“If thieves came to you,
    if robbers in the night—
oh, what a disaster awaits you!—
    would they not steal only as much as they wanted?
If grape pickers came to you,
    would they not leave a few grapes?(A)
But how Esau will be ransacked,
    his hidden treasures pillaged!
All your allies(B) will force you to the border;
    your friends will deceive and overpower you;
those who eat your bread(C) will set a trap for you,[a]
    but you will not detect it.

“In that day,” declares the Lord,
    “will I not destroy(D) the wise men of Edom,
    those of understanding in the mountains of Esau?
Your warriors, Teman,(E) will be terrified,
    and everyone in Esau’s mountains
    will be cut down in the slaughter.

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Footnotes

  1. Obadiah 1:7 The meaning of the Hebrew for this clause is uncertain.

Pillage and Slaughter Will Repay Edom’s Cruelty

If thieves came to you,
    if plunderers by night
    —how you have been destroyed!—
    would they not steal only what they wanted?
If grape gatherers came to you,
    would they not leave gleanings?(A)
How Esau has been pillaged,
    his treasures searched out!
All your allies have deceived you;
    they have driven you to the border;
your confederates have prevailed against you;
    those who ate your food have set a trap for you—
    there is no understanding.(B)
On that day, says the Lord,
    I will destroy the wise out of Edom
    and understanding out of Mount Esau.(C)
Your warriors shall be shattered, O Teman,
    so that everyone from Mount Esau will be cut off.(D)

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