Jeremiah 49:23-39

New International Version

A Message About Damascus

²³Concerning Damascus:^(A)

“Hamath^(B) and Arpad^(C) are dismayed,
    for they have heard bad news.
They are disheartened,
    troubled like^[a] the restless sea.^(D)
²⁴Damascus has become feeble,
    she has turned to flee
    and panic has gripped her;
anguish and pain have seized her,
    pain like that of a woman in labor.^(E)
²⁵Why has the city of renown not been abandoned,
    the town in which I delight?
²⁶Surely, her young men^(F) will fall in the streets;
    all her soldiers will be silenced^(G) in that day,”
declares the Lord Almighty.
²⁷“I will set fire^(H) to the walls of Damascus;^(I)
    it will consume^(J) the fortresses of Ben-Hadad.^(K)”

A Message About Kedar and Hazor

²⁸Concerning Kedar^(L) and the kingdoms of Hazor,^(M) which Nebuchadnezzar^(N) king of Babylon attacked:

This is what the Lord says:

“Arise, and attack Kedar
    and destroy the people of the East.^(O)
²⁹Their tents and their flocks^(P) will be taken;
    their shelters will be carried off
    with all their goods and camels.
People will shout to them,
    ‘Terror^(Q) on every side!’

³⁰“Flee quickly away!
Stay in deep caves,^(R) you who live in Hazor,^(S)”
declares the Lord.
“Nebuchadnezzar^(T) king of Babylon has plotted against you;
he has devised a plan against you.

³¹“Arise and attack a nation at ease,
    which lives in confidence,”
declares the Lord,
“a nation that has neither gates nor bars;^(U)
    its people live far from danger.
³²Their camels^(V) will become plunder,
    and their large herds^(W) will be spoils of war.
I will scatter to the winds^(X) those who are in distant places^[b]^(Y)
    and will bring disaster on them from every side,”
declares the Lord.
³³“Hazor^(Z) will become a haunt of jackals,^(AA)
    a desolate^(AB) place forever.
No one will live there;
    no people will dwell^(AC) in it.”

A Message About Elam

³⁴This is the word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning Elam,^(AD) early in the reign of Zedekiah^(AE) king of Judah:

³⁵This is what the Lord Almighty says:

“See, I will break the bow^(AF) of Elam,
    the mainstay of their might.
³⁶I will bring against Elam the four winds^(AG)
    from the four quarters of heaven;^(AH)
I will scatter them to the four winds,
    and there will not be a nation
    where Elam’s exiles do not go.
³⁷I will shatter Elam before their foes,
    before those who want to kill them;
I will bring disaster on them,
    even my fierce anger,”^(AI)
declares the Lord.
“I will pursue them with the sword^(AJ)
    until I have made an end of them.
³⁸I will set my throne in Elam
    and destroy her king and officials,”
declares the Lord.