Jeremiah 49:23-39

This message is to the city of Damascus: “The towns of Hamath and Arpad are put to shame, because they have heard bad news. They are discouraged. They are troubled like the tossing sea. The city of Damascus has become weak. The people want to run away; they are ready to panic. The people feel pain and suffering, like a woman giving birth to a baby. Damascus was a city of my joy. Why have the people not left that famous city yet? Surely the young men will die in the city squares, and all her soldiers will be killed at that time,” says the LORD All-Powerful. “I will set fire to the walls of Damascus, and it will completely burn the strong cities of King Ben-Hadad.” This message is to the tribe of Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon defeated. This is what the LORD says: “Go and attack the people of Kedar, and destroy the people of the East. Their tents and flocks will be taken away. Their belongings will be carried off— their tents, all their goods, and their camels. Men will shout to them, ‘Terror on every side!’ “Run away quickly! People in Hazor, find a good place to hide!” says the LORD. “Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has made plans against you and wants to defeat you. “Get up! Attack the nation that is comfortable, that is sure no one will defeat it,” says the LORD. “It does not have gates or fences to protect it. Its people live alone. The enemy will steal their camels and their large herds of cattle as war prizes. I will scatter the people who cut their hair short to every part of the earth, and I will bring disaster on them from everywhere,” says the LORD. “The city of Hazor will become a home for wild dogs; it will be an empty desert forever. No one will live there, and no one will stay in it.” Soon after Zedekiah became king of Judah, the LORD spoke this word to Jeremiah the prophet. This message is to the nation of Elam. This is what the LORD All-Powerful says: “I will soon break Elam’s bow, its greatest strength. I will bring the four winds against Elam from the four corners of the skies. I will scatter its people everywhere the four winds blow; its captives will go to every nation. I will terrify Elam in front of their enemies, who want to destroy them. I will bring disaster to Elam and show them how angry I am!” says the LORD. “I will send a sword to chase Elam until I have killed them all. I will set up my throne in Elam to show that I am king, and I will destroy its king and its officers!” says the LORD. “But I will make good things happen to Elam again in the future,” says the LORD.