Behold, Damascus must (be taken) away out of the number of the
cities, and will be a heap of fallen ruins. 2. The cities of Aroer
are forsaken, they are given up to flocks, they lie there without any
one scaring them away. 3. And when the fortress of Ephraim is
abolished, and the kingdom of Damascus; and it happens to those that
are left of Aram as to the glory of the sons of Israel, saith Jehovah
of hosts.
4. And it comes to pass in that day, the glory of Jacob wastes away,
and the fat of his flesh grows thin. 5. And it will be as when a
reaper grasps the stalks of wheat, and his arm mows off the ears; and
it will be as with one who gathers ears in the valley of Rephaim.
6. Yet a gleaning remains from it, as at the olive-beating: two,
three berries high up at the top; four, five in its, the fruit-tree's
branches, saith Jehovah the God of Israel. 7. At that day will man
look up to his Creator, and his eyes will look to the Holy One of
Israel. 8. And he will not look to the altars, the work of his hands;
and what his fingers have made he will not regard, neither the
Astartes nor the sun-gods.
9. In that day will his fortified cities be like the ruins of the
forest and of the mountain top, which they cleared before the sons of
Israel: and there arises a waste place. 10. For thou hast forgotten
the God of thy salvation, and hast not thought of the Rock of thy
stronghold, therefore thou plantest charming plantations, and didst
set them with strange vines. 11. In the day that thou plantedst, thou
didst make a fence; and with the morning dawn thou madest thy sowing
to blossom: a harvest heap in the day of deep wounds and deadly
sorrow of heart.
12. Woe to the roaring of many nations: like the roaring of seas they
roar; and low the rumbling of nations, like the rumbling of mighty
waters they rumble! 13. Nations, like the rumbling of mighty waters
they rumble; and He threatens it: then it flies far away, and is
chased like the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a
cloud of dust before the gale. 14. At eventide, behold consternation;
and before the morning dawn it is destroyed! this is the portion of
our plunderers, and the lot of our robbers.