48 The Lord Almighty, Israel's God, spoke this message about Moab: [ a ]
‘Nebo city is in terrible trouble!
It will soon become a heap of stones.
The people of Kiriathaim city will be ashamed.
Its enemies will take it for themselves.
They will knock down its strong buildings,
and its people will be ashamed.
2 People will no longer praise Moab.
In Heshbon, Moab's enemies will decide how to destroy the nation.
They will say, “We must completely destroy Moab!”
The town of Madmen will become silent,
as a great army chases out the people.
3 The people of Horonaim will shout for help,
because a strong army is destroying them.
4 Moab will come to an end!
Its children will cry loudly.
5 They will go up the hill to Luhith.
They will weep as they go.
As they go down the road towards Horonaim,
they will cry about their town that the enemy is destroying.
6 People say, “Run away to save your lives!
Go and live in the desert.”
7 People of Moab, you trusted your riches and your skills to save you.
Because of that, your enemies will catch you.
They will even take your god Chemosh away as prisoner,
together with his priests and officers.
8 Your cruel enemy will attack every town.
No town or city will escape.
The enemy will destroy every place in the valley,
and every place on the high ground.
They will become heaps of stones.
I, the Lord , tell you this!
9 Dig a grave to bury Moab! [ b ]
Its land will become like a desert.
Its cities will become heaps of stones.
Nobody will live in them.’
10 The Lord will curse anyone who refuses to do his work! He will punish anyone who does not use his sword to kill his enemies!
11 The Lord said, ‘Moab's people have lived in peace since they first became a nation. No enemy has taken them away to a foreign land as their prisoners. They have been like the wine in a bottle that nobody has moved. Nobody has poured it into another bottle, so its taste and smell have never changed. Moab has always been the same.
12 But the time will soon come when I will send people to attack Moab. They will pour out Moab's people like somebody pours wine out of a bottle. They will pour out all the wine so that the bottles are empty. And they will break the bottles into pieces!
13 Then Moab's people will be ashamed because their god Chemosh has not saved them. They will be like the Israelites who trusted in their idol at Bethel and they became ashamed.
14 Men of Moab, you should no longer say,
“We are brave soldiers who know how to fight.”
15 I am the King, the Lord Almighty, and I tell you this:
The enemy will soon destroy Moab and its cities.
They will kill its strongest young men.
16 Moab will soon come to an end.
Terrible trouble will quickly destroy it.
17 You nations that live around Moab,
you know how famous it has been.
But now you must weep for it.
Say, “Moab's royal power is finished!
They no longer have great power to rule!”
18 You people who live in Dibon must stop being proud.
Come down from the places where people give you honour.
Sit on the ground in the dirt.
Moab's cruel enemy has arrived.
They will cause your strong buildings to become heaps of stones.
19 You people who live in Aroer,
stand beside the road and watch.
Ask the people who are running away what has happened.
20 They will reply, “The enemy has won against Moab
and its people are ashamed.
So weep and cry out!
Stand beside the Arnon river and tell the news.
Tell people that the enemy has destroyed Moab.”
21 The Lord has judged the cities on the high ground and he will soon punish them:
Holon, Jahzah and Mephaath,
22 Dibon, Nebo and Beth-Diblathaim,
23 Kiriathaim, Beth-Gamul and Beth-Meon,
24 Kerioth and Bozrah.
He will punish all the towns of Moab, near or far away. 25 Moab has lost its power. Its strength has finished.’
That is what the Lord says.
26 ‘Moab has turned against me.
So my anger will make him like a person who is drunk.
He will lie down in the place where he has been sick.
People will laugh at him.
27 You people of Moab laughed at my people, the Israelites.
Why did you insult them?
You said that they were no better than a group of robbers.
28 Now you must all leave your towns.
Go and live among the rocks.
Live like doves that make their nests high up among the rocks.
29 We have heard that Moab's people are very proud.
They think that they are better than everyone else.
