Jeremiah 49 :: New Living Translation (NLT)

A Message about Ammon

Jer 49:1This message was given concerning the Ammonites. This is what the LORD says:
“Are there no descendants of Israel
to inherit the land of Gad?
Why are you, who worship Molech,[fn]
living in its towns?

Jer 49:2

Jer 49:2In the days to come,” says the LORD,
“I will sound the battle cry against your city of Rabbah.
It will become a desolate heap of ruins,
and the neighboring towns will be burned.
Then Israel will take back the land
you took from her,” says the LORD.

Jer 49:3

Jer 49:3“Cry out, O Heshbon,
for the town of Ai is destroyed.
Weep, O people of Rabbah!
Put on your clothes of mourning.
Weep and wail, hiding in the hedges,
for your god Molech, with his priests and officials,
will be hauled off to distant lands.

Jer 49:4

Jer 49:4You are proud of your fertile valleys,
but they will soon be ruined.
You trusted in your wealth,
you rebellious daughter,
and thought no one could ever harm you.

Jer 49:5

Jer 49:5But look! I will bring terror upon you,”
says the Lord, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.
“Your neighbors will chase you from your land,
and no one will help your exiles as they flee.

Jer 49:6

Jer 49:6But I will restore the fortunes of the Ammonites
in days to come.
I, the LORD, have spoken.”

Messages about Edom

Jer 49:7

Jer 49:7This message was given concerning Edom. This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says:
“Is there no wisdom in Teman?
Is no one left to give wise counsel?

Jer 49:8

Jer 49:8Turn and flee!
Hide in deep caves, you people of Dedan!
For when I bring disaster on Edom,[fn]
I will punish you, too!

Jer 49:9

Jer 49:9Those who harvest grapes
always leave a few for the poor.
If thieves came at night,
they would not take everything.

Jer 49:10

Jer 49:10But I will strip bare the land of Edom,
and there will be no place left to hide.
Its children, its brothers, and its neighbors
will all be destroyed,
and Edom itself will be no more.

Jer 49:11

Jer 49:11But I will protect the orphans who remain among you.
Your widows, too, can depend on me for help.”

Jer 49:12

Jer 49:12And this is what the LORD says: “If the innocent must suffer, how much more must you! You will not go unpunished! You must drink this cup of judgment!

Jer 49:13

Jer 49:13For I have sworn by my own name,” says the LORD, “that Bozrah will become an object of horror and a heap of ruins; it will be mocked and cursed. All its towns and villages will be desolate forever.”

Jer 49:14

Jer 49:14I have heard a message from the LORD
that an ambassador was sent to the nations to say,
“Form a coalition against Edom,
and prepare for battle!”

Jer 49:15

Jer 49:15The LORD says to Edom,
“I will cut you down to size among the nations.
You will be despised by all.

Jer 49:16

Jer 49:16You have been deceived
by the fear you inspire in others
and by your own pride.
You live in a rock fortress
and control the mountain heights.
But even if you make your nest among the peaks with the eagles,
I will bring you crashing down,”
says the LORD.

Jer 49:17

Jer 49:17“Edom will be an object of horror.
All who pass by will be appalled
and will gasp at the destruction they see there.

Jer 49:18

Jer 49:18It will be like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah
and their neighboring towns,” says the LORD.
“No one will live there;
no one will inhabit it.

Jer 49:19

Jer 49:19I will come like a lion from the thickets of the Jordan,
leaping on the sheep in the pasture.
I will chase Edom from its land,
and I will appoint the leader of my choice.
For who is like me, and who can challenge me?
What ruler can oppose my will?”

Jer 49:20

Jer 49:20Listen to the LORD’s plans against Edom
and the people of Teman.
Even the little children will be dragged off like sheep,
and their homes will be destroyed.

Jer 49:21

Jer 49:21The earth will shake with the noise of Edom’s fall,
and its cry of despair will be heard all the way to the Red Sea.[fn]

Jer 49:22

Jer 49:22Look! The enemy swoops down like an eagle,
spreading his wings over Bozrah.
Even the mightiest warriors will be in anguish
like a woman in labor.

A Message about Damascus

Jer 49:23

Jer 49:23This message was given concerning Damascus. This is what the LORD says:
“The towns of Hamath and Arpad are struck with fear,
for they have heard the news of their destruction.
Their hearts are troubled
like a wild sea in a raging storm.

Jer 49:24

Jer 49:24Damascus has become feeble,
and all her people turn to flee.
Fear, anguish, and pain have gripped her
as they grip a woman in labor.

Jer 49:25

Jer 49:25That famous city, a city of joy,
will be forsaken!

Jer 49:26

Jer 49:26Her young men will fall in the streets and die.
Her soldiers will all be killed,”
says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.

Jer 49:27

Jer 49:27“And I will set fire to the walls of Damascus
that will burn up the palaces of Ben-hadad.”

A Message about Kedar and Hazor

Jer 49:28

Jer 49:28This message was given concerning Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor, which were attacked by King Nebuchadnezzar[fn] of Babylon. This is what the LORD says:
“Advance against Kedar!
Destroy the warriors from the East!

Jer 49:29

Jer 49:29Their flocks and tents will be captured,
and their household goods and camels will be taken away.
Everywhere shouts of panic will be heard:
‘We are terrorized at every turn!’

Jer 49:30

Jer 49:30Run for your lives,” says the LORD.
“Hide yourselves in deep caves, you people of Hazor,
for King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon has plotted against you
and is preparing to destroy you.

Jer 49:31

Jer 49:31“Go up and attack that complacent nation,”
says the LORD.
“Its people live alone in the desert
without walls or gates.

Jer 49:32

Jer 49:32Their camels and other livestock will all be yours.
I will scatter to the winds these people
who live in remote places.[fn]
I will bring calamity upon them
from every direction,” says the LORD.

Jer 49:33

Jer 49:33“Hazor will be inhabited by jackals,
and it will be desolate forever.
No one will live there;
no one will inhabit it.”

A Message about Elam

Jer 49:34

Jer 49:34This message concerning Elam came to the prophet Jeremiah from the LORD at the beginning of the reign of King Zedekiah of Judah.

Jer 49:35

Jer 49:35This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says:
“I will destroy the archers of Elam—
the best of their forces.

Jer 49:36

Jer 49:36I will bring enemies from all directions,
and I will scatter the people of Elam to the four winds.
They will be exiled to countries around the world.

Jer 49:37

Jer 49:37I myself will go with Elam’s enemies to shatter it.
In my fierce anger, I will bring great disaster
upon the people of Elam,” says the LORD.
“Their enemies will chase them with the sword
until I have destroyed them completely.

Jer 49:38

Jer 49:38I will set my throne in Elam,” says the LORD,
“and I will destroy its king and officials.

Jer 49:39

Jer 49:39But I will restore the fortunes of Elam
in days to come.
I, the LORD, have spoken!”