לִבְנֵ֣י עַמּ֗וֹן כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה הֲבָנִ֥ים אֵין֙ לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אִם־יוֹרֵ֖שׁ אֵ֣ין ל֑וֹ מַדּ֗וּעַ יָרַ֤שׁ מַלְכָּם֙ אֶת־גָּ֔ד וְעַמּ֖וֹ בְּעָרָ֥יו יָשָֽׁב׃ Concerning the Ammonites.
Thus said GOD:
Has Israel no sons,
Has he no heir?
Then why has MilcomaMilcom The name of the Ammonite deity; vocalized Malcam here and in v. 3. dispossessed Gad,
And why have his people settled in Gad’sbGad’s Heb. “his.” towns?
לָכֵ֡ן הִנֵּה֩ יָמִ֨ים בָּאִ֜ים נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֗ה וְ֠הִשְׁמַעְתִּ֠י אֶל־רַבַּ֨ת בְּנֵי־עַמּ֜וֹן תְּרוּעַ֣ת מִלְחָמָ֗ה וְהָֽיְתָה֙ לְתֵ֣ל שְׁמָמָ֔ה וּבְנֹתֶ֖יהָ בָּאֵ֣שׁ תִּצַּ֑תְנָה וְיָרַ֧שׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל אֶת־יֹרְשָׁ֖יו אָמַ֥ר יְהֹוָֽה׃ Assuredly, days are coming
—declares GOD—
When I will sound the alarm of war
Against Rabbah of the Ammonites;
It shall become a desolate mound,
And its villages shall be set on fire.
And Israel shall dispossess
Those who dispossessed him
—said GOD.
הֵילִ֨ילִי חֶשְׁבּ֜וֹן כִּ֣י שֻׁדְּדָה־עַ֗י צְעַ֘קְנָה֮ בְּנ֣וֹת רַבָּה֒ חֲגֹ֣רְנָה שַׂקִּ֔ים סְפֹ֕דְנָה וְהִתְשׁוֹטַ֖טְנָה בַּגְּדֵר֑וֹת כִּ֤י מַלְכָּם֙ בַּגּוֹלָ֣ה יֵלֵ֔ךְ כֹּהֲנָ֥יו וְשָׂרָ֖יו יַחְדָּֽיו׃ Howl, O Heshbon, for Ai is ravaged!
Cry out, O daughters of Rabbah!
Gird on sackcloth, lament,
And run to and fro in the sheepfolds.cAnd run to and fro in the sheepfolds Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
For Milcom shall go into exile,
Together with his priests and attendants.
מַה־תִּתְהַֽלְלִי֙ בָּעֲמָקִ֔ים זָ֣ב עִמְקֵ֔ךְ הַבַּ֖ת הַשּׁוֹבֵבָ֑ה הַבֹּֽטְחָה֙ בְּאֹ֣צְרֹתֶ֔יהָ מִ֖י יָב֥וֹא אֵלָֽי׃ Why do you glory in strength,
Your strength is drained,dWhy … drained Meaning of Heb. uncertain; for “strength” cf. Akkadian emuqu.
O rebellious daughter,
You who relied on your treasures,
[Who said:] Who dares attack me?
הִנְנִי֩ מֵבִ֨יא עָלַ֜יִךְ פַּ֗חַד נְאֻם־אֲדֹנָ֧י יֱהֹוִ֛ה צְבָא֖וֹת מִכׇּל־סְבִיבָ֑יִךְ וְנִדַּחְתֶּם֙ אִ֣ישׁ לְפָנָ֔יו וְאֵ֥ין מְקַבֵּ֖ץ לַנֹּדֵֽד׃ I am bringing terror upon you
—declares my Sovereign GOD of Hosts—
From all those around you.
Every one of you shall be driven in every direction,ein every direction Lit. “straight ahead.”
And none shall gather in the fugitives.
וְאַחֲרֵי־כֵ֗ן אָשִׁ֛יב אֶת־שְׁב֥וּת בְּנֵֽי־עַמּ֖וֹן נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ {פ}
But afterward I will restore the fortunes of the Ammonites—declares GOD.
לֶאֱד֗וֹם כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת הַאֵ֥ין ע֛וֹד חׇכְמָ֖ה בְּתֵימָ֑ן אָבְדָ֤ה עֵצָה֙ מִבָּנִ֔ים נִסְרְחָ֖ה חׇכְמָתָֽם׃ Concerning Edom.
