Isaiah 17:1-3
Contemporary English Version
Damascus Will Be Punished
17 (A) This is a message about Damascus:
Damascus is doomed!
It will end up in ruins.
2 The villages around Aroer[a]
will be deserted,
with only sheep living there
and no one to bother them.
3 Israel[b] will lose its fortresses.
The kingdom of Damascus
will be destroyed;
its survivors will suffer
the same fate as Israel.
The Lord All-Powerful
has promised this.
Jeremiah 49:23-27
Contemporary English Version
What the Lord Says about Damascus
23 (A) The Lord says about Damascus:
The towns of Hamath and Arpad[a]
have heard your bad news.
They have lost hope,
and worries roll over them
like ocean waves.[b]
24 You people of Damascus
have lost your courage,
and in panic you turn to run,
gripped by fear and pain.[c]
25 Once I was pleased
with your famous city.
But now I warn you, “Escape
while you still can!”[d]
26 Soon, even your best soldiers
will lie dead in your streets.
I, the Lord All-Powerful,
have spoken.
27 I will set fire to your city walls
and burn down the fortresses
King Benhadad built.
Footnotes
- 49.23 Hamath and Arpad: Two towns in Syria that had been the capitals of small kingdoms allied with the more powerful kingdom whose capital was Damascus.
- 49.23 worries … waves: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- 49.24 gripped by fear and pain: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- 49.25 can: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 25.
Zechariah 9:1
Contemporary English Version
Israel's Enemies Will Be Punished
9 (A)(B) This is a message
from the Lord:
His eyes are on everyone,
especially the tribes
of Israel.[a]
So he pronounces judgment
against the cities
of Hadrach and Damascus.[b]
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