Jeremiah 49:23–27

Concerning Damascus:

“Hamath and Arpad are confounded,

for they have heard bad news;

they melt in fear,

they are troubled like the sea that cannot be quiet.

Damascus has become feeble, she turned to flee,

and panic seized her;

anguish and sorrows have taken hold of her,

as of a woman in labor.

How is the famous city not forsaken,

the city of my joy?

Therefore her young men shall fall in her squares,

and all her soldiers shall be destroyed in that day,

declares the Lord of hosts.

And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus,

and it shall devour the strongholds of Ben-hadad.”

Concerning Damascus:

“Hamath and Arpad are dismayed,

for they have heard bad news.

They are disheartened,

troubled like the restless sea.

Damascus 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 labor.

Why has the city of renown not been abandoned,

the town in which I delight?

Surely, her young men will fall in the streets;

all her soldiers will be silenced in that day,”

declares the Lord Almighty.

“I will set fire to the walls of Damascus;

it will consume the fortresses of Ben-Hadad.”

About Damascus:

Hamath and Arpad are put to shame,

for they have heard a bad report and are agitated,

like the anxious sea that cannot be calmed.

Damascus has become weak;

she has turned to run;

panic has gripped her.

Distress and labor pains have seized her

like a woman in labor.

How can the city of praise not be abandoned,

the town that brings me joy?

Therefore, her young men will fall in her public squares;

all the warriors will perish in that day.

This is the declaration of the Lord of Armies.

I will set fire to the wall of Damascus;

it will consume Ben-hadad’s citadels.

This message was given concerning Damascus. This is what the Lord says:

“The towns of Hamath and Arpad are struck with fear,

for they have heard the news of their destruction.

Their hearts are troubled

like a wild sea in a raging storm.

Damascus has become feeble,

and all her people turn to flee.

Fear, anguish, and pain have gripped her

as they grip a woman in labor.

That famous city, a city of joy,

will be forsaken!

Her young men will fall in the streets and die.

Her soldiers will all be killed,”

says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

“And I will set fire to the walls of Damascus

that will burn up the palaces of Ben-hadad.”

Concerning Damascus:

“Hamath and Arpad are ashamed,

for they have heard bad news;

they melt.

There is concern in the sea.

It is not able to keep quiet.

Damascus has grown slack.

She has turned away to flee and panic.

Anxiety has seized her,

and labor pains have grasped her,

like a woman in labor.

How the city of praise has not been abandoned!

The city of my joy!

Therefore her young men will fall in her public squares,

and all the soldiers will perish in that day,” declares Yahweh of hosts.

“And I will kindle a fire at the wall of Damascus,

and it will devour the citadel fortresses of Ben-hadad.”

Concerning Damascus.

Hamath is confounded, and Arpad:

For they have heard evil tidings: they are fainthearted;

There is sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet.

Damascus is waxed feeble, and turneth herself to flee,

And fear hath seized on her:

Anguish and sorrows have taken her, as a woman in travail.

How is the city of praise not left,

The city of my joy!

Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets,

And all the men of war shall be cut off in that day,

Saith the Lord of hosts.

And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus,

And it shall consume the palaces of Ben-hadad.