Jeremiah 49:7-39 ▼

7 Concerning Edom (red), this is what the LORD {YHWH} of Hosts says: “Is there no longer wisdom in Teman (south)? Has counsel perished from the prudent? Has their wisdom decayed?

8 Turn and run! Lie low, O dwellers of Dedan (low country), for I will bring disaster on Esau (hairy) at the time I punish him.

9 If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave some gleanings? Were thieves to come in the night, would they not steal only what they wanted?

10 But I will strip Esau (hairy) bare; I will uncover his hiding places, and he will be unable to conceal himself. His descendants will be destroyed along with his relatives and neighbors, and he will be no more.

11 Abandon your orphans; I will preserve their lives. Let your widows trust in Me.”

12 For this is what the LORD {YHWH} says: “If those who do not deserve to drink the cup must drink it, can you possibly remain unpunished? You will not go unpunished, for you must drink it too.

13 For by Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD {YHWH}, that Bozrah (sheepfold / fortress) will become a desolation, a disgrace, a ruin, and a curse, and all her cities will be in ruins forever.”

14 I have heard a message from the LORD {YHWH}; an envoy has been sent to the nations: “Assemble yourselves to march against her! Rise up for battle!”

15 “For behold, I will make you small among nations, despised among men.

16 The terror you cause and the pride of your heart have deceived you, O dwellers in the clefts of the rocks (of Sela), O occupiers of the mountain summit. Though you elevate your nest like the eagle, even from there I will bring you down,” declares the LORD {YHWH}.

17 “Edom (red) will become an object of horror. All who pass by will be appalled and will scoff at all her wounds.

18 As Sodom (burning) and Gomorrah (submersion) were overthrown along with their neighbors,” says the LORD {YHWH}, “no one will dwell there; no man will abide there.

19 Behold, one will come up like a lion from the thickets of the Jordan (flowing down) to the watered pasture. For in an instant I will chase Edom from her land. Who is the chosen one I will appoint for this? For who is like Me, and who can challenge Me? What shepherd can stand against Me?”

20 Therefore hear the plans that the LORD {YHWH} has drawn up against Edom (red) and the strategies He has devised against the people of Teman (south): Surely the little ones of the flock will be dragged away; certainly their pasture will be made desolate because of them (their pasture will be appalled at their fate).

21 At the sound of their fall the earth will quake; their cry will resound to the Red Sea (the Sea of Reeds).

22 Look! An eagle will soar and swoop down, spreading its wings over Bozrah (sheepfold / fortress). In that day the hearts of Edom’s (red) mighty men will be like the heart of a woman in labor.

23 Concerning Damascus (well-watered land): “Hamath (fortress) and Arpad (I shall be supported) are put to shame, for they have heard a bad report; they are agitated like the sea \on the sea/; their anxiety cannot be calmed.

24 Damascus (well-watered land) has become feeble; she has turned to flee. Panic has gripped her; anguish and pain have seized her like a woman in labor.

25 How is the city of praise not forsaken, the town that brings Me joy?

26 For her young men will fall in the streets, and all her warriors will be silenced in that day,” declares the LORD {YHWH} of Hosts.

27 “I will set fire to the walls of Damascus (well-watered land); it will consume the fortresses of Ben-hadad (son of Hadad).”

28 Concerning Kedar (dark) and the kingdoms of Hazor (castle), which Nebuchadnezzar (may Nebo protect the crown) king of Babylon (confusion by mixing) defeated, this is what the LORD {YHWH} says: “Rise up, advance against Kedar, and destroy the people of the east!

29 They will take their tents and flocks, their tent curtains and all their goods. They will take their camels for themselves. They will shout to them: ‘Terror is on every side!’

30 Run! Escape quickly! Lie low, O residents of Hazor (castle),” declares the LORD {YHWH}, “for Nebuchadnezzar (may Nebo protect the crown) king of Babylon (confusion by mixing) has drawn up a plan against you⁺; he has devised a strategy against you⁺.

31 Rise up, advance against a nation at ease, one that dwells securely,” declares the LORD {YHWH}. “They have no gates or bars; they live alone.

32 Their camels will become plunder, and their large herds will be spoil. I will scatter to the wind {ruach} in every direction those who shave their temples; I will bring calamity on them from all sides,” declares the LORD {YHWH}.

33 “Hazor (castle) will become a haunt for jackals (serpents), a desolation forever. No one will dwell there; no man will abide there.”

34 This is the word of the LORD {YHWH} that came to Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed) the prophet concerning Elam (eternity) at the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah (YHWH is righteous) king of Judah (praised).

35 This is what the LORD {YHWH} of Hosts says: “Behold, I will shatter Elam’s (eternity) bow, the mainstay of their might.

36 I will bring the four winds {ruachowt} against Elam (eternity) from the four corners of the heavens, and I will scatter them to all these winds. There will not be a nation to which Elam’s exiles will not go.

37 So I will shatter Elam (eternity) before their foes, before those who seek their lives. I will bring disaster upon them, even My fierce anger,” declares the LORD {YHWH}. “I will send out the sword after them until I finish them off.

38 I will set My throne in Elam (eternity), and destroy its king and officials,” declares the LORD {YHWH}.

39 “Yet in the last days, I will restore Elam (eternity) from captivity (restore the fortunes of Elam), declares the LORD {YHWH}.