Judgment on Israel’s Neighbors (Jeremiah 12:14–17)
2 UST This is the message: Yahweh is speaking powerfully, like the roar of a lion, from Zion, in{ the middle of} Jerusalem. He is causing the pastures where shepherds take care of their sheep to dry up, and{ even the forests on} the top of Mount Carmel will wither. BSB BSB: He said: “The LORD roars from Zion and raises His voice from Jerusalem; the pastures of the shepherds mourn, and the summit of Carmel withers.”
3 UST This is what Yahweh says,“The people of Damascus have sinned again and again, so I will certainly punish them and will not change my mind about it, because they cruelly attacked the people of the region of Gilead, destroying them as people crush grain with iron-toothed threshing tools. BSB BSB: This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Damascus, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they threshed Gilead with sledges of iron.
4 UST So I will send fire to{ destroy}{ that place, including} the palace that{ their king} Hazael built, and it will burn down the fortresses where{ his son, their king} Ben-Hadad, has his armies. BSB BSB: So I will send fire upon the house of Hazael to consume the citadels of Ben-hadad.
5 UST I will smash the{ gate} bars{ that protect the city} of Damascus, and I will get rid of the one who sits{ on the throne} in the Valley of Aven and the king who rules in{ the region of} Beth Eden. The people of Aram will become captives and will go to the land of Kir,” says Yahweh. BSB BSB: I will break down the gates of Damascus; I will cut off the ruler from the Valley of Aven and the one who wields the scepter in Beth-eden. The people of Aram will be exiled to Kir,” says the LORD.
6 UST This is what Yahweh says,“The people of the city of Gaza have sinned again and again, so I will certainly punish them and will not change my mind about it, because they captured whole people groups and took them away in order to sell them{ as slaves} to the people of Edom. BSB BSB: This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Gaza, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they exiled a whole population, delivering them up to Edom.
7 UST So I will send fire to{ destroy} the walls of Gaza, and it will burn down the fortresses of that city. BSB BSB: So I will send fire upon the walls of Gaza, to consume its citadels.
8 UST I will get rid of the one who sits{ on the throne} in the city of Ashdod and the king who rules in{ the city of} Ashkelon. I will also powerfully punish the people of{ the city of} Ekron, and all the people of{ the region of} Philistia who are still alive will die,” says my Lord Yahweh. BSB BSB: I will cut off the ruler of Ashdod and the one who wields the scepter in Ashkelon. I will turn My hand against Ekron, and the remnant of the Philistines will perish,” says the Lord GOD.
9 UST This is what Yahweh says,“The people of{ the city of} Tyre have sinned again and again, so I will certainly punish them and will not change my mind about it, because they{ also} captured whole people groups and took them away to Edom, and they ignored the treaty that they had made with another nation. BSB BSB: This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Tyre, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they delivered up a whole congregation of exiles to Edom and broke a covenant of brotherhood.
10 UST So I will send fire to{ destroy} the walls of Tyre, and it will burn down the fortresses of that city.” BSB BSB: So I will send fire upon the walls of Tyre to consume its citadels.”
11 UST This is what Yahweh says,“The people of Edom have sinned again and again, so I will certainly punish them and will not change my mind about it, because they attacked the people{ of Israel,} who descended from Esau’s brother Jacob,{ and killed them} with swords. They did not act mercifully toward them at all. They were constantly wrathful{ to the people of Israel}, and they kept encouraging each other to stay angry{ with the people of Israel} always. BSB BSB: This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Edom, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because he pursued his brother with the sword and stifled all compassion; his anger raged continually, and his fury flamed incessantly.
12 UST So I will send fire to{ destroy}{ the region of} Teman, and it will burn down the fortresses of{ the city of} Bozrah.” BSB BSB: So I will send fire upon Teman to consume the citadels of Bozrah.”
13 UST This is what Yahweh says,“The people of Ammon have sinned again and again, so I will certainly punish them and will not change my mind about it, because their soldiers{ even} ripped open the pregnant women of{ the region of} Gilead{ when they attacked it} in order to enlarge their own territory. BSB BSB: This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of the Ammonites, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead in order to enlarge their territory.
14 UST So I will start a fire that will destroy the walls of the city of Rabbah, and it will burn down the fortresses of that city. During that battle, the enemies will shout loudly. They will come as quickly and violently as a strong windstorm. BSB BSB: So I will kindle a fire in the walls of Rabbah to consume its citadels amid war cries on the day of battle and a violent wind on the day of tempest.
15 UST Then the king of Ammon will become a captive and will go to another country, and his officials will go with him,” says Yahweh. BSB BSB: Their king will go into exile—he and his princes together,” says the LORD.