Open English Translation JER Chapter 49

49 Yahweh says this about the Ammonites:

Doesn’t Yisrael have any children of its own?

Is there no one to inherit anything in Yisrael?

Why does the god Molek (Heb. Malkom) occupy Gad,

and its people live in their cities?[ref] 2 So listen, Yahweh declares that the time is coming

when I’ll sound the signal for battle against Ammon’s capital city Rabbah,

so it’ll become a deserted heap and its villages will be set on fire,

because Yahweh says that Yisrael will drive out those who initially drove them out. 3 Wail, Heshbon, because Ai will be devastated.

≈ Cry out and put on sackcloth, you daughters of Rabbah.

Mourn and run back and forth trying to figure out what to do

because Molek is going into captivity along with its priests and leaders.

4 Why do you brag about your fertile valleys, you faithless daughter?

You who trust in your wealth and think that no one would ever attack you.

5 Listen, this is the declaration of my master, Commander-in-chief Yahweh:

I’m about to bring terror to you from all those who surround you.

You’ll all be driven away ahead of it

and there won’t be anyone to gather those running away.

6 However in future years, I’ll restore Ammon’s people from captivity.

That is Ammon’s captivity.

7 Commander-in-chief Yahweh says this about Edom:

Isn’t there any wisdom left in Teman district?

Has good advice disappeared from those who have understanding?

Has their wisdom become corrupted?[ref]

8 Turn and run away.

Stay in deep caves, you inhabitants of Dedan,

because I’m bringing Esav’s (Esau’s) disaster onto Edom when I punish it.

9 If grape harvesters came to you, wouldn’t they at least leave a little bit behind?

If thieves came in the night, wouldn’t they steal only as much as they needed?

10 However, I’ll strip Esav (i.e., Edom) bare.

I’ve uncovered his secret places so he can’t hide himself.

His descendants and other relatives and neighbours will be devastated and destroyed.

11 Leave your orphans behind.

I’ll take care of their lives,

≈ and your widows can rely on me.

12 Yes, Yahweh says this: Listen, even those who didn’t deserve it, must certainly drink some of the cup of suffering. Did you think you yourself would escape being punished? You won’t, because you’ll certainly be included in it 13 because Yahweh declares that I’ve solemnly promised that Botsrah will become a horror, a disgrace, a devastation, and an object for cursing. All its cities will be forever ruined.

14 I’ve heard a report from Yahweh,

and a messenger has been sent out to the nations,

‘Gather together and attack Edom.

Get ready for battle.’ 15 Yes, listen, I’ve made you minor compared to the other nations,

despised among humankind.

16 As for your fearsomeness, your arrogance has deceived you, inhabitants of places on the cliff—

you who’ve occupied the highest hills so that you may make your nest high like an eagle.

I’ll bring you down from there.

That is Yahweh’s declaration.

17 Edom will become a horror to everyone passing by it.

Those who do will be appalled and hiss about all its disasters.

18 Yahweh says that just like the overthrow of Sodom and Amorrah (Gomorrah) and their neighbours,[ref]

no one will live there—no human would want to stay there.

19 Listen, he’ll go up like a lion from the forests along the Jordan river to the green pasturelands,

because I’ll quickly make Edom flee from it,

and I’ll chose someone to be charge of it.

Indeed, no one else is like me, and who can challenge my decision?

What shepherd can stand against me?

20 So listen to the plans that Yahweh has decided against Edom—

≈ the intentions that he’s formed against Teman’s inhabitants.

They’ll be dragged away, even the smallest flock.

→ Their pasturelands will be turned into ruined places.

21 The ground will shake at the sound of their falling.

The sound of distressed shouts will be heard right across at the Red Sea.

22 Listen, someone will ascend like an eagle, and swoop down and spread his wings over Botsrah.

Then on that day, Edom’s soldiers will be apprehensive like women in labour.”

23 Concerning Damascus:

Hamat and Arpad will be ashamed, because they’ve heard bad news.

They’ll melt away—

they’ll become as troubled as an ocean that cannot stay calm.[ref]

24 Damascus will be disheartened.

It turns away to flee in panic.

Distress and pangs of pain seize it like a woman giving birth.

25 How has that widely praised city been abandoned—

the town that gave me happiness.

26 Therefore its young men will fall in its plazas,

and all the fighting men will perish on that day.

That is the declaration of Commander-in-chief Yahweh,

27 because I’ll light a fire on the wall around Damascus,

and it will burn up Ben-Hadad’s fortresses.

28 Concerning Kedar tribe and Hatsor’s kingdoms (which were about to be attacked by Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar) Yahweh says this:

Take action and attack Kedar and destroy those eastern people.

29 Their tents and their flocks will be taken,

along with their tent curtains and all of their equipment.

Their camels will be led away from them,

and warriors surrounding them will call out things that terrify them.

30 Yahweh says to you inhabitants of Hatsor:

Quickly, flee, hide in deep caves,

because the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar has made a plan

and plotted out his destiny for you all.

31 Yahweh says to the Babylonians:

Take action and attack that nation at ease—

that lives in safety.

They don’t have gates with bars across them,

and its people live by themselves.

32 Their camels will become plunder,

and their many livestock will become war plunder.

Then those who cut the corners of their hair, I’ll scatter to every wind

and I’ll bring disaster on them from every direction.

That is Yahweh’s declaration.

33 Hatsor will become a home for jackals—a permanent wasteland.

No one will live there—no human would want to stay there.

34 At the begining of the reign of Yehudah’s King Tsidkiyah (Zedekiah), Yahweh gave this message about Eylam to the prophet Yirmeyah (Jeremiah). 35 Commander-in-chief Yahweh says this:

Listen, I’m about to break the power of Eylam’s archers—

their main initial attack force.

36 Then I’ll bring four winds against Eylam from four different directions,

and I will scatter them to all of those winds.

There’s no nation that those banished from Eylam won’t go to.

37 So I’ll shatter Eylam in front of their enemies and those who want to see them dead.

In my furious anger, I’ll send disaster against them,

and then I’ll send war to follow them until I’ve annihilated them.

That is Yahweh’s declaration.

38 Yahweh declares that I’ll put my throne in Eylam,

and will destroy its king and leaders from there, 39 however in future years, I’ll restore Eylam’s people from captivity.

That is Yahweh’s declaration.