Jeremiah 49
Judgment on the Ammonites
1Concerning the Ammonites, this is what the LORD says:
“Has Israel no sons?
Is he without heir?
Why then has Milcoma taken possession of Gad?
Why have his people settled in their cities?
1Concerning the sons of Ammon. Thus says YHWH: “Are there not sons for Israel? Or is there not one inheriting for him? Why then does Milcom take the inheritance of Gad, and his people dwell in his cities?
2Therefore, behold, the days are coming,
declares the LORD,
when I will sound the battle cry
against Rabbah of the Ammonites.
It will become a heap of ruins,
and its villages will be burned.
Then Israel will drive out their dispossessors,
says the LORD.
2Therefore, behold, the days are coming,” a declaration of YHWH, “When I will make heard against Rabbah of the sons of Ammon a shout of war, and it will become as a mound of desolation, and her villages will be burned with fire; and Israel will take possession of his inheritance,” a declaration of YHWH.
3Wail, O Heshbon, for Ai has been destroyed;
cry out, O daughters of Rabbah!
Put on sackcloth and mourn;
run back and forth within your walls,
for Milcom will go into exile
together with his priests and officials.
3“Wail, O Heshbon, for Ai has been laid waste! Cry, O daughters of Rabbah, and gird yourselves with sackcloth; lament and roam about by the walls; for Milcom will go into captivity, his priests and his princes together.
5Behold, I am about to bring terror upon you,
declares the Lord GOD of Hosts,
from all those around you.
You will each be driven headlong,
with no one to regather the fugitives.
5Behold, I am bringing upon you terror,” a declaration of the Lord YHWH of Hosts. “Before the face of those around you, and you will be driven out, each man before his face, and none shall gather up those wandering.
Judgment on Edom
10But I will strip Esau bare;
I will uncover his hiding places,
and he will be unable to conceal himself.
His descendants will be destroyed
along with his relatives and neighbors,
and he will be no more.
10But I will strip Esau bare; I will uncover his secret places, and he will not be able to hide himself. His seed is destroyed, and His brothers, and his neighbors, and he is no more.
12For this is what the LORD says: “If those who do not deserve to drink the cup must drink it, can you possibly remain unpunished? You will not go unpunished, for you must drink it too.
12For thus says YHWH: “Behold, those whose judgment was not to drink of the cup must surely drink it; and you will you be cleared entirely? You will not be cleared, but you must surely drink it!
13For by Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, that Bozrah will become a desolation, a disgrace, a ruin, and a curse, and all her cities will be in ruins forever.”
13For by Myself I have sworn,” a declaration of YHWH, “That Bozrah will become as a desolation, as a reproach, as a ruin, and as a curse, and all her cities will be as ruins forever!”
16The terror you cause
and the pride of your heart
have deceived you,
O dwellers in the clefts of the rocks,a
O occupiers of the mountain summit.
Though you elevate your nest like the eagle,
even from there I will bring you down,”
declares the LORD.
16Your terror has deceived you, the arrogance of your heart, O dwellers in the clefts of the rock, holding the height of the hill. Though you make high like the eagle your nest, from there I will bring you down!” A declaration of YHWH.
19Behold, one will come up like a lion
from the thickets of the Jordan to the watered pasture.
For in an instant I will chase Edom from her land.
Who is the chosen one I will appoint for this?
For who is like Me, and who can challenge Me?
What shepherd can stand against Me?”
19Behold, like a lion he will come up from the height of the Jordan against the enduring habitation, but I will act in an instant and make him run away from her. Who is the chosen one over her that I may assign, for who is like Me? And who would appoint Me? And who is this shepherd who can stand before My face?”
20Therefore hear the plans
that the LORD has drawn up against Edom
and the strategies He has devised
against the people of Teman:
Surely the little ones of the flock will be dragged away;
certainly their pasture will be made desolate because of them.a
20Therefore hear the counsel of YHWH that He has counseled regarding Edom, and His plans that He has planned regarding those dwelling in Teman: Surely they will not drag them out, even the little ones of the flock; surely will not their own pastures be appalled over them?
22Look! An eagle will soar and swoop down,
spreading its wings over Bozrah.
In that day the hearts of Edom’s mighty men
will be like the heart of a woman in labor.
22Behold, like the eagle he will come up and fly, and he will spread his wings over Bozrah; and the heart of the mighty ones of Edom will be on that day like the heart of a woman in labor.
Judgment on Damascus
23Concerning Damascus:
“Hamath and Arpad are put to shame,
for they have heard a bad report;
they are agitated like the sea;a
their anxiety cannot be calmed.
23Concerning Damascus. “Hamath and Arpad are put to shame, for they have heard bad news; they melt into the sea with anxiety not able to be calmed.
Judgment on Kedar and Hazor
28Concerning Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon defeated, this is what the LORD says:
“Rise up, advance against Kedar,
and destroy the people of the east!
28Concerning Kedar, and concerning the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon struck, thus says YHWH: “Arise and go up to Kedar, and destroy the men of the east!
29They will take their tents and flocks,
their tent curtains and all their goods.
They will take their camels for themselves.
They will shout to them: ‘Terror is on every side!’
29Their tents and their flocks they will take away; their curtains, and all their vessels and their camels they will carry off for themselves; they will cry out over them, ‘Terror is on every side!’
30Run! Escape quickly!
Lie low, O residents of Hazor,”
declares the LORD,
“for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon
has drawn up a plan against you;
he has devised a strategy against you.
30Flee, wander far away, go deep to dwell, O dwellers of Hazor,” a declaration of YHWH. “For he has taken counsel against you—Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he has planned counsel against you, a purpose.
32Their camels will become plunder,
and their large herds will be spoil.
I will scatter to the wind in every direction
those who shave their temples;
I will bring calamity on them
from all sides,”
declares the LORD.
32Their camels will be for spoil, and the multitude of their cattle for plunder, and I will scatter to every wind those cutting the corner; from all its sides I will bring their calamity!” A declaration of YHWH.
Judgment on Elam
36I will bring the four winds against Elam
from the four corners of the heavens,
and I will scatter them
to all these winds.
There will not be a nation
to which Elam’s exiles will not go.
36And I will bring against Elam the four winds from the four corners of the heavens, and I will scatter them to all these winds, and there will be no nations to which those driven out of Elam will not go there.
37So I will shatter Elam before their foes,
before those who seek their lives.
I will bring disaster upon them,
even My fierce anger,”
declares the LORD.
“I will send out the sword after them
until I finish them off.
37And I will shatter Elam before the face of their enemies, and before those seeking their soul; I will bring upon them disaster, the burning of My anger,” a declaration of YHWH. “And I will send after them the sword until I have finished them.