1Det følgende budskab fra Herren drejer sig om Ammons folk: „Hør her, I, der tilbeder afguden Milkom,[1] hvorfor har I overtaget Gads område og bosat jer i deres byer? Er der måske ikke judæiske efterkommere nok til at genbefolke det land, som de fik i arv af mig?2I skal få jeres straf, erklærer Herren, for jeg vil sende en hær imod jeres hovedstad Rabba. Den skal forvandles til en ruinbunke, og de omliggende byer skal brændes ned. Så kan Israels folk tage det land tilbage, som I tog fra dem, siger Herren.3Råb højt af sorg, Heshbon, for Aj ligger i ruiner. Græd, Rabbas indbyggere. Klæd jer i sørgedragt, klag og græd. Løb omkring i fortvivlelse og slå jer selv til blods.[2] Milkom bliver sendt i eksil sammen med sine præster og stormænd.4I praler af jeres frugtbare dale, men I mister dem snart. I er et oprørsk folk, der stoler på jeres egen magt og rigdom og mener, at ingen tør angribe jer. Men I kan godt holde op med at prale af jeres magt, for den er ved at løbe ud i sandet.5Jeg sender ulykke over jer fra alle sider, siger Herren, den Almægtige. I bliver spredt for alle vinde, og ingen vil komme flygtningene til hjælp.6Men engang i fremtiden vil jeg genoprejse Ammons folk,” siger Herren.
Profeti imod Edom
7Hør, hvad Herren, den Almægtige, siger til Edom: „Hvad er der blevet af alle dine vismænd? Er der ingen rådgivere tilbage i Teman?8Dedans indbyggere,[3] løb væk og skjul jer, for når jeg straffer Esaus land, går det også ud over jer.9Når man høster druer, efterlader man nogle til de fattige. Selv tyveknægte nøjes med at tage det, de kan bruge.10-11Men når jeg straffer Edom, ribber jeg landet for alt. Jeg afslører alle deres skjulesteder, så de ikke kan gemme sig. Jeg vil skåne de forældreløse og enkerne. De kan trygt stole på mig. Men alle andre vil blive udryddet, så ingen længere har børn, familie eller naboer.”12Herren siger til Edom: „Når selv de uskyldige lider, hvor meget mere må så ikke de skyldige lide? Du må tage din straf og tømme vredens bæger.13Jeg lover højtideligt, at Botzra skal blive til en ruinbunke, man forbander og forhåner, og samme skæbne skal ramme de omliggende landsbyer.”14Herren har fortalt mig, at der er sendt bud ud til nationerne om at danne et forbund og rykke ud mod Edom.15Herren sagde: „Edom, jeg gør dig til et svagt land, der bliver foragtet af alle.16Det, at andre lande frygter dig, er gået dig til hovedet. Din stolthed har bedraget dig. Du har ry for at være uovervindelig, fordi du holder til i klippehuler og bor i bjergene. Men selvom du bygger din rede højt oppe som ørnen, vil jeg styrte dig ned i dybet.17En frygtelig skæbne skal overgå dig, Edom. Alle der går forbi, vil standse op og gispe ved synet.18Du bliver udslettet og gjort ubeboelig som Sodoma og Gomorra og de omliggende småbyer, siger Herren.19Som en løve, der springer ud fra Jordanflodens vildnis og jager fårene væk i alle retninger, vil jeg i et nu jage edomitterne bort fra landet og udpege den leder, jeg har valgt. Hvem kan måle sig med mig? Hvem tør kræve mig til regnskab? Hvilken fyrste kan modsætte sig mine planer?20Hør da min plan for Edoms land og Temans indbyggere: Selv børnene slæbes væk, og landet bliver lagt øde.21Hele verden vil skælve ved nyheden om Edoms fald. Folkets dødsskrig høres så langt som til Det Røde Hav.22Fjenden kredser over Botzra som en ørn, klar til at slå ned på dem. Selv den tapreste kriger ryster af skræk som en fødende kvinde.”
Profeti imod Damaskus
23Om Damaskus siger Herren: „Byerne Hamat og Arpad er rædselsslagne, for de har hørt om den kommende ødelæggelse. Deres indre er som et oprørt hav i en orkan.24Damaskus mister modet, indbyggerne flygter. Byen er slået af rædsel som en fødende kvinde.25Ak, du berømte by, du glædens by, du bliver øde og forladt.26Dine unge mænd bliver dræbt i gaderne, hele din hær bliver slået på den dag, siger Herren, den Almægtige.27Jeg sætter ild til Damaskus’ bymur, og ilden vil fortære kong Ben-Hadads paladser.”
