The Lord’s power will keep Mount Zion safe. But the people of Moab will be crushed in their land. They will be crushed just as straw is crushed in animal waste.
Then write down a message for the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre and Sidon. Give it to their messengers who have come to Jerusalem. They have come to see Zedekiah, the king of Judah.
The officers spoke to Gedaliah. They said, “Don’t you know that Baalis has sent someone to take your life? Baalis is the king of Ammon. He has sent Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah.” But Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, didn’t believe them.
Here is what the Lord says about Moab. The Lord who rules over all is the God of Israel. He says, “How terrible it will be for the city of Nebo! It will be destroyed. Kiriathaim will be captured. It will be put to shame. Its fort will be broken down. It will be put to shame.
Here is what the Lord says about the people of Ammon. He says, “Doesn’t Israel have any sons? Doesn’t Israel have anyone to take over the family property? Then why has the god named Molek taken over Gad? Why do those who worship him live in its towns?
Here is what the Lord says about Edom. The Lord who rules over all says, “Isn’t there wisdom in the town of Teman anymore? Can’t those who are wise give advice? Has their wisdom disappeared completely?
That includes the people of Egypt, Judah, Edom, Ammon and Moab. It also includes all those who live in the desert in places far away. None of the people in these nations is really circumcised. And not even the people of Israel are circumcised in their hearts.”
“Edom is also there. So are its kings and all its princes. In spite of their power, they lie down with those who were killed by swords. They lie down with those who had not been circumcised. They are there with others who went down into the grave.
The Lord says, “The people of Edom have sinned again and again. So I will judge them. They chased Israel with swords that were ready to strike them down. They killed the women of the land. They were angry all the time. Their anger was like a fire that blazed out. It could not be stopped.
The Lord says, “The people of Ammon have sinned again and again. So I will judge them. They ripped open the pregnant women in Gilead. They wanted to add land to their territory.
They will be like a fire. Joseph’s people will be like a flame. The nation of Edom will be like straw. Jacob’s people will set Edom on fire and burn it up. No one will be left alive among Esau’s people.” The Lord has spoken.
