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49 <1> This message is about the Ammonites. The Lord says:
"Ammonites, do you think that
the people of Israel don't have children?
Do you think there are no children
to take the land when the parents die?
Maybe that is why Milcom[331] took Gad's[332] land?"
<2> The Lord says,
"The time will come in Rabbah of Ammon[333]
when people hear the sounds of battle.
Rabbah of Ammon will be destroyed.
It will be an empty hill covered with destroyed buildings, and the towns around it will be burned.
Those people forced the people of Israel
to leave their own land.
But later, Israel will force them to leave."
This is what the Lord said.
<3> "People in Heshbon, cry
because the town of Ai is destroyed!
Women in Rabbah of Ammon, cry!
Put on your clothes of sadness and cry.
Run to the city for safety,
because [the enemy] will take away the god, Milcom
and his priests and officials.
<4> You brag about your strength,
but you are losing your strength.
You trust in your wealth to save you.
You think no one would even think of attacking you."
<5> But this is what the Lord All-Powerful says:
"I will bring troubles to you from every side.
You will all run away,
and no one will be able to bring you together again."
<6> "The Ammonites will be taken away as captives.[334] But the time will come when I will bring the Ammonites back." This message is from the Lord.
<7> This message is about Edom. The Lord All-Powerful says:
"Is there no more wisdom in Teman[335]?
Are the wise men of Edom not able to give good advice?
Have they lost their wisdom?
<8> You people living in Dedan, run away and hide,
because I will punish Esau[336] for the bad things he did.
<9> "Workers pick grapes from grapevines,
but they leave a few grapes on the plants.
If thieves come at night,
they don't take everything.
<10> But I will take everything from Esau.
I will find all his hiding places.
He will not be able to hide from me.
His children, relatives, and neighbors will all die.
<11> No one will be left to care for his children.
His wives will have no one to depend on."
<12> This is what the Lord says, "Some people don't deserve to be punished, but they suffer. But Edom, you deserve to be punished, so you will really be punished. You will not escape the punishment you deserve. You will be punished." <13> The Lord says, "By my own power, I make this promise: I promise that the city of Bozrah will be destroyed. It will become a ruined pile of rocks. People will use it as an example when they ask for bad things to happen to other cities. People will insult that city, and all the towns around Bozrah will become ruins forever."
<14> I heard a message from the Lord:
He sent this messenger to the nations. This is the message:
"Gather your armies together!
Get ready for battle!
March against the nation of Edom!
<15> Edom, I will make you become unimportant.
Everyone will hate you.
<16> Edom, you scared other nations,
so you thought you were important.
But your pride has fooled you.
You live in caves, high on the cliff.
Your home is high in the hills.
But even if you build your home as high as an eagle's nest,
I will bring you down from there."
This is what the Lord said.
<17> "Edom will be destroyed.
People will be shocked to see the destroyed cities.
They will whistle from amazement at the destroyed cities.
<18> Edom will be destroyed like Sodom[337] and Gomorrah[338] and the towns around them.
No one will live there."
This is what the Lord said.
<19> "Sometimes a lion will come from the thick bushes near the Jordan River. And it will go into the fields where people put their sheep and cattle. I am like that lion. I will go to Edom. And I will scare the people and make them run away. None of their young men will stop me. No one is like me. No one will challenge me. None of their shepherds[339] will stand up against me."
<20> So listen to what the Lord has planned
to do to the people of Edom.
Listen to what he has decided
to do to the people in Teman.
The enemy will drag away the young kids of Edom's flock.
Edom's pastures will be empty
because of what they did.
<21> At the sound of Edom's fall,
the earth will shake.
Their cry will be heard
all the way to the Red Sea.
<22> The Lord will be like an eagle
flying over the animal that it will attack.
He will be like an eagle
spreading its wings over Bozrah.
At that time Edom's soldiers
will become very scared.
They will be crying from fear
like a woman having a baby.
<23> This message is about the city of Damascus:
"The towns of Hamath and Arpad are afraid.
They are afraid because they heard the bad news.
They are discouraged.
They are worried and scared.
<24> The city of Damascus has become weak.
The people want to run away.
They are ready to panic.
They feel pain and suffering like a woman having a baby.
<25> "Damascus is a happy city.
The people have not left that 'fun city' yet.
<26> So the young men will die
in the public squares of that city.
All her soldiers will be killed at that time."
This is what the Lord All-Powerful said.
<27> "I will set the walls of Damascus on fire.
The fire will completely burn up
the strong forts of Ben-Hadad.[340]"
<28> This message is about the tribe of Kedar[341] and the rulers of Hazor. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon defeated them.
The Lord says: "Go and attack the tribe of Kedar.
Destroy the people of the East.
<29> Their tents and flocks will be taken away.
Their tents and all their riches will be carried off.
Their enemy will take away the camels.
Men will shout this to them:
'Terrible things are happening all around us.'
<30> Run away quickly!
People in Hazor, find a good place to hide."
This message is from the Lord.
"Nebuchadnezzar has made plans against you.
He thought of a smart plan to defeat you.
<31> "There is a nation that feels
safe and secure.
That nation does not have gates
or fences to protect it.
No one lives near them.
The Lord says, 'Attack that nation!'
<32> The enemy will steal their camels
and take their large herds of cattle.
The enemy will steal their large herds.
The people cut the corners of their beards.[342]
Well, I will make them run away to the far corners of the earth.
And I will bring terrible troubles to them from everywhere."
This message is from the Lord.
<33> "Hazor will become a home for wild dogs, an empty desert forever.
No one will live there.
No one will stay in that place."
<34> Early in the time when Zedekiah was king of Judah, Jeremiah the prophet received a message from the Lord about the nation of Elam.[343]
<35> The Lord All-Powerful says,
"I will break Elam's bow very soon.
The bow is Elam's strongest weapon.
<36> I will bring the four winds against Elam.
I will bring them from the four corners of the skies.
I will send the people of Elam
to every place on the earth where the four winds blow.
Elam's captives[344] will be carried away to every nation.
<37> I will break Elam to pieces
while their enemies are watching.
I will break Elam in front of the people
who want to kill them.
I will bring terrible troubles to them.
I will show them how angry I am."
This message is from the Lord.
"I will send a sword to chase Elam.
The sword will chase them until I have killed them all.
<38> I will show Elam that I am in control,
and I will destroy her king and his officials."
This message is from the Lord.
<39> "But in the future, I will make good things happen to Elam."
This message is from the Lord.
© Copyright 2004 World Bible Translation Center.