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.

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.

³⁰     Her mightiest warriors no longer fight.
They stay in their barracks, their courage gone.
    They have become like women.
The invaders have burned the houses
    and broken down the city gates.

⁹ Jerusalem’s gates have sunk into the ground.
    He has smashed their locks and bars.
Her kings and princes have been exiled to distant lands;
    her law has ceased to exist.
Her prophets receive
    no more visions from the Lord.

¹³ Your troops will be as weak
    and helpless as women.
The gates of your land will be opened wide to the enemy
    and set on fire and burned.

³⁶ The sword will strike her wise counselors,
    and they will become fools.
The sword will strike her mightiest warriors,
    and panic will seize them.

“For your sakes I will send an army against Babylon,
    forcing the Babylonians^[a] to flee in those ships they are so proud of.