Jeremiah 49 – NIRV & NIVUK

New International Reader’s Version

Jeremiah 49:1-39

A Message About Ammon

1Here is what the Lord says about the people of Ammon.

He says,

“Doesn’t Israel have any sons?

Doesn’t Israel have anyone

to take over the family property?

Then why has the god named Molek taken over Gad?

Why do those who worship him live in its towns?

2But a new day is coming,”

announces the Lord.

“At that time I will sound the battle cry.

I will sound it against Rabbah in the land of Ammon.

It will become a pile of broken-down buildings.

The villages around it will be set on fire.

Then Israel will drive out

those who drove her out,”

says the Lord.

3“Heshbon, weep for Ai! It is destroyed!

Cry out, you who live in Rabbah!

Put on the clothes of sadness and mourn.

Run here and there inside the walls.

Your god named Molek will be carried away.

So will its priests and officials.

4Why do you brag about your valleys?

You brag that they produce so many crops.

Ammon, you are an unfaithful country.

You trust in your riches. You say,

‘Who will attack me?’

5I will bring terror on you.

It will come from all those around you,”

announces the Lord. He is the Lord who rules over all.

“Every one of you will be driven away.

No one will bring back those who escape.

6“But after that, I will bless the people of Ammon

with great success again,”

announces the Lord.

A Message About Edom

7Here is what the Lord says about Edom.

The Lord who rules over all says,

“Isn’t there wisdom in the town of Teman anymore?

Can’t those who are wise give advice?

Has their wisdom disappeared completely?

8Turn around and run away, you who live in Dedan.

Hide in deep caves.

I will bring trouble on Esau’s family line.

I will do this at the time I punish them.

9Edom, suppose grape pickers came to harvest your vines.

They would still leave a few grapes.

Suppose robbers came at night.

They would steal only as much as they wanted.

10But I will strip everything away from Esau’s people.

I will uncover their hiding places.

They will not be able to hide anywhere.

Their army is destroyed.

Their friends and neighbors are destroyed.

So there is no one to say,

11‘Leave your children whose fathers have died.

I will keep them alive.

Your widows can also depend on me.’ ”

12The Lord says, “What if those who do not have to drink the cup must drink it anyway? Then shouldn’t you be punished? You will certainly be punished. You must drink the cup. 13I make a promise in my own name. Bozrah will be destroyed,” announces the Lord. “People will be shocked at it. They will say Bozrah is a shameful place. They will use its name as a curse. And all its towns will be destroyed forever.”

14I’ve heard a message from the Lord.

A messenger was sent to the nations. The Lord told him to say,

“Gather yourselves together to attack Edom!

Prepare for battle!”

15The Lord says to Edom, “I will make you weak among the nations.

They will hate you.

16You live in the safety of the rocks.

You live on top of the hills.

But the terror you stir up has now turned against you.

Your proud heart has tricked you.

You build your nest as high as an eagle does.

But I will bring you down from there,”

announces the Lord.

17“People of Edom,

all those who pass by you will be shocked.

They will make fun of you

because of all your wounds.

18Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed.

So were the towns that were near them,”

says the Lord.

“You will be just like them.

No one will live in your land.

No human beings will stay there.

19“I will be like a lion coming up

from the bushes by the Jordan River.

I will hunt in rich grasslands.

I will chase you from your land in an instant.

What nation will I choose to do this?

Which one will I appoint?

Is anyone like me?

Who would dare to argue with me?

What leader can stand against me?”

20So listen to what the Lord has planned

against the people of Edom.

Hear what he has planned against those who live in Teman.

Edom’s young people will be dragged away.

Their grasslands will be shocked at their fate.

21When the earth hears Edom fall, it will shake.

The people’s cries will be heard all the way to the Red Sea.

22Look! An enemy is coming.

It’s like an eagle diving down.

It will spread its wings over Bozrah.

At that time the hearts of Edom’s soldiers

will tremble in fear.

They’ll be like the heart of a woman having a baby.

A Message About Damascus

23Here is what the Lord says about Damascus. He says,

“The people of Hamath and Arpad are terrified.

