A message for Damascus:[ref]

Listen, Damascus will cease to be a city

≈ and will become a heap of rubble.

2 Aroer’s cities will be abandoned to sheep and goats.

They’ll lie down there and there’ll be no one around to frighten them.

3 Forts will disappear from Efrayim

≈ and Damascus will lose its kingdom.

The remnant from Syria (Heb. Aram) will be a prize for the Israelis.

That’s what Commander-in-chief Yahweh says.

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.

 This is a declaration of Yahweh’s message concerning the Syrian Hadrak region and focusing on Damascus city, because the eyes of all humanity, including all of Yisrael’s tribes, are toward Yahweh.[ref]

 This is Yahweh’s message that he gave to the prophet Yirmeyah (Jeremiah) concerning the Philistines before Far-oh (Pharaoh) attacked Azzah (Gaza).[ref] 2 Yahweh says this:

Listen, armies are rising in the north like floods of water.

They’ll be like an overflowing river.

Then they’ll overflow the land and everything in it—

its cities and its inhabitants.

So everyone will shout out for help,

and all the land’s inhabitants will wail.

3 At the sound of the stamping of their powerful horses’ hooves,

at the clattering of their chariots and the noise of their wheels,

fathers won’t help their children because of their own helplessness.

4 The day is coming that will devastate all of the Philistines—

to cut every survivor off from Tsor and Tsidon (Tyre and Sidon) who wants to help them,

because Yahweh is devastating the Philistines—

the remnant who originally came from Crete (Heb. Kaftor Island).

5 The people of Azzah (Gaza) will shave their heads in mourning.

The remnant in Ashkelon’s valley will be silenced.

How much longer will you cut yourself in mourning for?

6 Oh no, sword of Yahweh, how long will it be until you stop?

Get back to your scabbard. Stop and be silent.

7 How can it stop when Yahweh has commanded it,

when he has ordered it to attack Ashkelon and the other cities along the coast?

15 The master Yahweh says this, ‘The Philistines have chosen hateful vengeance and have put much effort into trying to destroy Yehudah.[ref] 16 So this is what the master Yahweh says: Listen, I’ll take action against the Philistines, and I’ll cut off the Kerethites and destroy the remnant along the coast. 17 I’ll take severe vengeance against them with furious acts to punish them—they’ll know that I am Yahweh, when I take my vengeance on them.’ ”

4 Because Azzah (Gaza) will become abandoned,

and Ashkelon will become a ruin.

The people of Ashdod will be driven out by noon,

and Ekron will be overthrown.[ref]

5 The inhabitants of the coastal region are to be pitied,

the nation of the Kerethites.

≈ Yahweh’s decision is against you all,

Canaan, land of the Philistines.

I’ll destroy you until no one remains.

6 The coastal region will become pastures of meadows for shepherds

and pens for flocks.

7 The remaining survivors from Yehudah will inhabit that region.

They will shepherd their flocks on that land.

They’ll lie down in their houses in Ashkelon in the evening,

because their god Yahweh will visit them, and he’ll restore their fortune.

 A message for Tsor (Tyre):[ref]

Cry loudly, you ships from Tarshish because your home port has been destroyed. It’s been reported to them from Kittim (Cyprus ). 2 Be silent you who live along the coast, you traders from Tsidon (Sidon) who cross the ocean to be filled. 3 The grain from Shihor across the waters and the harvest from the Nile became hers, and it became the commerce of the nations.

4 Be ashamed Tsidon because the ocean has spoken.

The stronghold by the sea said,

‘I haven’t been in labour or given birth,

≈ and I haven’t raised young men or young women.’

5 When the report reaches Egypt (Heb. Mitsrayim),

they’ll be very upset about what happened to Tsor.

6 Sail over to Tarshish.

Cry loudly, you who live along the coast.

7 Is this your happy city that’s been around since ancient times—

whose feet carried her to settle in a far away place?

8 Who planned that for Tyre, the bestower of crowns,

whose traders are princes,

≈ whose merchants were honoured around the world?

9 Commander-in-chief Yahweh planned it to dishonour the pride from all that splendour—

≈ to treat the honoured people of the world with contempt.

10 Go across your land like the river does.

You daughter of Tarshish, there’s no restraint any more.

11 He’s stretched his hand over the ocean.

He’s made the kingdoms tremble.

Yahweh has commanded Kanaan to destroy its fortresses.

