“See, Damascus will no longer be a city
    but will become a heap of ruins.^(C)

² The cities of Aroer^(A) will be deserted
    and left to flocks,^(B) which will lie down,^(C)
    with no one to make them afraid.^(D)

“Hamath^(B) and Arpad^(C) are dismayed,
    for they have heard bad news.
They are disheartened,
    troubled like^[a] the restless sea.^(D)
24 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.^(E)
25 Why has the city of renown not been abandoned,
    the town in which I delight?
²⁶ Surely, her young men^(F) will fall in the streets;
    all her soldiers will be silenced^(G) in that day,”
declares the Lord Almighty.
²⁷ “I will set fire^(H) to the walls of Damascus;^(I)
    it will consume^(J) the fortresses of Ben-Hadad.^(K)”

“Arise, and attack Kedar
    and destroy the people of the East.^(O)
29 Their tents and their flocks^(P) will be taken;
    their shelters will be carried off
    with all their goods and camels.
People will shout to them,
    ‘Terror^(Q) on every side!’

“For three sins of Damascus,^(A)
    even for four, I will not relent.^(B)
Because she threshed Gilead
    with sledges having iron teeth,

⁵ I will break down the gate^(A) of Damascus;
    I will destroy the king who is in^[a] the Valley of Aven^[b]
and the one who holds the scepter in Beth Eden.^(B)
    The people of Aram will go into exile to Kir,^(C)”
says the Lord.^(D)

The word of the Lord is against the land of Hadrak
    and will come to rest on Damascus^(B)—
for the eyes of all people and all the tribes of Israel
    are on the Lord—^[a]