Profeti imod Kedar og Hatzor
28Følgende budskab angår beduinstammen Kedar og de, der bor i Hatzor[4] området, som kong Nebukadnezar senere tilintetgjorde. Herren siger: „Ryk ud imod Kedar, Nebukadnezars hær. Udryd krigerne mod øst.29Deres får, geder og telte bliver taget som bytte, alle deres tæpper, redskaber og kameler ligeså. Overalt er der panik, og folk råber højt af skræk.30Flygt for livet, siger Herren til dem, der bor i Hatzors område, gem jer, så godt I kan, for kong Nebukadnezar af Babylonien har planer om at udrydde jer.”31Herren siger til kong Nebukadnezar: „Gå til angreb på disse selvtilfredse beduinstammer, der bor alene og sorgløse i ørkenen uden mure og porte til at beskytte sig med.32Tag deres kameler og kvæg. Jeg sender ulykke over dem fra alle sider og spreder dem for alle vinde.33Hatzor bliver ødelagt, så ingen nogen sinde vil bo der igen, bortset fra ørkenens sjakaler.”
Profeti imod Elam
34Det følgende budskab om Elam gav Herren mig kort efter, at Zidkija var blevet konge i Juda.35Herren, den Almægtige siger: „Jeg vil tilintetgøre Elams[5] berømte bueskytter, som har givet dem mange sejre,36og bringe fjender over dem fra alle sider, så de spredes for alle vinde. De bliver ført i fangenskab ud over hele verden.37Jeg vil sørge for, at Elam gribes af frygt for deres fjender. Min brændende vrede vil bringe ulykke over dem, siger Herren. Jeg sender en hær imod dem, som helt vil rasere deres land.38Jeg overtager magten i Elams rige, siger Herren, og styrter deres konge og stormænd.39Men engang i fremtiden vil jeg genoprejse Elams folk.”
1Concerning the Ammonites. Thus says the Lord: “Has Israel no sons? Has he no heir? Why then has Milcom[1] dispossessed Gad, and his people settled in its cities? (1.Kong 11,5; 1.Kong 11,33; 2.Kong 23,13; Jer 25,21; Ez 21,28; Ez 25,2; Amos 1,13)2Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will cause the battle cry to be heard against Rabbah of the Ammonites; it shall become a desolate mound, and its villages shall be burned with fire; then Israel shall dispossess those who dispossessed him, says the Lord. (Jer 4,19; Jer 30,18; Ez 21,20; Ez 25,5; Amos 1,14)3“Wail, O Heshbon, for Ai is laid waste! Cry out, O daughters of Rabbah! Put on sackcloth, lament, and run to and fro among the hedges! For Milcom shall go into exile, with his priests and his officials. (1.Kong 11,5; 1.Kong 11,33; 2.Kong 23,13; Jer 4,8; Jer 48,2; Jer 48,7; Jer 48,37; Jer 49,2)4Why do you boast of your valleys,[2] O faithless daughter, who trusted in her treasures, saying, ‘Who will come against me?’ (Jer 3,14; Jer 48,7)5Behold, I will bring terror upon you, declares the Lord God of hosts, from all who are around you, and you shall be driven out, every man straight before him, with none to gather the fugitives. (Jer 48,43)6“But afterward I will restore the fortunes of the Ammonites, declares the Lord.” (Jer 48,47; Jer 49,39)
Judgment on Edom
7Concerning Edom. Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Is wisdom no more in Teman? Has counsel perished from the prudent? Has their wisdom vanished? (Es 19,11; Es 34,5; Jer 25,21; Jer 49,20; Ez 25,12; Amos 1,11; Ob 1,1; Ob 1,9; Mal 1,2)8Flee, turn back, dwell in the depths, O inhabitants of Dedan! For I will bring the calamity of Esau upon him, the time when I punish him. (1.Mos 25,3; Jer 25,23; Jer 46,21; Jer 49,30; Jer 50,27; Jer 50,31)9If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave gleanings? If thieves came by night, would they not destroy only enough for themselves? (Dom 8,2; Ob 1,5)10But I have stripped Esau bare; I have uncovered his hiding places, and he is not able to conceal himself. His children are destroyed, and his brothers, and his neighbors; and he is no more. (Es 17,14; Jer 31,15; Jer 49,9; Mal 1,3)11Leave your fatherless children; I will keep them alive; and let your widows trust in me.” (Salm 10,14; Salm 10,18; Salm 68,5)12For thus says the Lord: “If those who did not deserve to drink the cup must drink it, will you go unpunished? You shall not go unpunished, but you must drink. (Jer 25,28; Jer 25,29; Ob 1,16)13For I have sworn by myself, declares the Lord, that Bozrah shall become a horror, a taunt, a waste, and a curse, and all her cities shall be perpetual wastes.” (Jer 22,5; Jer 24,9; Jer 48,24; Jer 49,22)14I have heard a message from the Lord, and an envoy has been sent among the nations: “Gather yourselves together and come against her, and rise up for battle! (Es 13,4; Ob 1,1)15For behold, I will make you small among the nations, despised among mankind.16The horror you inspire has deceived you, and the pride of your heart, you