Thus said GOD of Hosts:
Is there no more wisdom in Teman?
Has counsel vanished from the prudent?
Has their wisdom gone stale?
נֻ֤סוּ הׇפְנוּ֙ הֶעְמִ֣יקוּ לָשֶׁ֔בֶת יֹשְׁבֵ֖י דְּדָ֑ן כִּ֣י אֵ֥יד עֵשָׂ֛ו הֵבֵ֥אתִי עָלָ֖יו עֵ֥ת פְּקַדְתִּֽיו׃ Flee, turn away, sit down low,
O inhabitants of Dedan,
For I am bringing Esau’s doom upon him,
The time when I deal with him.
אִם־בֹּֽצְרִים֙ בָּ֣אוּ לָ֔ךְ לֹ֥א יַשְׁאִ֖רוּ עוֹלֵל֑וֹת אִם־גַּנָּבִ֥ים בַּלַּ֖יְלָה הִשְׁחִ֥יתוּ דַיָּֽם׃ If vintagers were to come upon you,
Would they leave no gleanings?
Even thieves in the night
Would destroy only for their needs!fIf vintagers were to come upon you, / Would they leave no gleanings? / Even thieves in the night / Would destroy only for their needs! Cf. Obad. 1.5: “If thieves were to come to you, / Marauders by night, / They would steal no more than they needed. / If vintagers came to you, / They would surely leave some gleanings.”
כִּֽי־אֲנִ֞י חָשַׂ֣פְתִּי אֶת־עֵשָׂ֗ו גִּלֵּ֙יתִי֙ אֶת־מִסְתָּרָ֔יו וְנֶחְבָּ֖ה לֹ֣א יוּכָ֑ל שֻׁדַּ֥ד זַרְע֛וֹ וְאֶחָ֥יו וּשְׁכֵנָ֖יו וְאֵינֶֽנּוּ׃ But it is I who have bared Esau,
Have exposed his place of concealment;
He cannot hide.
His offspring is ravaged,
His kin and his neighbors—
He is no more.gHe is no more Some Septuagint mss. read “And there is none to say.”
עׇזְבָ֥ה יְתֹמֶ֖יךָ אֲנִ֣י אֲחַיֶּ֑ה וְאַלְמְנוֹתֶ֖יךָ עָלַ֥י תִּבְטָֽחוּ׃ {ס} “Leave your orphans with me,
I will rear them;
Let your widows rely on me!”
כִּי־כֹ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה הִ֠נֵּ֠ה אֲשֶׁר־אֵ֨ין מִשְׁפָּטָ֜ם לִשְׁתּ֤וֹת הַכּוֹס֙ שָׁת֣וֹ יִשְׁתּ֔וּ וְאַתָּ֣ה ה֔וּא נָקֹ֖ה תִּנָּקֶ֑ה לֹ֣א תִנָּקֶ֔ה כִּ֥י שָׁתֹ֖ה תִּשְׁתֶּֽה׃ For thus said GOD: If they who rightly should not drink of the cup must drink it, are you the one to go unpunished? You shall not go unpunished: you will have to drink!
כִּ֣י בִ֤י נִשְׁבַּ֙עְתִּי֙ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֔ה כִּֽי־לְשַׁמָּ֧ה לְחֶרְפָּ֛ה לְחֹ֥רֶב וְלִקְלָלָ֖ה תִּהְיֶ֣ה בׇצְרָ֑ה וְכׇל־עָרֶ֥יהָ תִהְיֶ֖ינָה לְחׇרְב֥וֹת עוֹלָֽם׃ For by Myself I swear—declares GOD—Bozrah shall become a desolation, a mockery, a ruin, and a curse;ha curse Cf. note at 24.9 and 42.18. and all its towns shall be ruins for all time.
שְׁמוּעָ֤ה שָׁמַ֙עְתִּי֙ מֵאֵ֣ת יְהֹוָ֔ה וְצִ֖יר בַּגּוֹיִ֣ם שָׁל֑וּחַ הִֽתְקַבְּצוּ֙ וּבֹ֣אוּ עָלֶ֔יהָ וְק֖וּמוּ לַמִּלְחָמָֽה׃ I have received tidings from GOD,
And an envoy is sent out among the nations:
Assemble, and move against her,
And rise up for war!
כִּֽי־הִנֵּ֥ה קָטֹ֛ן נְתַתִּ֖יךָ בַּגּוֹיִ֑ם בָּז֖וּי בָּאָדָֽם׃ For I will make you least among nations,
Most despised among humankind.
