A Message Condemning Ammon

25 This message came to me from the Lord: ² “Son of Man, turn your attention^[a] to the descendants of Ammon and rebuke^[b] them. ³ Tell the Ammonites: ‘Listen to a message from^[c] the Lord God! This is what the Lord God says: “Because you have said, ‘Aha!’^[d] about my sanctuary when it was desecrated, about the land of Israel when it became desolate, and about the households of Judah when they went into exile, ⁴ therefore you’d better look out! I’m going to turn you over to men^[e] from the East, who will dominate you. You will become their property. They will set up military encampments and permanent places^[f] in which to live among you, and then they’ll eat your fruit and drink your milk. ⁵ I will turn Rabbah^[g] into a pasture for camels, and Ammon will become a resting place for flocks of sheep. That’s how they’ll learn that I am the Lord.”’”

Why God Condemned Ammon

⁶ “This is what the Lord God says: ‘Because you’ve applauded, stamped your feet, and rejoiced with all sorts of malice in your heart^[h] against the land of Israel, ⁷ therefore you’d better^[i] watch out! I’m raising a clenched fist^[j] in your direction! I’m about to feed you to the surrounding^[k] nations as war plunder. I’m going to eliminate you as a nation and kill off those of you who survive to live in other^[l] countries. I’m going to destroy you, and that’s how you’ll learn that I am the Lord.’”