“See, Damascus will no longer be a city
    but will become a heap of ruins.^(C)
2 The cities of Aroer^(D) will be deserted
    and left to flocks,^(E) which will lie down,^(F)
    with no one to make them afraid.^(G)
3 The fortified^(H) city will disappear from Ephraim,
    and royal power from Damascus;
the remnant of Aram will be
    like the glory^(I) of the Israelites,”^(J)
declares the Lord Almighty.

“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]