תִּֽפְלַצְתְּךָ֞ הִשִּׁ֤יא אֹתָךְ֙ זְד֣וֹן לִבֶּ֔ךָ שֹֽׁכְנִי֙ בְּחַגְוֵ֣י הַסֶּ֔לַע תֹּפְשִׂ֖י מְר֣וֹם גִּבְעָ֑ה כִּֽי־תַגְבִּ֤יהַּ כַּנֶּ֙שֶׁר֙ קִנֶּ֔ךָ מִשָּׁ֥ם אוֹרִֽידְךָ֖ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ Your horrible nature,iYour horrible nature Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
Your arrogant heart has seduced you,
You who dwell in clefts of the rock,
Who occupy the height of the hill!
Should you nest as high as the eagle,
From there I will pull you down
—declares GOD.
וְהָיְתָ֥ה אֱד֖וֹם לְשַׁמָּ֑ה כֹּ֚ל עֹבֵ֣ר עָלֶ֔יהָ יִשֹּׁ֥ם וְיִשְׁרֹ֖ק עַל־כׇּל־מַכּוֹתֶֽהָ׃ And Edom shall be a cause of appallment; whoever passes by will be appalled and will hissjhiss Cf. note at 18.16. at all its wounds.
כְּֽמַהְפֵּכַ֞ת סְדֹ֧ם וַעֲמֹרָ֛ה וּשְׁכֵנֶ֖יהָ אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֑ה לֹא־יֵשֵׁ֥ב שָׁם֙ אִ֔ישׁ וְלֹא־יָג֥וּר בָּ֖הּ בֶּן־אָדָֽם׃ It shall be like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighbors—said GOD: nobody shall live there, no human shall sojourn there.
הִ֠נֵּ֠ה כְּאַרְיֵ֞ה יַעֲלֶ֨ה מִגְּא֣וֹן הַיַּרְדֵּן֮ אֶל־נְוֵ֣ה אֵיתָן֒ כִּֽי־אַרְגִּ֤יעָה אֲרִיצֶ֙נּוּ֙ מֵעָלֶ֔יהָ וּמִ֥י בָח֖וּר אֵלֶ֣יהָ אֶפְקֹ֑ד כִּ֣י מִ֤י כָמ֙וֹנִי֙ וּמִ֣י יֹעִידֶ֔נִּי וּמִי־זֶ֣ה רֹעֶ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר יַעֲמֹ֖ד לְפָנָֽי׃ {ס} It shall be as when a lion comes up out of the jungle of the Jordan against a secure pasture: in a moment I can harry him out of it and appoint over it anyone I choose.kI can harry him out of it and appoint over it anyone I choose Emendation yields “he can harry them [i.e., the sheep] out of it; and what champion could one place in charge of them?” Then who is like Me? Who can summon Me? Who is the shepherd that can stand up against Me?
לָכֵ֞ן שִׁמְע֣וּ עֲצַת־יְהֹוָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר יָעַץ֙ אֶל־אֱד֔וֹם וּמַ֨חְשְׁבוֹתָ֔יו אֲשֶׁ֥ר חָשַׁ֖ב אֶל־יֹשְׁבֵ֣י תֵימָ֑ן אִם־ל֤וֹא יִסְחָבוּם֙ צְעִירֵ֣י הַצֹּ֔אן אִם־לֹ֥א יַשִּׁ֛ים עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם נְוֵהֶֽם׃ Hear, then, the plan that GOD has devised against Edom, and what has been purposed against the inhabitants of Teman:
Surely the shepherd boys
Shall drag them away;
Surely the pasture shall be
Aghast because of them.
מִקּ֣וֹל נִפְלָ֔ם רָעֲשָׁ֖ה הָאָ֑רֶץ צְעָקָ֕ה בְּיַם־ס֖וּף נִשְׁמַ֥ע קוֹלָֽהּ׃ At the sound of their downfall
The earth shall shake;
The sound of screaming
Shall be heard at the Sea of Reeds.
הִנֵּ֤ה כַנֶּ֙שֶׁר֙ יַעֲלֶ֣ה וְיִדְאֶ֔ה וְיִפְרֹ֥שׂ כְּנָפָ֖יו עַל־בׇּצְרָ֑ה וְֽ֠הָיָ֠ה לֵ֞ב גִּבּוֹרֵ֤י אֱדוֹם֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא כְּלֵ֖ב אִשָּׁ֥ה מְצֵרָֽה׃ {פ}
See, like an eagle he flies up,
He soars and spreads his wings against Bozrah;
And the heart of Edom’s warriors in that day
Shall be like the heart of a woman in travail.
