NIV
Jeremiah 49
- 1<pb/>Concerning the Ammonites: <pb/>This is what the LORD says: <pb/><t>“Has Israel no sons?</t> <t>Has Israel no heir?</t> <t>Why then has Molek<f>[106]</f> taken possession of Gad?</t> <t>Why do his people live in its towns?</t>
- 2<t>But the days are coming,”</t> <t>declares the LORD,</t> <t>“when I will sound the battle cry</t> <t>against Rabbah of the Ammonites;</t> <t>it will become a mound of ruins,</t> <t>and its surrounding villages will be set on fire.</t> <t>Then Israel will drive out</t> <t>those who drove her out,”</t> <t>says the LORD.</t>
- 3<t>“Wail, Heshbon, for Ai is destroyed!</t> <t>Cry out, you inhabitants of Rabbah!</t> <t>Put on sackcloth and mourn;</t> <t>rush here and there inside the walls,</t> <t>for Molek will go into exile,</t> <t>together with his priests and officials.</t>
- 4<t>Why do you boast of your valleys,</t> <t>boast of your valleys so fruitful?</t> <t>Unfaithful Daughter Ammon,</t> <t>you trust in your riches and say,</t> <t>‘Who will attack me?’</t>
- 5<t>I will bring terror on you</t> <t>from all those around you,”</t> <t>declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty.</t> <t>“Every one of you will be driven away,</t> <t>and no one will gather the fugitives. <pb/></t>
- 6<t>“Yet afterward, I will restore the fortunes of the Ammonites,”</t> <t>declares the LORD.</t>
- 7<pb/>Concerning Edom: <pb/>This is what the LORD Almighty says: <pb/><t>“Is there no longer wisdom in Teman?</t> <t>Has counsel perished from the prudent?</t> <t>Has their wisdom decayed?</t>
- 8<t>Turn and flee, hide in deep caves,</t> <t>you who live in Dedan,</t> <t>for I will bring disaster on Esau</t> <t>at the time when I punish him.</t>
- 9<t>If grape pickers came to you,</t> <t>would they not leave a few grapes?</t> <t>If thieves came during the night,</t> <t>would they not steal only as much as they wanted?</t>
- 10<t>But I will strip Esau bare;</t> <t>I will uncover his hiding places,</t> <t>so that he cannot conceal himself.</t> <t>His armed men are destroyed,</t> <t>also his allies and neighbors,</t> <t>so there is no one to say,</t>
- 11<t>‘Leave your fatherless children; I will keep them alive.</t> <t>Your widows too can depend on me.’ ”</t>
- 12<pb/>This is what the LORD says: “If those who do not deserve to drink the cup must drink it, why should you go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, but must drink it.
- 13I swear by myself,” declares the LORD, “that Bozrah will become a ruin and a curse,<f>[107]</f> an object of horror and reproach; and all its towns will be in ruins forever.”
