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away from the Chaldeans. For they feared them because Ishmael son of Nethaniah had struck down Gedaliah son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon had appointed over the land.

‘If you will indeed stay in this land, then I will rebuild and not demolish you, and I will plant and not uproot you, because I relent concerning the disaster that I have brought on you.

Don’t be afraid of the king of Babylon whom you now fear; don’t be afraid of him’—this is the Lord’s declaration—‘because I am with you to save you and rescue you from him.

You have gone astray at the cost of your lives because you are the ones who sent me to the Lord your God, saying, ‘Pray to the Lord our God on our behalf, and as for all that the Lord our God says, tell it to us, and we’ll act accordingly.’

They went to the land of Egypt because they did not obey the Lord. They went as far as Tahpanhes.

because of the evil they committed to anger me, by going and burning incense to serve other gods that they, you, and your fathers did not know.

Because you burned incense and sinned against the Lord and didn’t obey the Lord and didn’t follow his instruction, his statutes, and his testimonies, this disaster has come to you, as you see today.”

‘You have said, “Woe is me, because the Lord has added misery to my pain! I am worn out with groaning and have found no rest.”’

That day belongs to the Lord, the God of Armies,a day of vengeance to avenge himselfagainst his adversaries.The sword will devour and be satisfied;it will drink its fill of their blood,because it will be a sacrifice to the Lord, the God of Armies,in the northern land by the Euphrates River.

The nations have heard of your dishonor,and your cries fill the earth,because warrior stumbles against warriorand together both of them have fallen.

Because you trust in your works and treasures,you will be captured also.Chemosh will go into exilewith his priests and officials.

Moab will be put to shame because of Chemosh,just as the house of Israel was put to shamebecause of Bethel that they trusted in.

“Make him drunk, because he has exalted himself against the Lord. Moab will wallow in his own vomit, and he will also become a laughingstock.

“There is a cry from Heshbon to Elealeh; they make their voices heard as far as Jahaz—from Zoar to Horonaim and Eglath-shelishiyah—because even the Waters of Nimrim have become desolate.

On all the rooftops of Moab and in her public squares, everyone is mourning because I have shattered Moab like a jar no one wants.” This is the Lord’s declaration.

Wail, Heshbon, for Ai is devastated;cry out, daughters of Rabbah!Clothe yourselves with sackcloth, and lament;run back and forth within your walls,because Milcom will go into exiletogether with his priests and officials.

“Edom will become a desolation. Everyone who passes by her will be appalled and scoff because of all her wounds.

Therefore, hear the plans that the Lord has drawn up against Edom and the strategies he has devised against the people of Teman: The flock’s little lambs will certainly be dragged away, and their grazing land will be made desolate because of them.

Because you rejoice,because you celebrate—you who plundered my inheritance—because you frolic like a young cow treading grainand neigh like stallions,

Because of the Lord’s wrath,she will not be inhabited;she will become a desolation, every bit of her.Everyone who passes through Babylonwill be appalledand scoff because of all her wounds.