12 He said, ‘You won’t continue celebrating, you oppressed young daughter of Tsidon.

Take action and go across to Cyprus but you won’t get any peace there.’

13 Look at the Chaldeans’ country—those people have come to nothing.

The Assyrians allocated it to animals that live in the wilderness.

They erected siege-towers against it—

demolishing its palaces and turning it into a pile of rubble.

14 Cry loudly, you ships from Tarshish.

because your fortress has been destroyed.

15 After that time, Tsor (Tyre) will be forgotten for seventy years like the lifespan of a single king. At the end of those seventy years, what will happen to Tsor will be like the prostitute in this song:

16 Take a harp and go around the city, you forgotten prostitute.

^ Play many songs so that you’ll be remembered.

17 Then at the end of those seventy years, Yahweh will visit Tsor. It’ll return to hiring itself out and to her prostitution with all the world’s kingdoms on this planet. 18 But their earnings and profits will be set apart for Yahweh. It won’t be stored up or hoarded, because it will belong to those who live in Yahweh’s presence for buying plenty of food and beautiful clothes.

 At the beginning of the month in the eleventh year since King Yoyakin (Jehoiachin) had been taken captive, Yahweh gave me a message:[ref] 2 “Humanity’s child, Tsor (Tyre) has said against Yerushalem, ‘Nice one! Yerushalem’s gates are broken. It’s going my way—I can take advantage because it’s been destroyed.’

3 Because of that, the master Yahweh says this: ‘Listen, I’m opposed to you, Tsor, and I’ll raise up many nations against you, just like the sea raises its waves. 4 They’ll destroy Tsor’s walls and tear down its towers, then I’ll sweep its dust away and make it like a bare rock. 5 It’ll become a place in the middle of the sea for people to spread their nets out to dry them, since I’ve declared it, and it’ll become plunder for the nations. That’s the master Yahweh’s declaration. 6 Its young women who are in the countryside will be slaughtered by swords, and then they’ll know that I am Yahweh.’

7 Yes, this is what Yahweh says: Listen, I’m bringing the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar, king of kings, from the north, against Tsor, with horses and chariots, and with horsemen and a large army. 8 He’ll kill your daughters in the countryside. He’ll set up a siege program and build a ramp against your walls and lift up shields against you. 9 He’ll use his battering rams to smash down your walls, and he’ll tear down your towers with his axes. 10 They’ll have so many horses that their dust will cover you. Your walls will shake with the noise of their horsemen, wagons, and chariots. When he rides through your gates, he’ll pick his way over the stones like men do when entering a city whose walls have been broken down. 11 The hooves of his horses will trample all of your streets. He’ll slaughter your people with the sword and your mighty stone pillars will be knocked to the ground. 12 They’ll tear down your walls and destroy your nice homes—plundering your riches and looting your merchandise. Then they’ll throw your building stones, wood, and rubble into the ocean. 13 I’ll stop the sound of your songs, and the music from your harps won’t be heard anymore. 14 I’ll make you back into a bare rock—you’ll become a place where nets are spread out to dry. You’ll never be built again, because I, master Yahweh, have spoken. That’s the master Yahweh’s declaration.

15 The master Yahweh says this to Tsor, ‘Won’t the islands shake with the sound of your downfall, and with the groans of the wounded when the terrible slaughter is happening in you? 16 Then all the leaders of the coastal kingdoms will step down from their thrones and remove their robes and take off their embroidered clothes. Instead, they’ll clothe themselves in fear, they’ll sit on the ground and tremble every moment, and they’ll be appalled because of you. 17 Then they’ll sing this song of mourning for you and say to you,

How you, who were inhabited by sailors, have been destroyed.

The famous city that was so strong, it’s now gone from the sea.

The ones living in her once spread terror around themselves on everyone who lived nearby.

18 Now the coastal kingdoms tremble on the day of your downfall.

The islands in the sea are terrified by your passing.’

19 Yes, the master Yahweh says this: When I make you a desolate city, like the other cities that are uninhabited, when I raise up the deep seas against you, and when the great waters cover you, 20 then I’ll take you down to the pit that ancient people went down to, because I’ll make you live in the lowest realms of the earth like ancient ruins. Because of that, you won’t come back and be splendid in the land of the living. 21 I’ll send disaster onto you, and you won’t exist anymore. Then people will look for you, but you’ll never be found again. That’s the master Yahweh’s declaration.”[ref]

27 Then Yahweh gave me another message: 2 “Now you, humanity’s child, begin a funeral song about Tsor (Tyre), 3 and tell Tsor (which is on a coastal island—merchants to people groups on many other islands) that the master Yahweh says this to you:

Tsor, you’ve said, ‘My beauty has reached perfection.’

