1. This message is about the Ammonites. This is what 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 took Gad’s land?”
2. The Lord says, “The time will come in Rabbah of Ammon when people hear the sounds of battle. Rabbah of Ammon will be destroyed. It will be an empty hill covered with ruined 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 sackcloth and cry. Run to the city for safety, because the enemy will take away the god Milcom, with 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 GOD 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. But the time will come when I will bring the Ammonites back.” This message is from the Lord.
7. This message is about Edom. This is what the Lord All-Powerful says: “Is there no more wisdom in Teman? 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 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.”