לְדַמֶּ֗שֶׂק בּ֤וֹשָֽׁה חֲמָת֙ וְאַרְפָּ֔ד כִּֽי־שְׁמֻעָ֥ה רָעָ֛ה שָׁמְע֖וּ נָמֹ֑גוּ בַּיָּ֣ם דְּאָגָ֔ה הַשְׁקֵ֖ט לֹ֥א יוּכָֽל׃ Concerning Damascus.
Hamath and Arpad are shamed,
For they have heard bad news.
They shake with anxiety,
LikelLike So a few mss. Most mss. and editions read “In.” the sea that cannot rest.
רָפְתָ֥ה דַמֶּ֛שֶׂק הִפְנְתָ֥ה לָנ֖וּס וְרֶ֣טֶט ׀ הֶחֱזִ֑יקָה צָרָ֧ה וַחֲבָלִ֛ים אֲחָזַ֖תָּה כַּיּוֹלֵדָֽה׃ Damascus has grown weak,
She has turned around to flee;
Trembling has seized her,
Pain and anguish have taken hold of her,
Like a woman in childbirth.
אֵ֥יךְ לֹֽא־עֻזְּבָ֖ה עִ֣יר (תהלה) [תְּהִלָּ֑ת] קִרְיַ֖ת מְשׂוֹשִֽׂי׃ How has the glorious city not been deserted,mHow has the glorious city not been deserted Emendation yields “How has the glorious city been deserted”; so Vulgate.
The citadel of my joy!
לָכֵ֛ן יִפְּל֥וּ בַחוּרֶ֖יהָ בִּרְחֹבֹתֶ֑יהָ וְכׇל־אַנְשֵׁ֨י הַמִּלְחָמָ֤ה יִדַּ֙מּוּ֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא נְאֻ֖ם יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָאֽוֹת׃ Assuredly, her young men shall lie fallen in her squares.
And all her warriors shall be stilled in that day
—declares GOD of Hosts.
וְהִצַּ֥תִּי אֵ֖שׁ בְּחוֹמַ֣ת דַּמָּ֑שֶׂק וְאָכְלָ֖ה אַרְמְנ֥וֹת בֶּן־הֲדָֽד׃ {פ}
I will set fire to the wall of Damascus,
And it shall consume the fortresses of Ben-hadad.
לְקֵדָ֣ר ׀ וּֽלְמַמְלְכ֣וֹת חָצ֗וֹר אֲשֶׁ֤ר הִכָּה֙ (נבוכדראצור) [נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֣ר] מֶלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֔ל כֹּ֖ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֑ה ק֚וּמוּ עֲל֣וּ אֶל־קֵדָ֔ר וְשׇׁדְד֖וּ אֶת־בְּנֵי־קֶֽדֶם׃ Concerning Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor, which King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon conquered.
Thus said GOD:
Arise, march against Kedar,
And ravage the Kedemites!
אׇהֳלֵיהֶ֤ם וְצֹאנָם֙ יִקָּ֔חוּ יְרִיעוֹתֵיהֶ֧ם וְכׇל־כְּלֵיהֶ֛ם וּגְמַלֵּיהֶ֖ם יִשְׂא֣וּ לָהֶ֑ם וְקָרְא֧וּ עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם מָג֖וֹר מִסָּבִֽיב׃ They will take away their tents and their flocks,
Their tent cloths and all their gear;
They shall carry off their camels,
And shall proclaim against them:
Terror all around!
נֻ֩סוּ֩ נֻּ֨דוּ מְאֹ֜ד הֶעְמִ֧יקוּ לָשֶׁ֛בֶת יֹשְׁבֵ֥י חָצ֖וֹר נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה כִּֽי־יָעַ֨ץ עֲלֵיכֶ֜ם נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֤ר מֶלֶךְ־בָּבֶל֙ עֵצָ֔ה וְחָשַׁ֥ב (עליהם) [עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם] מַחֲשָׁבָֽה׃ Flee, wander far,
Sit down low, O inhabitants of Hazor
—says GOD.