4 Your borders are surrounded by the ocean.

Your builders have perfected your beauty.[fn]

5 They made all your planks with cypress from Mt. Hermon (Senir).

They got a cedar from Lebanon to make a mast for you.

6 They made your oars from the oak trees in Bashan.

They made your decks out of cypress wood from Cyprus, and overlaid them with ivory.

7 Your sails were made from colourful linen from Egypt (Heb. Mitsrayim) that served as your banner.

The colours of blue and purple from the coasts of Elishah are used for the awning on your boat.

8 Those who were living in Tsidon and Arvad were your rowers.

The wise men of Tsor were within you—they were your pilots.

9 Experienced craftsmen from Geval sealed your seams.

All the ships and their sailors among you were carrying your merchandise for trade.

10 Warriors from Persia, Lydia, and Libya were in your army.

They hung their shields and helmets within you.

They displayed your splendour.

11 The men of Arvad and Helek in your army were on your walls surrounding you,

and the people from Gammad were in your towers.

They hung up their shields on your walls all around you.

They completed your beauty.

12 “Tarshish was a trading partner with you because of your abundant wealth of goods. They traded silver, iron, tin, and lead for your wares. 13 Yavan, Tubal, and Meshech traded slaves, as well as bronze items, for your merchandise. 14 Beyt-Togarmah provided horses, stallions, and mules in exchange for your products. 15 People from Dedan (Rhodes Island) were your traders on many coasts. You sent the merchandise and they sent back ivory tusks and ebony wood as payment. 16 Syria (Heb. Aram) was a dealer in your many products—they provided emeralds, purple dye, coloured cloth, fine fabric, pearls, and rubies for your merchandise. 17 Yehudah and Yisrael were trading with you. They provided wheat from Minnit, cakes, honey, oil, and balsam for your merchandise. 18 Damascus was a trader of all your products, of all your enormous wealth, and of the wine from Helbon and the wool from Zahar.[fn] 19 Dan and Yavan from Uzal provided you with merchandise of wrought iron, cinnamon, and fragrant calamus seeds which became your merchandise. 20 Dedan was your dealer in woven saddle blankets. 21 Arabia and all of Kedar’s leaders were traders with you—they provided you with lambs, rams, and goats. 22 Traders from Sheba and Ramah came to sell you the best of every spice and all kinds of precious gems—they traded gold for your goods. 23 Haran, Kanneh, and Eden were traders with you, along with Sheba, Ashur, and Kilmad. 24 Those were your traders in fancy robes made of violet cloth with woven colours, and in blankets of multicoloured, embroidered, and well-woven cloth in your marketplaces. 25 Tarshish’s ships were the transporters of your merchandise.

So you were filled up—heavily laden with cargo there in the heart of the seas.

26 Your rowers have brought you into vast seas.

The east wind has wrecked you in the middle of them.

27 Your wealth, merchandise, and trade goods,

your sailors, pilots, and ship-builders,

your traders of merchandise and all the men of war who are in you, and all your crew—

they will sink into the depths of the sea at the time of your destruction.

28 The surroundings will shake

when they hear your pilot’s cry of distress.

29 All the oarsmen will come down off their ships.

Mariners and all the pilots on the sea will stand on the land,

30 then they’ll raise their voices towards you and will wail bitterly.

They’ll throw dust up onto their heads. They’ll roll around to get covered in ashes.

31 They’ll shave their heads bald for you and dress in rough sackcloth,[fn]

and they’ll weep bitterly over you and they will cry out with loud moans.

32 They will wail loudly for you and sing funeral songs about you.

Who is like the city of Tsor, which has now been brought to silence in the middle of the sea?

33 When your merchandise went ashore from the sea, it pleased many people groups.

You enriched kings across the world with your great wealth and merchandise.

34 But when you were shattered by the seas, by deep waters,

your merchandise and all your crew sank.

35 All the inhabitants of the coastal kingdoms were appalled at you,

and their kings shuddered in horror—their faces trembled.

36 The merchants of the people hiss at you.

You’ve become a horror, and you won’t exist anymore.”

