Jeremiah 49

Judgment Against the Ammonites

1 Concerning the Ammonites, This is what the LORD says: “Does Israel have no sons, Does he have no heir, Why then has Molech taken possession of Gad, And why do his people live in its cities?”

2 “Therefore, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will sound the battle cry against Rabbah of the Ammonites. It will become a desolate heap, And its villages will be burned with fire. Then Israel will drive out those who drove him out?” Says the LORD.

3 “Wail, Heshbon, for Ai is destroyed! Cry out, daughters of Rabbah! Put on sackcloth, mourn, and run back and forth among the walls, For Molech will go into exile, Together with his priests and officials.”

4 “Why brag about your valleys, Your flowing valley, unfaithful daughter, You trusted in your treasures, saying, ‘Who can come against me?’”

5 “Look, I am bringing terror on you,” Declares the Lord, the LORD of armies, “from everyone around you. You will be scattered, each one straight ahead, With no one to gather the fugitives.”

6 “But afterward I will restore the fortunes of the Ammonites,” Declares the LORD.

Judgment Against Edom

7 Concerning Edom, This is what the LORD of armies says: “Is there no longer wisdom in Teman, Has counsel perished from the prudent, Has their wisdom decayed?”

8 “Flee, turn back, hide deep, Inhabitants of Dedan! For I will bring Esau’s disaster on him At the time I punish him.”

9 “If grape gatherers came to you, Would they not leave some gleanings, If thieves came by night, Would they not destroy only what they wanted?”

10 “But I will strip Esau bare; I will uncover his hiding places, And he will not be able to hide. His children, relatives, and neighbors will be destroyed, And he will be no more.”

11 “Leave your orphans, I will keep them alive. Your widows too can trust in Me.”

The Cup of Judgment

12 “For this is what the LORD says: If those who did not deserve to drink the cup must drink it, Should you go unpunished, You will not go unpunished, For you must drink it.”

13 “For I swear by Myself,” declares the LORD, “that Bozrah will become a horror, a disgrace, a ruin, and a curse. All her cities will become everlasting ruins.”

Edom Completely Brought Down

14 I have heard a message from the LORD; An envoy is sent among the nations: “Gather yourselves to attack her! Rise up for battle!”

15 “For look, I will make you small among the nations, Despised among mankind.”

16 “The terror you inspire and the pride of your heart have deceived you, You who live in the clefts of the rock, Who occupy the mountain summit. Though you make your nest as high as the eagle’s, From there I will bring you down,” Declares the LORD.

17 “Edom will become an object of horror. Everyone who passes by will be appalled And will hiss at all her wounds.”

18 “Like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah And their neighboring towns,” says the LORD, “no one will live there; No man will dwell in it.”

19 “Like a lion coming up from the dense thickets of the Jordan To a perennial pasture, I will chase Edom away from it in an instant. I will appoint whoever is chosen over it. For who is like Me, Who can challenge Me, What shepherd can stand against Me?”

20 “Therefore hear the plan the LORD has made against Edom, And the purposes He has planned against the people of Teman: The little ones of the flock will be dragged away; Their pasture will be appalled because of them.”

21 “At the sound of their fall the earth will quake; Their cry will be heard at the Red Sea.”

22 “Look, one will soar like an eagle and swoop down, Spreading his wings over Bozrah. In that day the hearts of Edom’s warriors Will be like the heart of a woman in labor.”

Judgment Against Damascus

23 Concerning Damascus, “Hamath and Arpad are put to shame, For they have heard bad news; They are disheartened. There is anxiety by the sea; It cannot be calmed.”

24 “Damascus has lost heart; She turns to flee, Panic grips her. Anguish and pain seize her Like a woman in labor.”

25 “How the city of praise is not deserted, The town that brings Me joy!”

26 “Therefore her young men will fall in her streets, And all her warriors will be silenced in that day,” Declares the LORD of armies.

27 “I will set fire to the walls of Damascus; It will consume the citadels of Ben-hadad.”

Judgment Against Kedar and Hazor

28 Concerning Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor, Which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon struck, This is what the LORD says: “Rise up, attack Kedar, And destroy the people of the east.”

29 “They will take their tents and flocks, Their tent curtains and all their belongings. They will carry off their camels, And shout at them, ‘Terror is on every side!’”

30 “Run! Escape quickly! Hide deep, inhabitants of Hazor,” declares the LORD. “For Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has made a plan against you And devised a strategy against you.”

31 “Rise up, attack a nation at ease, Living securely,” declares the LORD, “that has no gates or bars, Living alone.”

32 “Their camels will become plunder, And their many cattle a spoil. I will scatter to every wind Those who shave the corners of their hair, And I will bring disaster on them from every side,” Declares the LORD.

33 “Hazor will become a haunt for jackals, A desolation forever. No one will live there; No man will dwell in it.”

Judgment Against Elam

34 This is the word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning Elam, At the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah:

35 “This is what the LORD of armies says: I am about to shatter Elam’s bow, The mainstay of their might.”

36 “I will bring against Elam The four winds from the four corners of the heavens, And I will scatter them to all these winds. There will be no nation Where Elam’s outcasts do not go.”

37 “I will shatter Elam before their enemies, Before those who seek their lives. I will bring disaster on them, My fierce anger,” declares the LORD. “I will send the sword after them Until I have finished them off.”

38 “I will set My throne in Elam And destroy its king and officials,” Declares the LORD.

39 “But in the days to come I will restore the fortunes of Elam,” Declares the LORD.