who live in the clefts of the rock,[3] who hold the height of the hill. Though you make your nest as high as the eagle’s, I will bring you down from there, declares the Lord. (Jer 48,28)17“Edom shall become a horror. Everyone who passes by it will be horrified and will hiss because of all its disasters. (Jer 50,13; Ez 35,3; Ez 35,7; Ez 35,9)18As when Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring cities were overthrown, says the Lord, no man shall dwell there, no man shall sojourn in her. (5.Mos 29,23; Es 13,19; Jer 49,33)19Behold, like a lion coming up from the jungle of the Jordan against a perennial pasture, I will suddenly make him[4] run away from her. And I will appoint over her whomever I choose. For who is like me? Who will summon me? What shepherd can stand before me? (Job 9,19; Jer 4,7; Jer 10,6; Jer 12,5; Jer 30,21; Jer 50,44)20Therefore hear the plan that the Lord has made against Edom and the purposes that he has formed against the inhabitants of Teman: Even the little ones of the flock shall be dragged away. Surely their fold shall be appalled at their fate. (Jer 49,7; Jer 50,45; Ez 35,3; Ez 35,7; Ez 35,9)21At the sound of their fall the earth shall tremble; the sound of their cry shall be heard at the Red Sea. (Jer 8,16; Jer 50,46; Ez 26,15)22Behold, one shall mount up and fly swiftly like an eagle and spread his wings against Bozrah, and the heart of the warriors of Edom shall be in that day like the heart of a woman in her birth pains.” (Jer 6,24; Jer 48,40; Jer 49,13; Jer 49,24)
Judgment on Damascus
23Concerning Damascus: “Hamath and Arpad are confounded, for they have heard bad news; they melt in fear, they are troubled like the sea that cannot be quiet. (1.Kong 8,65; 2.Kong 18,34; Es 17,1; Amos 1,3; Zak 9,2; Zak 9,4)24Damascus has become feeble, she turned to flee, and panic seized her; anguish and sorrows have taken hold of her, as of a woman in labor. (Jer 46,5; Jer 49,22; Jer 49,23)25How is the famous city not forsaken, the city of my joy? (Jer 33,9)26Therefore her young men shall fall in her squares, and all her soldiers shall be destroyed in that day, declares the Lord of hosts. (Jer 50,30)27And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, and it shall devour the strongholds of Ben-hadad.” (1.Kong 15,18; 1.Kong 20,1; 2.Kong 6,24; 2.Kong 8,7; 2.Kong 13,3; Jer 17,27; Jer 49,23)
Judgment on Kedar and Hazor
28Concerning Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon struck down. Thus says the Lord: “Rise up, advance against Kedar! Destroy the people of the east! (Dom 6,3; Es 11,14; Es 21,16; Es 60,7; Jer 49,14; Jer 49,31; Ez 25,4; Ez 25,10)29Their tents and their flocks shall be taken, their curtains and all their goods; their camels shall be led away from them, and men shall cry to them: ‘Terror on every side!’ (Salm 120,5; Høj 1,5; Jer 6,25)30Flee, wander far away, dwell in the depths, O inhabitants of Hazor! declares the Lord. For Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has made a plan against you and formed a purpose against you. (Jer 49,8)31“Rise up, advance against a nation at ease, that dwells securely, declares the Lord, that has no gates or bars, that dwells alone. (Job 16,12; Jer 49,28; Ez 38,8; Ez 38,11)32Their camels shall become plunder, their herds of livestock a spoil. I will scatter to every wind those who cut the corners of their hair, and I will bring their calamity from every side of them, declares the Lord. (Jer 9,26; Jer 49,36; Ez 38,12)33Hazor shall become a haunt of jackals, an everlasting waste; no man shall dwell there; no man shall sojourn in her.” (Jer 9,11; Jer 49,18)
Judgment on Elam
34The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning Elam, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah. (1.Mos 14,1; 2.Kong 24,17; Es 11,11; Es 21,2; Jer 25,25; Ez 32,24; Dan 8,2)35Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the mainstay of their might. (Es 22,6; Jer 49,34)36And I will bring upon Elam the four winds from the four quarters of heaven. And I will scatter them to all those winds, and there shall be no nation to which those driven out of Elam shall not come. (Jer 49,34)37I will terrify Elam before their enemies and before those who seek their life. I will bring disaster upon them, my fierce anger, declares the Lord. I will send the sword after them, until I have consumed them, (Jer 1,17; Jer 9,16; Jer 12,13; Jer 49,34)38and I will set my throne in Elam and destroy their king and officials, declares the Lord. (Jer 49,34)39“But in the latter days I will restore the fortunes of Elam, declares the Lord.” (Jer 48,47; Jer 49,34)