28 Then Yahweh gave me another message: 2 “Humanity’s child, tell Tsor’s ruler that the master Yahweh says this: Your heart is proud and you’ve said, “I’m a god. I’ll sit in the seat of gods in the vital centre of the oceans.” Even though you’re a man and not a god, you tell yourself that you’re a god.

3 Listen, you king of Tsor, are you wiser than Daniyel was? Are there any secrets that you don’t already know? 4 You’ve used your wisdom and skill to make yourself wealthy, and amassed gold and silver in your treasuries. 5 By great wisdom and by your trading, you’ve multiplied your wealth, but now you’ve become arrogant because of your wealth.

6 Therefore, the master Yahweh says this: Because you’ve convinced yourself that you’re invincible like a god, 7 I’ll bring foreigners against you—terrifying warriors from other nations. They’ll bring their swords against the beauty of your wisdom, and they’ll defile your splendour. 8 They’ll send you down to the pit, and you’ll die violently like those who die at sea. 9 Will you really say, “I’m a god” to the face of one who’s about to kill you? You’re a man and not God, and you’ll be at the mercy of the one who runs you through. 10 You’ll die like an ungodly person killed by foreigners, because I’ve declared it. That’s the master Yahweh’s declaration.’ ”

11 Then Yahweh gave me another message: 12 “Humanity’s child, sing a mourning song for the king of Tsor (Tyre) and tell him that the master Yahweh says this:

You were the model of perfection,

full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.

13 You were in Eden—God’s garden.

Every precious stone covered you:

ruby, topaz, emerald, chrysolite,

onyx, jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and beryl.

Your settings and mountings were made from gold.

They were prepared on the very day that you were created.

14 I placed you on God’s sacred mountain

like the winged creatures that I appointed to guard humanity.

You were among the fiery stones where you walked around.

15 You had integrity in your ways from the day you were created

until injustice was found within you.

16 Through your great trade you were filled with violence, and so you sinned.

Then I threw you out of God’s mountain, like someone who was defiled,

and I destroyed you, guardian winged creature,

and drove you from among the fiery stones.

17 Your heart was arrogant due to your beauty.

You ruined your wisdom because of your splendour.

I threw you down to the earth.

I put you in front of kings so they can see you.

18 Because of all your disobedience and your dishonest trade,

you’ve defiled your sacred places,

so I’ve made fire come out from you to consume you.

I’ll turn you into ashes on the earth

in the sight of everyone who looks at you.

19 Everyone who knew you among the people groups

will shudder to look at you now—

they will be horrified, and you won’t exist any longer.’ ”

 This is a declaration of Yahweh’s message concerning the Syrian Hadrak region and focusing on Damascus city, because the eyes of all humanity, including all of Yisrael’s tribes, are toward Yahweh.[ref] 2 It’s also about the Hamat region which borders on Tsor (Tyre) and Tsidon (Sidon) which is very wise. 3 Tsor has built herself a stronghold and heaped up silver like dust and refined gold like mud in the streets. 4 Listen, my master will dispossess her and throw her wealth into the sea, and she’ll be consumed by fire.

13 [ref]“You won’t end well, Korazin. And you won’t end well, Bethsaida. Because if the miracles that were done in your places had been done in Tyre and Tsidon, they would have turned around from disobeying God and shown their humility long ago 14 hence it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Tsidon on judgement day than it will be for you all.

 Who’s that coming from Edom,[ref]

coming from Botsrah dressed in crimson?

This one dressed like an honoured person,

marching in the greatness of his strength?

It’s me, Yahweh, proclaiming what’s right—powerful to rescue.

2 What’s that red on your clothes?

Your clothes look like you’ve been treading grapes in a wine-pressing pit?

3 I’ve trodden in the wine-pressing pit alone,

≈ and there wasn’t anyone from the nations with me.

I trod them in my anger,

≈ and trampled them in my fury.[ref]

and their blood is splattered onto my clothes.[ref]

≈ All my clothes are stained

4 because I had decided that this was the day of vengeance,

and the year had come for me to buy my people’s freedom.

5 I looked and there wasn’t anyone to help,[ref]

≈ and I was appalled that no one assisted,

but my power gave me victory,

≈ and my rage sustained me.

6 I trod down peoples in my anger,

and in my rage, I made them drunk,

and I poured their blood out on the ground.

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.”

