12. This is what the Lord says: “Some people don’t deserve to be punished, but they suffer. But, Edom, you deserve to be punished, so you will really be punished. You will not escape the punishment you deserve. You will be punished.”
13. The Lord says, “By my own power, I make this promise: I promise that the city of Bozrah will be destroyed. It will become a ruined pile of rocks. People will use it as an example when they ask for bad things to happen to other cities. People will insult that city, and all the towns around Bozrah will become ruins forever.”
14. I heard a message from the Lord: He sent this messenger to the nations. This is the message: “Gather your armies together! Get ready for battle! March against the nation of Edom!
15. Edom, I will make you become unimportant. Everyone will hate you.
16. Edom, you made other nations afraid, so you thought you were important. But your pride has fooled you. You live in caves, high on the cliff. Your home is high in the hills. But even if you build your home as high as an eagle’s nest, I will bring you down from there.” This is what the Lord said.
17. “Edom will be destroyed. People will be shocked to see the destroyed cities. They will whistle from amazement at the destroyed cities.
18. Edom will be destroyed like Sodom and Gomorrah and the towns around them. No one will live there.” This is what the Lord said.
19. “Sometimes a lion will come from the thick bushes near the Jordan River. And it will go into the fields where people put their sheep and cattle. I am like that lion. I will go to Edom. And I will frighten the people and make them run away. None of their young men will stop me. No one is like me. No one will challenge me. None of their leaders will stand up against me.”
20. So listen to what the Lord has planned to do to the people of Edom. Listen to what he has decided to do to the people in Teman. The enemy will drag away the young kids of Edom’s flock. Edom’s pastures will be empty because of what they did.
21. At the sound of Edom’s fall, the earth will shake. Their cry will be heard all the way to the Red Sea.
22. Just as an eagle flies high to see the animal it will attack, so the Lord will spread his wings over Bozrah. And Edom’s soldiers will be filled with fear like a woman giving birth.