1. A prophecy against Damascus:‘See, Damascus will no longer be a citybut will become a heap of ruins.
2. The cities of Aroer will be desertedand left to flocks, which will lie down,with no one to make them afraid.
3. The fortified city will disappear from Ephraim,and royal power from Damascus;the remnant of Aram will belike the glory of the Israelites,’declares the Lord Almighty.
4. ‘In that day the glory of Jacob will fade;the fat of his body will waste away.
5. It will be as when reapers harvest the standing corn,gathering the corn in their arms –as when someone gleans ears of cornin the Valley of Rephaim.
6. Yet some gleanings will remain,as when an olive tree is beaten,leaving two or three olives on the topmost branches,four or five on the fruitful boughs,’declares the Lord, the God of Israel.
7. In that day people will look to their Makerand turn their eyes to the Holy One of Israel.
8. They will not look to the altars,the work of their hands,and they will have no regard for the Asherah polesand the incense altars their fingers have made.
9. In that day their strong cities, which they left because of the Israelites, will be like places abandoned to thickets and undergrowth. And all will be desolation.