12 The master Yahweh also says, ‘Edom has taken vengeance against the kingdom of Yehudah and has done wrong by doing that.[ref] 13 Therefore, the master Yahweh says: I’ll hit Edom with my hand and destroy every person and animal there. I’ll make it a ruined, abandoned place, from Teman all the way to Dedan—they’ll be killed by the sword. 14 I’ll use my people Yisrael to place my vengeance on Edom, and they’ll apply my anger and fury to Edom so they’ll know my vengeance. That’s the master Yahweh’s declaration.’

 Then Yahweh gave me another message:[ref] 2 “Humanity’s child, look out towards Mt. Seir and prophesy against it. 3 Tell it that the master Yahweh says this: Listen, I’m against you Edom, represented by Mt. Seir, and I’ll work against you to make you a desolation and a waste. 4 I’ll turn your cities into ruins, and you yourself will become desolate. Then you’ll know that I am Yahweh.

5 You’ve always been hostile to the Israeli people, and when they were distressed you decided to attack them with swords—at the time their punishment was coming to an end. 6 Therefore, this is the master Yahweh’s declaration: As I live, I’ll prepare you for bloodshed, and bloodshed will chase after you. Since you didn’t hate bloodshed, bloodshed will come to you. 7 I’ll make Edom completely desolate when I cut it off so that no one will want to pass through it. 8 I’ll fill its mountain ranges with people who were killed—those killed by the sword will fall on your high hills and valleys and in all your streams. 9 I’ll make your land perpetually desolate. Your cities won’t be inhabited, and then you’ll know that I am Yahweh.

10 You’ve said, “These two nations and these two lands will become mine, and we’ll possess them,” even when Yahweh was there with them. 11 Therefore, this is the master Yahweh’s declaration: As I live, I’ll act according to your anger and according to your jealousy that you had in your hatred of Yisrael, and I’ll show myself to them when I judge you—12 then you’ll know that I am Yahweh. I’ve heard all the insults you spoke against Yisrael’s hill country, when you said, “They’ve been destroyed—they’ve been given over to us to devour.” 13 You raised yourselves up against me with what you said, and you multiplied the words you said against me, and I heard all of them.

14 The master Yahweh says this: I’ll make you into a desolate place while the rest of the world cheers. 15 Just like you rejoiced over the Israeli people’s inheritance when it was made desolate, I’ll do the same to you. You’ll become a desolation, Mt. Seir and all of Edom—all of it. Then they’ll know that I am Yahweh.”

We have heard from Yahweh and a messenger has been sent to the nations, telling them:

Get everything ready then go into battle against Edom.

2 And Yahweh says to Edom:

Listen,

I will make you into an insignificant nation.

≈ You’ll become utterly despised.

3 Your inner pride has deceived you,

you who live on the rocky cliffs,

≈ with your homes up there so high.

You say to yourselves that

no one can bring you down to the ground.

4 If you go up high like an eagle,

≈ even if your nest was up between the stars,

Yahweh declares that his command can bring you down from there.

5 If it was thieves who came to destroy you in the night,

(and yes, you’re going to be destroyed)

they would only steal what they wanted.

Or if it was grape-pickers who came to you,

at least they’d leave behind the smaller grapes.

6 How Esau’s descendants will be looted.

≈ Their hidden treasures will be found and taken.

7 Those who have treaties with you will force you to the border.

≈ Those who talk about peace will deceive you.

≈ Those who eat meals with you will set a trap for you.

You have no idea what’s about to hit you.

8 Yahweh will make a declaration on that day.

The wise people of Edom will be destroyed.

≈ Understanding will disappear from Esau’s hill.

9 And you the city of Teyman, your warriors will be shattered,

≈ so that everyone from Esau’s hill country will be slaughtered.

10 Because of your violence against your brother Yacob’s descendants,

shame will overcome you,

and you’ll be destroyed forever.

11 You just stood and watched on that day when strangers carried away their wealth.

≈ When foreigners entered their gates and took possession of Yerushalem, you wished it was you doing that.

12 You shouldn’t have gloated over your cousins on the day of their misfortune.

≈ And you shouldn’t have celebrated about the destruction of the people of Yehudah.

You shouldn’t have bragged in their time of distress.

13 You shouldn’t have gone into their city at the time of their calamity.

You shouldn’t have gloated—yes, you—over their misery in their time of disaster.

And you women shouldn’t have grabbed their wealth on the day of their catastrophe.

