A Message Condemning Ammon

25 This message came to me from the Lord: ² “Son of Man, turn your attention^[a] to the descendants of Ammon and rebuke^[b] them. ³ Tell the Ammonites: ‘Listen to a message from^[c] the Lord God! This is what the Lord God says: “Because you have said, ‘Aha!’^[d] about my sanctuary when it was desecrated, about the land of Israel when it became desolate, and about the households of Judah when they went into exile, ⁴ therefore you’d better look out! I’m going to turn you over to men^[e] from the East, who will dominate you. You will become their property. They will set up military encampments and permanent places^[f] in which to live among you, and then they’ll eat your fruit and drink your milk. ⁵ I will turn Rabbah^[g] into a pasture for camels, and Ammon will become a resting place for flocks of sheep. That’s how they’ll learn that I am the Lord.”’”

Why God Condemned Ammon

⁶ “This is what the Lord God says: ‘Because you’ve applauded, stamped your feet, and rejoiced with all sorts of malice in your heart^[h] against the land of Israel, ⁷ therefore you’d better^[i] watch out! I’m raising a clenched fist^[j] in your direction! I’m about to feed you to the surrounding^[k] nations as war plunder. I’m going to eliminate you as a nation and kill off those of you who survive to live in other^[l] countries. I’m going to destroy you, and that’s how you’ll learn that I am the Lord.’”

A Message Rebuking Moab and Seir

⁸ “This is what the Lord God says: ‘Because Moab and Seir are claiming, “Judah’s citizens are^[m] just like every other^[n] nation,” ⁹ therefore you’d better watch out! I’m going to tear open Moab’s flanks, starting with its frontier cities—the very glory of the nation!—including Beth-jeshimoth,^[o] Baal-meon,^[p] and Kiriathaim.^{[q] 10} I’m going to turn these cities^[r] over to men^[s] from the East, who will dominate you. You will become their property. As a result, Ammon will be forgotten as a nation. ¹¹ I’m also going to punish Moab, and that’s how they’ll learn that I am the Lord.’”

The Coming Destruction of Edom

¹² “This is what the Lord God says: ‘Because Edom has made it their practice to seek extraordinary vengeance against Judah’s citizens,^[t] and by doing so has incurred extraordinary guilt by taking revenge against them,’ ¹³ therefore this is what the Lord God says: ‘I’m going to raise my clenched fist^[u] in Edom’s direction and eliminate every single human being and animal from Edom! I’m going to turn everything into a wasteland, starting with Teman, and Dedan will fall by violence!^{[v] 14} I’m going to inundate Edom with^[w] my retribution, using my people Israel to carry it out! They’ll deliver my anger, acting as an agent of my fury. Edom will come to know my vengeance,’ declares the Lord God.’”

A Message Condemning Philistia

¹⁵ “This is what the Lord God says: ‘Because Philistia has made it their practice to carry out retribution, accompanied by extraordinary malice in their personal vendettas—vendettas that spring from their everlasting hostility— ¹⁶ this is what the Lord God says: “Look out! I’m raising my clenched fist^[x] in Philistia’s direction. I’m going to execute^[y] the Cherethites^[z] and destroy what’s left of the coastline of the Mediterranean^[aa] Sea. ¹⁷ I’ll take vengeance on them, punishing them severely in my anger. They’ll know that I am the Lord when I take my vengeance on them.”’”