why do his people live in Gad's towns? 2Therefore days are coming,” declares the LORD,
“when I will sound the battle cry
against Rabbah of the Ammonites.
It will become a desolate mound;
its surrounding towns will be burned.
Then Israel will dispossess those who dispossessed it,” says the LORD. 3“Wail, Heshbon, for Ai is devastated!
Cry out, daughters of Rabbah!
Put on sackcloth, mourn,
and wander among the enclosures.
Milcom is going into exile,
his priests and officials together. 4Why boast about your valleys,
your flowing valley, faithless daughter?
You trust in your treasures and say,
‘Who will come against me?’ 5I am bringing terror on you
from all around,” declares the Lord GOD of hosts.
“Each of you will be driven straight ahead,
with no one to gather the wanderers. 6But afterward I will restore the Ammonites' fortunes,” declares the LORD.

Edom

7Concerning Edom. This is what the LORD of hosts says:
“Is there no wisdom left in Teman?
Has counsel vanished from the discerning?
Has their wisdom decayed? 8Flee! Turn away!
Hide deep, people of Dedan.
For I bring Esau's disaster upon him,
the time when I call him to account. 9If grape pickers came to you,
wouldn't they leave gleanings?
If thieves came at night,
they would destroy only as much as they wanted. 10But I have stripped Esau bare,
exposed his hiding places;
he cannot hide.
His offspring, relatives, and neighbors are devastated,
and he is no more. 11Leave your orphans; I will keep them alive.
Let your widows trust in me.” 12For this is what the LORD says: “Those who were not sentenced to drink the cup must drink it. Will you go entirely unpunished? You will not go unpunished; you must drink. 13For I swear by myself,” declares the LORD, “Bozrah will become a horror, a disgrace, a ruin, and a curse. All its towns will be lasting ruins.” 14I have heard a report from the LORD;
a messenger is sent among the nations:
“Gather and come against her!
Rise up for battle!” 15“I have made you small among the nations,
despised among humankind. 16The terror you inspire has deceived you,
along with the arrogance of your heart.
You live in clefts of the rock
and occupy the hilltops.
Though you make your nest high as an eagle's,
from there I will bring you down,” declares the LORD. 17Edom will become a horror.
Everyone passing by will be appalled
and hiss at all its wounds. 18“As when Sodom, Gomorrah, and their neighbors were overthrown,” says the LORD, “no one will live there; no human being will settle there. 19Look!
Like a lion he comes up from the Jordan's thickets
against a lasting pasture.
In a moment I will drive him away from it.
Who is the chosen one I will appoint over it?
Who is like me?
Who can summon me?
What shepherd can stand before me? 20So hear the LORD's plan against Edom,
what he has devised against Teman's inhabitants:
Even the smallest of the flock will be dragged away;
he will lay their pasture waste because of them. 21At the sound of their fall the earth shakes;
their cry is heard at the Sea of Reeds. 22Look! One rises and swoops like an eagle,
spreading his wings over Bozrah.
On that day Edom's warriors will have hearts
like a woman in labor.”

Damascus

23Concerning Damascus.
“Hamath and Arpad are shamed;
they have heard bad news and melt away.
Anxiety stirs the sea;
it cannot be still. 24Damascus has grown weak and turned to flee.
Trembling grips her;
distress and pangs seize her
like a woman giving birth. 25How is the city of praise not abandoned,
the town of my delight? 26Therefore her young men will fall in her squares;
all her fighting men will be silenced that day,”
declares the LORD of hosts. 27“I will set fire to Damascus's wall,
and it will consume Ben-hadad's palaces.”

Kedar and Hazor

28Concerning Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon struck. This is what the LORD says:
“Rise up! Advance against Kedar;
devastate the people of the east. 29Take their tents and flocks,
their tent curtains and all their equipment.
Carry off their camels,
and cry out over them, ‘Terror on every side!’ 30Flee far away!
Hide deep, people of Hazor,” declares the LORD.
“Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has planned against you;
he has devised a scheme against you. 31Rise up! Advance against a nation at ease,
living securely,” declares the LORD,
“with neither gates nor bars,
dwelling apart. 32Their camels will become booty,
their many herds plunder.
I will scatter to every wind
those who clip the edges of their hair.
From every side I will bring their disaster,” declares the LORD. 33“Hazor will become a haunt of jackals,
a desolation forever.
No one will live there;
no human being will settle there.”

Elam

34The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning Elam, at the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah: 35This is what the LORD of hosts says:
“I am breaking Elam's bow,
the mainstay of its strength. 36I will bring four winds against Elam
from the four ends of the heavens.
I will scatter its people to all these winds;
there will be no nation
where Elam's outcasts do not arrive. 37I will shatter Elam before its enemies,
before those who seek its life.
I will bring disaster upon them,
my burning anger,” declares the LORD.
“I will send the sword after them
until I have finished them. 38I will set my throne in Elam
and destroy its king and officials,” declares the LORD. 39“Yet in days to come I will restore Elam's fortunes,” declares the LORD.