- 14<pb/><t>I have heard a message from the LORD;</t> <t>an envoy was sent to the nations to say,</t> <t>“Assemble yourselves to attack it!</t> <t>Rise up for battle!” <pb/></t>
- 15<t>“Now I will make you small among the nations,</t> <t>despised by mankind.</t>
- 16<t>The terror you inspire</t> <t>and the pride of your heart have deceived you,</t> <t>you who live in the clefts of the rocks,</t> <t>who occupy the heights of the hill.</t> <t>Though you build your nest as high as the eagle’s,</t> <t>from there I will bring you down,”</t> <t>declares the LORD.</t>
- 17<t>“Edom will become an object of horror;</t> <t>all who pass by will be appalled and will scoff</t> <t>because of all its wounds.</t>
- 18<t>As Sodom and Gomorrah were overthrown,</t> <t>along with their neighboring towns,”</t> <t>says the LORD,</t> <t>“so no one will live there;</t> <t>no people will dwell in it. <pb/></t>
- 19<t>“Like a lion coming up from Jordan’s thickets</t> <t>to a rich pastureland,</t> <t>I will chase Edom from its land in an instant.</t> <t>Who is the chosen one I will appoint for this?</t> <t>Who is like me and who can challenge me?</t> <t>And what shepherd can stand against me?” <pb/></t>
- 20<t>Therefore, hear what the LORD has planned against Edom,</t> <t>what he has purposed against those who live in Teman:</t> <t>The young of the flock will be dragged away;</t> <t>their pasture will be appalled at their fate.</t>
- 21<t>At the sound of their fall the earth will tremble;</t> <t>their cry will resound to the Red Sea.<f>[108]</f></t>
- 22<t>Look! An eagle will soar and swoop down,</t> <t>spreading its wings over Bozrah.</t> <t>In that day the hearts of Edom’s warriors</t> <t>will be like the heart of a woman in labor.</t>
- 23<pb/>Concerning Damascus: <pb/><t>“Hamath and Arpad are dismayed,</t> <t>for they have heard bad news.</t> <t>They are disheartened,</t> <t>troubled like<f>[109]</f> the restless sea.</t>
- 24<t>Damascus has become feeble,</t> <t>she has turned to flee</t> <t>and panic has gripped her;</t> <t>anguish and pain have seized her,</t> <t>pain like that of a woman in labor.</t>
- 25<t>Why has the city of renown not been abandoned,</t> <t>the town in which I delight?</t>
- 26<t>Surely, her young men will fall in the streets;</t> <t>all her soldiers will be silenced in that day,”</t> <t>declares the LORD Almighty.</t>
- 27<t>“I will set fire to the walls of Damascus;</t> <t>it will consume the fortresses of Ben-Hadad.”</t>
- 28<pb/>Concerning Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon attacked: <pb/>This is what the LORD says: <pb/><t>“Arise, and attack Kedar</t> <t>and destroy the people of the East.</t>
- 29<t>Their tents and their flocks will be taken;</t> <t>their shelters will be carried off</t> <t>with all their goods and camels.</t> <t>People will shout to them,</t> <t>‘Terror on every side!’ <pb/></t>
- 30<t>“Flee quickly away!</t> <t>Stay in deep caves, you who live in Hazor,”</t> <t>declares the LORD.</t> <t>“Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has plotted against you;</t> <t>he has devised a plan against you. <pb/></t>
- 31<t>“Arise and attack a nation at ease,</t> <t>which lives in confidence,”</t> <t>declares the LORD,</t> <t>“a nation that has neither gates nor bars;</t> <t>its people live far from danger.</t>
- 32<t>Their camels will become plunder,</t> <t>and their large herds will be spoils of war.</t> <t>I will scatter to the winds those who are in distant places<f>[110]</f></t> <t>and will bring disaster on them from every side,”</t> <t>declares the LORD.</t>
- 33<t>“Hazor will become a haunt of jackals,</t> <t>a desolate place forever.</t> <t>No one will live there;</t> <t>no people will dwell in it.”</t>
- 34<pb/>This is the word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning Elam, early in the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah:
- 35<pb/>This is what the LORD Almighty says: <pb/><t>“See, I will break the bow of Elam,</t> <t>the mainstay of their might.</t>
- 36<t>I will bring against Elam the four winds</t> <t>from the four quarters of heaven;</t> <t>I will scatter them to the four winds,</t> <t>and there will not be a nation</t> <t>where Elam’s exiles do not go.</t>
- 37<t>I will shatter Elam before their foes,</t> <t>before those who want to kill them;</t> <t>I will bring disaster on them,</t> <t>even my fierce anger,”</t> <t>declares the LORD.</t> <t>“I will pursue them with the sword</t> <t>until I have made an end of them.</t>
- 38<t>I will set my throne in Elam</t> <t>and destroy her king and officials,”</t> <t>declares the LORD. <pb/></t>
- 39<t>“Yet I will restore the fortunes of Elam</t> <t>in days to come,”</t> <t>declares the LORD.</t>