Obadiah 1–10

^1*This is the prophecy of Obadiah—what the Sovereign Lord said about the nation of Edom.

The Will Punish Edom

The Lord has sent his messenger to the nations,

and we have heard his message:

“Get ready! Let us go to war against Edom!”

^2*The Lord says to Edom,

“I will make you weak;

everyone will despise you.

^3*Your pride has deceived you.

Your capital is a fortress of solid rock;

your home is high in the mountains,

and so you say to yourself,

‘Who can ever pull me down?’

^4*Even though you make your home

as high as an eagle’s nest,

so that it seems to be among the stars,

yet I will pull you down.

^5*“When thieves come at night,

they take only what they want.

When people gather grapes,

they always leave a few.

But your enemies have wiped you out completely.

^6*Descendants of Esau, your treasures have been looted.

^7*Your allies have deceived you;

they have driven you from your country.

People who were at peace with you have now conquered you.

Those friends who ate with you have laid a trap for you;

they say of you, ‘Where is all that cleverness he had?’

^8*“On the day I punish Edom,

I will destroy their clever men

and wipe out all their wisdom.

^9*The fighting men of Teman will be terrified,

and every soldier in Edom will be killed.

Reasons for Edom’s Punishment

^10*“Because you robbed and killed

your brothers,^a the descendants of Jacob,

you will be destroyed and dishonoured for ever.