They have heard bad news.

They have lost all hope.

They are troubled like the rolling sea.

24The people of Damascus have become weak.

They have turned to run away.

Panic has taken hold of them.

Suffering and pain have taken hold of them.

Their pain is like the pain of a woman having a baby.

25Why hasn’t the famous city been deserted?

It is the town I take delight in.

26You can be sure its young men will fall dead in the streets.

All its soldiers will be put to death at that time,”

announces the Lord who rules over all.

27“I will set the walls of Damascus on fire.

It will burn down the strong towers of King Ben-Hadad.”

A Message About Kedar and Hazor

28Here is what the Lord says about the people of Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor. Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, was planning to attack them.

The Lord says to the armies of Babylon,

“Prepare for battle. Attack Kedar.

Destroy the people of the east.

29Their tents and flocks will be taken away from them.

Their tents will be carried off.

All their goods and camels will be stolen.

People will shout to them,

‘There is terror on every side!’

30“Run away quickly!

You who live in Hazor, stay in deep caves,”

announces the Lord.

“Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon,

has made plans against you.

He has decided to attack you.

31“Armies of Babylon, prepare for battle.

Attack a nation that feels secure.

Its people do not have any worries,”

announces the Lord.

“That nation does not have gates or bars that lock them.

Its people live far from danger.

32Their camels will be stolen.

Their large herds will be taken away.

I will scatter to the winds those who are in places far away.

I will bring trouble on them from every side,”

announces the Lord.

33“Hazor will become a home for wild dogs.

It will be a dry and empty desert forever.

No one will live in that land.

No human beings will stay there.”

A Message About Elam

34A message from the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet. It was about Elam. It came shortly after Zedekiah became king of Judah.

35The Lord who rules over all said,

“Elam’s bow is the secret of its strength.

But I will break it.

36I will bring the four winds against Elam.

I will bring them from all four directions.

I will scatter Elam’s people to the four winds.

They will be taken away

to every nation on earth.

37I will use Elam’s enemies to smash them.

Those who want to kill them will kill them.

I will bring trouble on Elam’s people.

My anger will be great against them,”

announces the Lord.

“I will chase them with swords.

I will hunt them down

until I have destroyed them.

38I will set up my throne in Elam.

I will destroy its king and officials,”

announces the Lord.

39“But in days to come I will bless Elam

with great success again,”

announces the Lord.

New International Version – UK

Jeremiah 49:1-39

A message about Ammon

1Concerning the Ammonites:

This is what the Lord says:

‘Has Israel no sons?

Has Israel no heir?

Why then has Molek49:1 Or their king; also in verse 3 taken possession of Gad?

Why do his people live in its towns?

2But the days are coming,’ declares the Lord,

‘when I will sound the battle cry

against Rabbah of the Ammonites;

it will become a mound of ruins,

and its surrounding villages will be set on fire.

Then Israel will drive out

those who drove her out,’

says the Lord.

3‘Wail, Heshbon, for Ai is destroyed!

Cry out, you inhabitants of Rabbah!

Put on sackcloth and mourn;

rush here and there inside the walls,

for Molek will go into exile,

together with his priests and officials.

4Why do you boast of your valleys,

boast of your valleys so fruitful?

Unfaithful Daughter Ammon,

you trust in your riches and say,

“Who will attack me?”

5I will bring terror on you

from all those around you,’

declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty.

‘Every one of you will be driven away,

and no-one will gather the fugitives.

6‘Yet afterwards, I will restore the fortunes of the Ammonites,’

declares the Lord.

A message about Edom

7Concerning Edom:

This is what the Lord Almighty says:

‘Is there no longer wisdom in Teman?

Has counsel perished from the prudent?

Has their wisdom decayed?

8Turn and flee, hide in deep caves,

you who live in Dedan,

for I will bring disaster on Esau

at the time when I punish him.

9If grape pickers came to you,

would they not leave a few grapes?

If thieves came during the night,

would they not steal only as much as they wanted?

10But I will strip Esau bare;

I will uncover his hiding-places,

so that he cannot conceal himself.