14 You shouldn’t have stood at the crossroads to kill those trying to escape,[ref]

And you shouldn’t have handed-over any survivors that you’d captured in their time of trouble.

2 “I have loved you all,” says Yahweh, but you say, “How have you shown your love for us?”

“Wasn’t Esaw Yacob’s brother?” declares Yahweh. “Yet I’ve loved Yacob[ref] 3 and rejected Esaw. I’ve turned the hills where Esaw lived into a wasteland and given his inheritance to the wild jackals.”

4 If Esaw’s descendants in Edom say, “We’ve been crushed, but we’ll return and rebuild what was destroyed,” then army-commander Yahweh will say, “They might build, but I will tear down. Others will call them ‘The country of wickedness’ and ‘The people who Yahweh is forever angry with.’

5 Your own eyes will see it, and you’ll say, ‘Yahweh is great even outside Yisrael’s borders.’ ”

 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.

28 So you, humanity’s child, prophesy and say, ‘The master Yahweh says this to the Ammonites concerning their coming disgrace: A sword, a sword is drawn. It’s sharpened for the slaughter in order to devour, so it’ll be like lightning.[ref] 29 While prophets see empty visions for you and perform rituals to come up with lies for you, this sword will lie on the necks of the wicked who are about to be killed, whose day of punishment has come and whose time of disobedience is about to end.s1 Babylon’s end ???

30 Return the sword to its sheath. I’ll judge you in the place where you were created. In your native land 31 I’ll pour my indignation out on you! I’ll fan the fire of my rage against you and hand you over to cruel men—craftsmen of destruction. 32 You’ll become fuel for the fire. Your blood will be spilled right there in your own land. You won’t be remembered, because I, Yahweh have declared it.’ ”

 Then Yahweh gave me another message:[ref] 2 “Humanity’s child, keep looking towards the Ammonites and prophesy against them. 3 Tell them to listen to this message because this is what the master Yahweh says: You celebrated my sanctuary being desecrated, and the land of Yisrael being desolate, and the kingdom of Yehudah going into exile, 4 so because of that, listen: I’m giving you to a people in the east as their possession. They’ll set up camp against you and set up their tents among you. They’ll eat your fruit and drink your milk. 5 I’ll make the Ammonite capital city, Rabbah,[fn] into a camel pasture, and the Ammonite people into a resting place for flocks. Then you people will know that I am Yahweh.

6 Because the master Yahweh says this: You clapped your hands and stamped your feet and celebrated with all the contempt within you against the Israeli nation, 7 therefore, listen Ammon. I’ll strike you down and give you as plunder to the other nations. I’ll cut you off from the people groups and make you perish from among the countries. I’ll destroy you, and you’ll know that I am Yahweh.’

 Here is a message for Moav (Moab):[ref]

So, in a night Ar in Moav will be laid waste, destroyed.

≈ So, in a night Kir in Moav will be laid waste, destroyed.

2 They’ve gone up to the temple, and Divon up to the hills to weep.

≈ Moav wails about Nevo and Medeva.

All their heads are bald.

≈ All their beards are cut off.

3 In their streets they wear sackcloth.

≈ On their (flat) roofs and in the square, everyone wails,

→ coming down in tears.

4 Heshbon and Elealeh cry out—their voice is heard as far as Yahats.

≈ So too, the soldiers from Moav call out as their spirit trembles inside them.

5 My heart cries out for Moav, those who flee to Tsoar and to Eglat-Shelishiyah,

because they weep as they climb the Luhit ascent,

≈ yes, on the road to Horonaim, they cry loudly from their suffering.

6 The Nimrim spring has dried up so the grass has withered.

≈ The vegetation has disappeared so there’s no more greenery.

7 Because of that, they take the wealth they’ve made and their savings,

→ and they carry it away across the stream with the willows.

8 Yes, the cry has surrounded the Moav region,

and her wailing has carried as far as Eglayim and Beyt-Eylim,

9 because the Dimon stream is full of blood,

→ However, I’ll bring more on Dimon.

I’ll send a lion for Moav’s survivors,

≈ and for the remnant of the land.

16 Send a ram to Yehudah’s ruler

from Sela in the wilderness to the mountain of the daughter of Tsiyyon (Zion).

2 Then just like birds flutter away from a nest that’s disturbed,

so too the Moav women will head to the fords at the Arnon river.

3 Bring some advice. Make a decision.

Make some shade that’s dark in the middle of the day.

Hide the fugitives.

