5. I, the Lord All-Powerful,will send neighbouring nationsto strike you with terror.You will be scattered,with no one to carefor your refugees.
6. Yet some day, I will bringyour people back home.I, the Lord, have spoken.
7-8. The Lord All-Powerful says about Edom:Wisdom and common sensehave vanished from Teman.I will send disaster to punishyou descendants of Esau,so anyone from Dedanhad better turn roundand run back home.
9. People who harvest grapesleave some for the poor.Thieves who break in at nighttake only what they want.
10. But I will take everythingthat belongs to you,people of Edom,and I will uncover every placewhere you try to hide.Then you will die,and so will your children,relatives, and neighbours.
11. But I can be trustedto care for your orphansand widows.
12. Even those nations that don't deserve to be punished will have to drink from the cup of my anger. So how can you possibly hope to escape?
13. I, the Lord, swear in my own name that your city of Bozrah and all your towns will suffer a horrible fate. They will lie in ruins for ever, and people will use the name “Bozrah” as a curse word.
14. I have sent a messengerto command the nationsto prepare for waragainst you people of Edom.
15. Your nation will be small,yet hated by other nations.
16. Pride tricks you into thinkingthat other nationslook at you with fear.You live along the cliffsand high in the mountainslike the eagles,but I am the Lord,and I will bring you down.
17. People passing by your countrywill be shocked and horrifiedto see a disaster
18. as bad as the destructionof Sodom and Gomorrahand towns nearby.The towns of Edom will be empty.
19. I will attack youlike a lion from the forest,attacking sheep in a meadowalong the Jordan.In a moment the flock runs,and the land is empty.Who will I choose to attack you?I will do it myself!No one can force me to fightor chase me away.
20. Listen to my plans for you,people of Edom.Your children will be dragged offand your country destroyed.
21. The sounds of your destructionwill reach the Red Seaand cause the earth to shake.
22. An enemy will swoop downto attack you,like an eagle spreading its wingsand circling over Bozrah.Your warriors will be grippedby fear.
23. The Lord says about Damascus:The towns of Hamath and Arpadhave heard your bad news.They have lost hope,and worries roll over themlike ocean waves.