1I received this message from Yahweh about Damascus the capital of Syria:
2The towns near Aroer city will be abandoned.
3The cities in Israel will not have walls around them to protect them.
4“At that time, Israel will become insignificant.
5The entire land will be like [SIM] a field where the harvesters have cut all the grain;
6Only a few of the Israeli people will remain [MET],
7Then, at that time, you people of Israel will ◄turn for help to/look up to► God, your creator,
8You will no longer seek to get help from your idols
9The largest cities in Israel will be abandoned, like the land that the Hiv and Amor people-groups abandoned (OR, like the forests that the Canaan people-group abandoned) when the Israelis attacked them long ago.
10That will happen because you have stopped worshiping God
11But even if they sprout leaves on the day that you plant them,
12Listen! The armies of many nations will roar like the sea roars.
13But even though their loud roaring will be like the sound of crashing waves,
14And, even though you people of Israel will be terrified,