The oracleconcerning Damascus."Behold,Damascusis about to be removedfrom being a cityAnd will becomea fallenruin.
He dividedhis forces againstthem by night,he and his servants,and defeatedthem, and pursuedthem as faras Hobah,whichis northof Damascus.
Abramsaid,"O LordGOD,whatwill You giveme, since I amchildless,and the heirof my houseis Eliezerof Damascus?"
He gatheredmento himself and becameleaderof a maraudingband,after Davidslewthem of [Zobah]; and they wentto Damascusand stayedthere, and reignedin Damascus.
So the kingof Assyrialistenedto him; and the kingof Assyriawentup againstDamascusand capturedit, and carried[the people of] it awayinto exileto Kir,and putRezinto death.
When the Arameansof Damascuscameto helpHadadezerkingof Zobah,Davidkilled22000menof the Arameans.
For he sacrificedto the godsof Damascuswhich had defeatedhim, and said,"Becausethe godsof the kingsof Aramhelpedthem, I will sacrificeto them that they may helpme." But they becamethe downfallof him and allIsrael.
Wherefore, the LORDhis Goddeliveredhim into the handof the kingof Aram;and they defeatedhim and carriedaway from him a greatnumber of captivesand brought[them] to Damascus.And he was alsodeliveredinto the handof the kingof Israel,who inflictedhim with heavycasualties.
"Is not Calnolike Carchemish,OrHamathlike Arpad,OrSamarialike Damascus?
The oracleconcerning BabylonwhichIsaiahthe sonof Amozsaw.
The oracleconcerning Moab.Surelyin a nightArof Moabis devastated[and] ruined;Surelyin a nightKirof Moabis devastated[and] ruined.
The oracleconcerning Egypt.Behold,the LORDis ridingon a swiftcloudand is about to cometo Egypt;The idolsof Egyptwill trembleat His presence,And the heartof the Egyptianswill meltwithinthem.
For You have madea cityinto a heap,A fortifiedcityinto a ruin;A palaceof strangersis a citynomore,It will neverbe rebuilt.
"Have you not heard?LongagoI didit, From ancienttimesI plannedit. NowI have broughtit to pass,That you should turnfortifiedcitiesinto ruinousheaps.
"For beforethe boywill know[enough] to refuseeviland choosegood,the landwhosetwokingsyou dreadwill be forsaken.
"For the headof Aramis Damascusand the headof Damascusis Rezin(now within another65yearsEphraimwill be shattered,[so that it is] nolonger a people),
for beforethe boyknowshow to cryout 'My fatheror 'My mother,'the wealthof Damascusand the spoilof Samariawill be carriedaway beforethe kingof Assyria."
"Thereforebehold,the daysare coming,"declaresthe LORD,"That I will cause a trumpetblastof warto be heardAgainstRabbahof the sonsof Ammon;And it will becomea desolateheap,And her townswill be seton fire.Then Israelwill takepossessionof his possessors,"Saysthe LORD.
For I will makeSamariaa heapof ruinsin the open country,Plantingplacesfor a vineyard.I will pourher stonesdowninto the valleyAnd will laybareher foundations.
Therefore,on accountof you Zionwill be plowedas a field,Jerusalemwill becomea heapof ruins,And the mountainof the temple[will become] highplacesof a forest.
The burdenof the wordof the LORDis against the landof Hadrach,with Damascusas its restingplace(for the eyesof men,especially of allthe tribesof Israel,are toward the LORD),
and askedfor lettersfrom him to the synagoguesat Damascus,sothat ifhe foundanybelongingto the Way,bothmenand women,he might bringthem boundto Jerusalem.
"Then you shall gatherallits bootyinto the middleof its opensquareand burnthe cityand allits bootywith fireas a wholeburntofferingto the LORDyour God;and it shall be a ruinforever.It shall neverbe rebuilt.