≈ Don’t expose the refugees.

4 Let Moav’s refugees live among you.

Be a shelter for them from the destroyer,

because the oppressor will give up.

Destruction will cease.

The oppressors will disappear from the land.

5 A king will be established based on loyal commitment.

A descendant of David who will rule with faithfulness—

one who judges fairly and strives for justice,

and who quickly does what is right.

6 We’ve heard about Moav’s excessive pride,

and their haughtiness and arrogance,

but their boasting is empty.

7 So Moav mourns for itself—all of them.

They long for the raisin-cakes from Kir-Hareset.

They’re completely overcome

8 because Heshbon’s fields have dried up

as have Sevmah’s grapevines.

The rulers of nations have trampled down its best grapevines.

They reached Yazer—wandering through the wilderness.

Its shoots spread out—passing over the ocean.

9 So I’ll weep along with those weeping in Yazer for Sevmah’s grapevines.

I’ll water you with my tears, Heshbon and Elealeh,

because they’re shouting about your summer fruits and your harvest.

10 People will no longer be happy in their orchards,

≈ and celebrations will disappear from the vineyards.

There won’t be any singing or shouting in the wine-pressing pits,

≈ and the shouting of those treading the grapes will cease.

11 My stomach tightens like a harp string when I think about Moav.

≈ My insides groan about Kir-Hareset.

12 The people of Moav wear themselves out praying at their hilltop shrines.

≈ They go to their temple to pray, but it doesn’t help them.

13 That’s what Yahweh already said about Moav, 14 and now he says that within three years like a hirer labourer, Moav’s honour will disappear, because out of their large population, only a small and insignificant group will remain.

10 Yahweh’s hand rests on this mountain to secure it.

Moav will be trampled down like a heap of straw in a dung pile.[ref]

11 Yahweh will spread out his hands in the middle of it,

like a swimmer spreading his arms to swim,

and he’ll cancel their pride with the skill of his hands.

12 He’ll knock down your high fortress walls,

and Moav’s cities will be broken right down low.

 Yisrael’s god, Commander-in-chief Yahweh says to Moav:

Nevo won’t end well because it’ll be devastated.

Kiryatayim has been humiliated and captured.

Its fortress has been disgraced and shattered.[ref]

2 No one will praise Moav again.

Their enemies in Heshbon plotted disaster against them, saying,

Let’s go and destroy it as a nation.

Madmen will be silenced after the sword finishes with you.

3 Listen, a cry of distress is coming from Horonayim,

where there’s ruin and terrible destruction.

4 Moav has been destroyed.

Its workers have made their cries heard.

5 They weeps as they climb Luhit hill,

because on the way down to Horonayim,

shouts of distress will heard because of the destruction.

6 Flee, save your lives

so you’ll be like a juniper bush in the wilderness.

7 Because of your trust in your practices and your wealth,

you too will be captured.

Then Kemosh will go away into captivity, along with its priests and leaders.

8 The destroyer will come to every city—no city will escape.

The valley will perish and the plain will be devastated, as Yahweh has said.

9 Give wings to Moav, because it must certainly fly away.

Its cities will become a wasteland without anyone living in them.

10 Anyone who’s slack doing Yahweh’s work should be cursed.

Anyone who’s afraid to use his sword to kill should be cursed.

11 Moav has felt secure since it was young.

Its like its wine that’s never been poured from container to container.

Its never gone into captivity.

so it still tastes as good as ever—

its nice aroma hasn’t unchanged.

12 But Yahweh declares that the time is coming

when I’ll send along those who’ll tip it over

and empty out all its pots and smash its jars.

13 Then Moav will be ashamed of their god Kemosh

just as Yisrael’s people were ashamed of the golden calf that they put their trust in at Beyt-El.

14 How can you Moav soldiers say, ‘We are warriors,

powerful fighting men’?

15 Moav will be devastated and its cities attacked.

Its finest young men have gone down to the place of slaughter.

That is the king’s declaration—his name is Commander-in-chief Yahweh.

16 Moav’s disaster is coming soon.

Calamity is rushing towards it.

17 You surrounding nations, wail,

and all you who know Moav’s fame, shout

‘Oh no, the strong staff, the splendid rod, has been broken.’

18 Come down from your place of honour

and sit on the ground that’s dry and thirsty,

you daughter living in Dibon city,

because the one who’ll destroy Moav will attack you—

the one who’ll destroy your fortications.