For King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon
Has devised a plan against you
And formed a purpose against you:
ק֣וּמֽוּ עֲל֗וּ אֶל־גּ֥וֹי שְׁלֵ֛יו יוֹשֵׁ֥ב לָבֶ֖טַח נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה לֹא־דְלָתַ֧יִם וְלֹֽא־בְרִ֛יחַ ל֖וֹ בָּדָ֥ד יִשְׁכֹּֽנוּ׃ Rise up, attack a tranquil nation
That dwells secure
—says GOD—
That has no barred gates,
That dwells alone.
וְהָי֨וּ גְמַלֵּיהֶ֜ם לָבַ֗ז וַהֲמ֤וֹן מִקְנֵיהֶם֙ לְשָׁלָ֔ל וְזֵרִתִ֥ים לְכׇל־ר֖וּחַ קְצוּצֵ֣י פֵאָ֑ה וּמִכׇּל־עֲבָרָ֛יו אָבִ֥יא אֶת־אֵידָ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ Their camels shall become booty,
And their abundant flocks a spoil;
And I will scatter to every quarter
Those who have their hair clipped;
And from every direction I will bring
Disaster upon them
—says GOD.
וְהָיְתָ֨ה חָצ֜וֹר לִמְע֥וֹן תַּנִּ֛ים שְׁמָמָ֖ה עַד־עוֹלָ֑ם לֹא־יֵשֵׁ֥ב שָׁם֙ אִ֔ישׁ וְלֹא־יָג֥וּר בָּ֖הּ בֶּן־אָדָֽם׃ {ס} Hazor shall become a lair of jackals,
A desolation for all time.
No one shall live there,
No human shall sojourn there.
אֲשֶׁ֨ר הָיָ֧ה דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶל־יִרְמְיָ֥הוּ הַנָּבִ֖יא אֶל־עֵילָ֑ם בְּרֵאשִׁ֗ית מַלְכ֛וּת צִדְקִיָּ֥ה מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֖ה לֵאמֹֽר׃ The word of GOD that came to the prophet Jeremiah concerning Elam, at the beginning of the reign of King Zedekiah of Judah:
כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת הִנְנִ֥י שֹׁבֵ֖ר אֶת־קֶ֣שֶׁת עֵילָ֑ם רֵאשִׁ֖ית גְּבוּרָתָֽם׃ Thus said GOD of Hosts: I am going to break the bow of Elam, the mainstay of their strength.
וְהֵבֵאתִ֨י אֶל־עֵילָ֜ם אַרְבַּ֣ע רוּח֗וֹת מֵֽאַרְבַּע֙ קְצ֣וֹת הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וְזֵ֣רִתִ֔ים לְכֹ֖ל הָרֻח֣וֹת הָאֵ֑לֶּה וְלֹא־יִהְיֶ֣ה הַגּ֔וֹי אֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹא־יָב֥וֹא שָׁ֖ם נִדְּחֵ֥י (עולם) [עֵילָֽם]׃ And I shall bring four winds against Elam from the four quarters of heaven, and scatter them to all those winds. There shall not be a nation to which the fugitives from Elam do not come.
וְהַחְתַּתִּ֣י אֶת־עֵ֠ילָ֠ם לִפְנֵ֨י אֹיְבֵיהֶ֜ם וְלִפְנֵ֣י ׀ מְבַקְשֵׁ֣י נַפְשָׁ֗ם וְהֵבֵאתִ֨י עֲלֵיהֶ֧ם ׀ רָעָ֛ה אֶת־חֲר֥וֹן אַפִּ֖י נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה וְשִׁלַּחְתִּ֤י אַחֲרֵיהֶם֙ אֶת־הַחֶ֔רֶב עַ֥ד כַּלּוֹתִ֖י אוֹתָֽם׃ And I will break Elam before their enemies, before those who seek their lives; and I will bring disaster upon them, My flaming wrath—declares GOD. And I will dispatch the sword after them until I have consumed them.
וְשַׂמְתִּ֥י כִסְאִ֖י בְּעֵילָ֑ם וְהַאֲבַדְתִּ֥י מִשָּׁ֛ם מֶ֥לֶךְ וְשָׂרִ֖ים נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ And I will set My throne in Elam,
And wipe out from there king and officials
—says GOD.
וְהָיָ֣ה ׀ בְּאַחֲרִ֣ית הַיָּמִ֗ים (אשוב) [אָשִׁ֛יב] אֶת־[שְׁב֥וּת] (שבית) עֵילָ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ {פ}
But in the days to come I will restore the fortunes of Elam—declares GOD.