Judgment on Moab
1 AgainstMoab.
Thus says theLordof hosts, the God of Israel:
# “Woe toNebo!
For it is plundered,
# Kirjathaim is shamedandtaken;
The high stronghold is shamed and dismayed—
2 No more praise of Moab.
# InHeshbon they have devised evil against her:
‘Come, and let us cut her off as a nation.’
# You also shall be cut down, OMadmen!
The sword shall pursue you;
3 A voice of cryingshallbefromHoronaim:
‘Plundering and great destruction!’
4 “Moab is destroyed;
Her little ones have caused a cry to be heard;
5 For in the Ascent of Luhith they ascend with continual weeping;
For in the descent of Horonaim the enemies have heard a cry of destruction.
6 “Flee, save your lives!
# And be like thejuniper in the wilderness.
7 For because you have trusted in your works and yourtreasures,
You also shall be taken.
# AndChemosh shall go forth into captivity,
# Hispriests and his princes together.
8 Andthe plunderer shall come against every city;
No one shall escape.
The valley also shall perish,
And the plain shall be destroyed,
As theLordhas spoken.
9 “Givewings to Moab,
That she may flee and get away;
For her cities shall be desolate,
Without any to dwell in them.
10 Cursedishe who does the work of theLorddeceitfully,
And cursedishe who keeps back his sword from blood.
11 “Moab has been at ease from his youth;
# Hehas settled on his dregs,
And has not been emptied from vessel to vessel,
Nor has he gone into captivity.
Therefore his taste remained in him,
And his scent has not changed.
12 “Therefore behold, the days are coming,” says theLord,
“That I shall send him wine-workers
Who will tip him over
And empty his vessels
And break the bottles.
13 Moab shall be ashamed ofChemosh,
# As the house of Israelwas ashamed ofBethel, their confidence.
14 “How can you say,‘Wearemighty
And strong men for the war’?
15 Moab is plundered and gone upfromher cities;
# Her chosen young men havegone down to the slaughter,” saysthe King,
Whose nameistheLordof hosts.
16 “The calamity of Moabisnear at hand,
And his affliction comes quickly.
17 Bemoan him, all you who are around him;
And all you who know his name,
# Say,‘How the strong staff is broken,
The beautiful rod!’
18 “Odaughter inhabitingDibon,
Come down fromyourglory,
And sit in thirst;
For the plunderer of Moab has come against you,
He has destroyed your strongholds.
19 O inhabitant ofAroer,
# Stand by the way and watch;
Ask him who flees
And her who escapes;
Say, ‘What has happened?’
20 Moab is shamed, for he is broken down.
# Wail and cry!
# Tell it inArnon, that Moab is plundered.
21 “And judgment has come on the plain country:
On Holon and Jahzah and Mephaath,
22 On Dibon and Nebo and Beth Diblathaim,
23 On Kirjathaim and Beth Gamul and Beth Meon,
24 OnKerioth and Bozrah,
On all the cities of the land of Moab,
Far or near.
25 The horn of Moab is cut off,
# And hisarm is broken,” says theLord.
26 “Makehim drunk,
Because he exaltedhimselfagainst theLord.
Moab shall wallow in his vomit,
And he shall also be in derision.
27 Forwas not Israel a derision to you?
# Was he found among thieves?
For whenever you speak of him,
# You shakeyourheadinscorn.
28 You who dwell in Moab,
# Leave the cities anddwell in the rock,
# And be likethe dovewhichmakes her nest
In the sides of the cave’s mouth.
29 “We have heard thepride of Moab
(Heisexceedingly proud),
# Of his loftiness and arrogance andpride,
And of the haughtiness of his heart.”
30 “I know his wrath,” says theLord,
“But itisnot right;
# His lies have made nothing right.
31 ThereforeI will wail for Moab,
And I will cry out for all Moab;
I will mourn for the men of Kir Heres.
32 O vine of Sibmah! I will weep for you with the weeping ofJazer.
Your plants have gone over the sea,
They reach to the sea of Jazer.
The plunderer has fallen on your summer fruit and your vintage.
33 Joy and gladness are taken
From the plentiful field
And from the land of Moab;
I have caused wine to fail from the winepresses;
No one will tread with joyous shouting—
Not joyous shouting!
34 “Fromthe cry of Heshbon toElealeh and to Jahaz
They have uttered their voice,
# From Zoar to Horonaim,
Likea three-year-old heifer;
For the waters of Nimrim also shall be desolate.
35 “Moreover,” says theLord,
“I will cause to cease in Moab
# The one who offerssacrificesin the high places
And burns incense to his gods.
36 ThereforeMy heart shall wail like flutes for Moab,
And like flutes My heart shall wail
For the men of Kir Heres.
# Thereforethe riches they have acquired have perished.
37 “Forevery headshallbebald, and every beard clipped;
# On all the handsshallbecuts, andon the loins sackcloth—
38 A general lamentation
# On all thehousetops of Moab,
And in its streets;
# For I havebroken Moab like a vessel in whichisno pleasure,” says theLord.
39 “They shall wail:
‘How she is broken down!
How Moab has turned her back with shame!’
So Moab shall be a derision
And a dismay to all those about her.”
40 For thus says theLord:
# “Behold,one shall fly like an eagle,
# Andspread his wings over Moab.
41 Kerioth is taken,
And the strongholds are surprised;
# The mighty men’s hearts in Moab on that day shall be
Like the heart of a woman in birth pangs.
42 And Moab shall be destroyedas a people,
Because he exaltedhimselfagainst theLord.
43 Fear and the pit and the snareshallbeupon you,
O inhabitant of Moab,” says theLord.
44 “He who flees from the fear shall fall into the pit,
# And he who gets out of the pit shall be caught in thesnare.
# For upon Moab, upon itI will bring
The year of their punishment,” says theLord.
45 “Those who fled stood under the shadow of Heshbon
Because of exhaustion.
# Buta fire shall come out of Heshbon,
# A flame from the midst ofSihon,
# Andshall devour the brow of Moab,
The crown of the head of the sons of tumult.
46 Woe to you, O Moab!
The people of Chemosh perish;
For your sons have been taken captive,
And your daughters captive.
47 “Yet I will bring back the captives of Moab
# In the latter days,” says theLord.
Thus faristhe judgment of Moab.