19 You people who live in Aroer city,

stand on the road and watch.

Ask the escaping men and women what happened there.

20 Moav has been humiliated because it’s been shattered.

Wail and cry out.

Tell the people at the Arnon river that Moav’s been devastated.

21 Now punishment has come to Moav’s high plateau:

to Holon, Yahtsah, Mefa’at, 22 Divon, Nevo, Beyt-Divlatayim, 23 Kiryatayim, Beyt-Gamul, Beyt-Meon, 24 Keriot, and Botsrah, and all of Moav’s towns, both near and far. 25 Moav’s power will be terminated and its dominance will be broken.

26 Make Moav drunk, because it acted proudly against Yahweh.

Let Moav wallow in its vomit,

and let it be an object of ridicule.

27 Didn’t Moav make Yisrael an object of ridicule?

Weren’t they thought of as thieves,

such that you shook your head when you spoke about them.

28 Abandon the cities and camp on the cliffs, you inhabitants of Moav,

≈ and become like a dove that’s nesting over the mouth of a hole in the rocks.

29 We’ve heard about Moav’s pride,

about its arrogance, haughtiness, pride, boastfulness,

and the conceit in its heart.

30 This is Yahweh’s declaration:

I myself know its arrogance

≈ and their hollow boasting about things they haven’t even done.

31 So I’ll wail for Moav,

≈ and I’ll cry out for all of Moav.

I’ll lament for the people of Kir-Heres.

32 I’ll weep for you more than I did for Yazer, you vine of Sivmah.

Your tendrils passed across the Salt Sea and reached as far as Yazer.

A destroyer has attacked your summer fruit and your grape harvest,

33 so celebration and happiness have been taken away from the fruit trees and from Moav itself.

I’ve put an end to the wine from their wine-pressing pits.

They won’t tread the grapes with happy shouts—

any shouts won’t be shouts of celebration.

34 From the shouts at Heshbon as far as Elealeh, their sound is heard at Yahaz, from Tsoar to Horonayim and Eglat-Shelishiyah, since even the water at Nimrim has dried up. 35 I will put an end to anyone in Moav who makes sacrifices on the hilltop shrines and burns incense to his gods. That is Yahweh’s declaration.

36 Because of all that, I groan inwardly for Moav and Kir-Hareset, like a flute at a funeral, knowing that all the wealth that they acquired will be lost. 37 Yes, every head will be shaved and all their beards will be clipped. They’ll all have cuts on their hands and be wearing sackcloth around their waists. 38 There’s wailing coming from every flat roof and from all the plazas in Moav because I’ve destroyed Moav like pottery that no one wants. That is Yahweh’s declaration. 39 How it’s been shattered. How they keep wailing. Moav turns its back in shame—it will become an object of derision and a terror to all those who are around it 40 because Yahweh says this:

Listen, the enemy will swoop down like an eagle and spread out his wings against Moav.

41 Keriyot has been captured, and its fortresses have been seized,

because on that day, Moav’s soldiers will be apprehensive like women in labour.

42 Then Moav will be destroyed and no longer be a people group,

because they thought they were better than Yahweh.

43 Terror, and pits and traps, are coming to you inhabitants of Moav.

That is Yahweh’s declaration.

44 Anyone who flees because of terror will fall into a pit,

and anyone who climbs out of the pit will be caught in a trap,

because I will bring this on them in the year when I punish them.

That is Yahweh’s declaration. 45 Those who flee will stand in the shadow of Heshbon city without any strength,

because will go out from Heshbon—flame from the middle of Sihon.

It’ll devour Moav’s forehead and the top of the heads of the rebellious people.

46 You won’t end well Moav. You worshippers of Kemosh will be destroyed

because your sons and daughters will be captured and taken away.

47 However, in future years, Moav’s judgement will end and I will restore Moav from captivity.

That is Yahweh’s declaration.

8 The master Yahweh says this, ‘Because Moab and Seir say that the kingdom of Yehudah is just like every other nation,[ref] 9 well listen, I’ll destroy the border cities protecting Moab, starting with the splendour of Beyt-Yeshimot, Baal-Meon, and Kiriataim. 10 I’ll hand them over to the people in the east who’ve already been against the Ammonites—I’ll give them up as a possession so that the Ammonites won’t be remembered among the nations. 11 Yes, I’ll execute judgements against Moab, then they’ll know that I am Yahweh.’