His armed men are destroyed,

also his allies and neighbours,

so there is no-one to say,

11“Leave your fatherless children; I will keep them alive.

Your widows too can depend on me.” ’

12This is what the Lord says: ‘If those who do not deserve to drink the cup must drink it, why should you go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, but must drink it. 13I swear by myself,’ declares the Lord, ‘that Bozrah will become a ruin and a curse,49:13 That is, its name will be used in cursing (see 29:22); or, others will see that it is cursed. an object of horror and reproach; and all its towns will be in ruins for ever.’

14I have heard a message from the Lord;

an envoy was sent to the nations to say,

‘Assemble yourselves to attack it!

Rise up for battle!’

15‘Now I will make you small among the nations,

despised by mankind.

16The terror you inspire

and the pride of your heart have deceived you,

you who live in the clefts of the rocks,

who occupy the heights of the hill.

Though you build your nest as high as the eagle’s,

from there I will bring you down,’

declares the Lord.

17‘Edom will become an object of horror;

all who pass by will be appalled and will scoff

because of all its wounds.

18As Sodom and Gomorrah were overthrown,

along with their neighbouring towns,’ says the Lord,

‘so no-one will live there;

no people will dwell in it.

19‘Like a lion coming up from Jordan’s thickets

to a rich pasture-land,

I will chase Edom from its land in an instant.

Who is the chosen one I will appoint for this?

Who is like me and who can challenge me?

And what shepherd can stand against me?’

20Therefore, hear what the Lord has planned against Edom,

what he has purposed against those who live in Teman:

the young of the flock will be dragged away;

their pasture will be appalled at their fate.

21At the sound of their fall the earth will tremble;

their cry will resound to the Red Sea.49:21 Or the Sea of Reeds

22Look! An eagle will soar and swoop down,

spreading its wings over Bozrah.

In that day the hearts of Edom’s warriors

will be like the heart of a woman in labour.

A message about Damascus

23Concerning Damascus:

‘Hamath and Arpad are dismayed,

for they have heard bad news.

They are disheartened,

troubled like49:23 Hebrew on or by the restless sea.

24Damascus has become feeble,

she has turned to flee

and panic has gripped her;

anguish and pain have seized her,

pain like that of a woman in labour.

25Why has the city of renown not been abandoned,

the town in which I delight?

26Surely, her young men will fall in the streets;

all her soldiers will be silenced in that day,’

declares the Lord Almighty.

27‘I will set fire to the walls of Damascus;

it will consume the fortresses of Ben-Hadad.’

A message about Kedar and Hazor

28Concerning Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon attacked:

This is what the Lord says:

‘Arise, and attack Kedar

and destroy the people of the East.

29Their tents and their flocks will be taken;

their shelters will be carried off

with all their goods and camels.

People will shout to them,

“Terror on every side!”

30‘Flee quickly away!

Stay in deep caves, you who live in Hazor,’

declares the Lord.

‘Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has plotted against you;

he has devised a plan against you.

31‘Arise and attack a nation at ease,

which lives in confidence,’

declares the Lord,

‘a nation that has neither gates nor bars;

its people live far from danger.

32Their camels will become plunder,

and their large herds will be spoils of war.

I will scatter to the winds those who are in distant places49:32 Or who clip the hair by their foreheads

and will bring disaster on them from every side,’

declares the Lord.

33‘Hazor will become a haunt of jackals,

a desolate place for ever.

No-one will live there;

no people will dwell in it.’

A message about Elam

34This is the word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning Elam, early in the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah:

35This is what the Lord Almighty says:

‘See, I will break the bow of Elam,

the mainstay of their might.

36I will bring against Elam the four winds

from the four quarters of heaven;

I will scatter them to the four winds,

and there will not be a nation

where Elam’s exiles do not go.

37I will shatter Elam before their foes,

before those who want to kill them;

I will bring disaster on them,

even my fierce anger,’

declares the Lord.

‘I will pursue them with the sword

until I have made an end of them.

38I will set my throne in Elam

and destroy her king and officials,’

declares the Lord.

39‘Yet I will restore the fortunes of Elam

in days to come,’

declares the Lord.