⁷ “Are you Israelites more important to me
    than the Ethiopians?^[a]” asks the Lord.
“I brought Israel out of Egypt,
    but I also brought the Philistines from Crete^[b]
    and led the Arameans out of Kir.

⁶ Elamites are the archers,
    with their chariots and charioteers.
    The men of Kir hold up the shields.

“The people of Damascus have sinned again and again,^[a]
    and I will not let them go unpunished!
They beat down my people in Gilead
    as grain is threshed with iron sledges.
⁴ So I will send down fire on King Hazael’s palace,
    and the fortresses of King Ben-hadad will be destroyed.
⁵ I will break down the gates of Damascus
    and slaughter the people in the valley of Aven.
I will destroy the ruler in Beth-eden,
    and the people of Aram will go as captives to Kir,”
    says the Lord.

¹¹ But the Lord will bring Rezin’s enemies against Israel
    and stir up all their foes.