“The towns of Hamath and Arpad are struck with fear,
    for they have heard the news of their destruction.
Their hearts are troubled
    like a wild sea in a raging storm.
²⁴ Damascus has become feeble,
    and all her people turn to flee.
Fear, anguish, and pain have gripped her
    as they grip a woman in labor.
²⁵ That famous city, a city of joy,
    will be forsaken!
²⁶ Her young men will fall in the streets and die.
    Her soldiers will all be killed,”
    says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
²⁷ “And I will set fire to the walls of Damascus
    that will burn up the palaces of Ben-hadad.”