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.
25That famous city, a city of joy,
will be forsaken!
26Her young men will fall in the streets and die.
Her soldiers will all be killed,”
says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
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
28This message was given concerning Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor, which were attacked by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. This is what the Lord says:
“Advance against Kedar!
Destroy the warriors from the East!
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!’
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.
31“Go up and attack that complacent nation,”
says the Lord.
“Its people live alone in the desert
without walls or gates.
32Their camels and other livestock will all be yours.
I will scatter to the winds these people
who live in remote places.
I will bring calamity upon them
from every direction,” says the Lord.
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
34This message concerning Elam came to the prophet Jeremiah from the Lord at the beginning of the reign of King Zedekiah of Judah. 35This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says:
“I will destroy the archers of Elam—
the best of their forces.
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.
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.
38I will set my throne in Elam,” says the Lord,
“and I will destroy its king and officials.
39But I will restore the fortunes of Elam
in days to come.
I, the Lord, have spoken!”
