1. The Lord has this to say about the nation of Ammon:The people of Israelhave plenty of childrento inherit their lands.So why have you worshippersof the god Milcomtaken over towns and landbelonging to the Gad tribe?
2. Some day I will send an armyto attack you in Rabbah,your capital city.It will be left in ruins,and the surrounding villageswill lie in ashes.You took some of Israel's land,but on that dayIsrael will take yours!
3. Cry, people of Heshbon;your town will becomea pile of rubble.You will turn here and there,but your path will be blocked.Put on sackcloth and mourn,you citizens of Rabbah,because the idol you worshipwill be takento a foreign country,along with its priestsand temple officials.
4. You rebellious Ammonitestrust your wealth and ask,“Who could attack us?”But I warn you not to boastwhen your strength is fading.
5. I, the Lord All-Powerful,will send neighbouring nationsto strike you with terror.You will be scattered,with no one to carefor your refugees.
6. Yet some day, I will bringyour people back home.I, the Lord, have spoken.
7-8. The Lord All-Powerful says about Edom:Wisdom and common sensehave vanished from Teman.I will send disaster to punishyou descendants of Esau,so anyone from Dedanhad better turn roundand run back home.
9. People who harvest grapesleave some for the poor.Thieves who break in at nighttake only what they want.
10. But I will take everythingthat belongs to you,people of Edom,and I will uncover every placewhere you try to hide.Then you will die,and so will your children,relatives, and neighbours.
11. But I can be trustedto care for your orphansand widows.
12. Even those nations that don't deserve to be punished will have to drink from the cup of my anger. So how can you possibly hope to escape?
13. I, the Lord, swear in my own name that your city of Bozrah and all your towns will suffer a horrible fate. They will lie in ruins for ever, and people will use the name “Bozrah” as a curse word.
14. I have sent a messengerto command the nationsto prepare for waragainst you people of Edom.
15. Your nation will be small,yet hated by other nations.
16. Pride tricks you into thinkingthat other nationslook at you with fear.You live along the cliffsand high in the mountainslike the eagles,but I am the Lord,and I will bring you down.
17. People passing by your countrywill be shocked and horrifiedto see a disaster
18. as bad as the destructionof Sodom and Gomorrahand towns nearby.The towns of Edom will be empty.
19. I will attack youlike a lion from the forest,attacking sheep in a meadowalong the Jordan.In a moment the flock runs,and the land is empty.Who will I choose to attack you?I will do it myself!No one can force me to fightor chase me away.
20. Listen to my plans for you,people of Edom.Your children will be dragged offand your country destroyed.
21. The sounds of your destructionwill reach the Red Seaand cause the earth to shake.
22. An enemy will swoop downto attack you,like an eagle spreading its wingsand circling over Bozrah.Your warriors will be grippedby fear.
23. The Lord says about Damascus:The towns of Hamath and Arpadhave heard your bad news.They have lost hope,and worries roll over themlike ocean waves.
24. You people of Damascushave lost your courage,and in panic you turn to run,gripped by fear and pain.
25. I once was pleasedwith your famous city.But now I warn you, “Escapewhile you still can!”
26. Soon, even your best soldierswill lie dead in your streets.I, the Lord All-Powerful,have spoken.
27. I will set fire to your city wallsand burn down the fortressesKing Benhadad built.
28. Here is what the Lord says about the Kedar tribe and the desert villages that were conquered by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia:Listen, you people of Kedarand the other tribesof the eastern desert.I have told Nebuchadnezzarto attack and destroy you.
29. His fearsome armywill surround you,taking your tents and possessions,your sheep and camels.
30. Run and hide,you people of the desertwho live in villages!Nebuchadnezzar has big plansfor you.
31. You have no city wallsand no neighbours to help,yet you think you're safe—so I told him to attack.
32. Then your camelsand large herdswill be yours no longer.People of the Arabian Desert,disaster will strike youfrom every side,and you will be scatteredeverywhere on earth.
33. Only jackals will livewhere your villages once stood.I, the Lord, have spoken.
34-35. Not long after Zedekiah became king of Judah, the Lord told me to say:People of Elam,I, the Lord All-Powerful,will kill the archerswho make your army strong.
36. Enemies will attackfrom all directions,and you will be led captiveto every nation on earth.
37. Their armies will crushand kill you,and you will face the disasterthat my anger brings.
38. Your king and his officialswill die, and I will rulein their place.I, the Lord, have spoken.
39. But I promise that some dayI will bring your peopleback to their land.