23. This message is about the city of Damascus:“The towns of Hamath and Arpad are put to shame.They are afraid because they have heard bad news.They are discouraged.They are troubled like the tossing sea.
24. The city of Damascus has become weak.The people want to run away.The people are ready to panic.The people feel pain and sufferinglike a woman having a baby.
25. Damascus was a city of my joy.Why have the people not left that famous city yet?
26. Surely the young men will die in the public squares of that city.All of her soldiers will be killed at that time,” says the Lord of heaven’s armies.
27. “I will set fire to the walls of Damascus.The fire will completely burn the strong cities of Ben-Hadad.”
28. This message is about the tribe of Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor. Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon defeated them. This is what the Lord says:“Go and attack the people of Kedar.Destroy the people of the East.
29. Their tents and flocks will be taken away.Their tents and all their things will be carried off.Their enemy will take away their goods and camels.Men will shout to them,‘Terror on every side!’
30. “Run away quickly!People in Hazor, find a good place to hide!” says the Lord.“Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has made plans against you.He has made plans to defeat you!
31. “There is a nation that is comfortable.It is sure that no one will defeat it,” says the Lord.“That nation does not have gates or fences to protect it.Its people live alone.Attack that nation!
32. The enemy will steal their camelsand their large herds of cattle.I will scatter the Arabs to every part of the earth.And I will bring disaster on them from everywhere,” says the Lord.
33. “Hazor will become a place where wild dogs live.It will become an empty desert forever.No one will live there.No man will stay in it.”
34. It was early in the time when Zedekiah was king of Judah. The Lord spoke this word to Jeremiah the prophet. This message is about the nation of Elam.
35. This is what the Lord of heaven’s armies says:“I will break Elam’s bow.I will break its strength.
36. I will bring the four winds against Elam.I will bring them from the four corners of the skies.I will scatter the people of Elam everywhere the four winds blow.And its captives will go to every nation.
37. I will break Elam to pieces in front of their enemies.The enemies want to destroy Elam.I will bring disaster to Elam.I will show them how angry I am!” says the Lord.“I will send a sword to chase Elam.It will chase them until I have killed them all.
38. I will show Elam that I am king.And I will destroy her king and her officers!” says the Lord.