We know how much they boast.’
30 The Lord says,
‘I know about Moab's proud thoughts.
But their pride is false.
Whatever they do, it will be useless.
31 So I am sad for Moab. I am crying for all their people.
I weep for the people of Kir-Heres. [ c ]
32 I weep for the vines of Sibmah, more than Jazer weeps.
The branches of those vines reached across the sea as far as Jazer. [ d ]
But the cruel enemy will destroy all the fruit that grows on your vines and trees.
33 People will no longer be happy in the land where this fruit grows.
I will stop them making wine from their grapes.
They will not stamp on their grapes and shout with joy.
Instead, the shouts will be shouts about trouble.
34 In Heshbon and Elealeh people cry out because of their pain.
The noise reaches as far as Jahaz.
It reaches from Zoar to Horonaim and Eglath-Shelishiyah.
Even the Nimrim river has become dry.’
35 The Lord says this:
‘I will remove the people of Moab who worship other gods.
They offer sacrifices to them
and they burn incense at their altars.
36 So I am very sad for the people of Moab.
I weep like a flute that plays a funeral song.
I am sad for the people of Kir-Heres,
because all their riches will disappear.
37 All the men will be very upset.
They will cut the hair off their heads and their faces.
They will use knives to cut their hands.
They will wear sackcloth as their clothes.
38 People are standing on the roofs of their houses.
They are standing in the streets.
They are all crying and weeping.
They are sad because I have destroyed Moab.
I have broken it in pieces, like a jar that I no longer want.’
That is what the Lord says.
39 ‘Yes, Moab will be like a broken jar.
Its people will weep with loud voices.
They will turn away because they are ashamed.
All the nations around there will laugh at Moab.
They will see the terrible trouble that it has received.’
40 The Lord says,
‘Look at the enemy that suddenly arrives!
It comes like an eagle that flies down to catch its food.
41 The enemy will take Moab's towns and its strong buildings.
Moab's soldiers will be afraid,
like a woman who will soon give birth.
42 Moab has been proud and it has turned against the Lord .
So they will no longer be a nation.’
43 The Lord says this:
‘People of Moab, there will be danger, deep holes and traps that are ready to catch you!
44 Anyone who runs away from danger, will fall into a deep hole.
And a trap will catch anyone who climbs out of the deep hole.
Yes, the time will soon come when I will punish Moab's people.
45 People will run away to Heshbon to be safe.
They will be helpless as they stand outside its walls.
Flames of fire will come out from Heshbon,
the city where King Sihon once ruled.
It will burn as far as Moab's borders.
It will destroy those proud people who love to fight.
46 It will be very bad for you, you people of Moab!
The enemy will destroy you people who worship Chemosh.
They will take away your sons and your daughters.
They will take them as prisoners to a foreign land.
47 But one day I will cause Moab to be strong again.’
That is what the Lord says.
That is the end of the Lord 's message against Moab.
48 This message is about the country of Moab. This is what the Lord All-Powerful, the God of the people of Israel, says: [ a ]
“It will be bad for Mount Nebo. [ b ]
Mount Nebo will be ruined.
The town of Kiriathaim will be humbled.
It will be captured.
The strong place will be humbled.
It will be shattered.
2 Moab will not be praised again.
Men in Heshbon will plan Moab’s defeat.
They will say, ‘Come, let us put an end to that nation.’
Madmenah, you will also be silenced.
The sword will chase you.
3 Listen to the cries from Horonaim.
They are cries of much confusion and destruction.
4 Moab will be destroyed.
Her little children will cry for help.
5 Moab’s people go up the path to Luhith.
They are crying bitterly as they go.
On the road down to the town of Horonaim,
cries of pain and suffering can be heard.
6 Run away! Run for your lives!
Run away like a weed [ c ] blowing through the desert.
7 “You trust in the things you made and in your wealth,
so you will be captured.
The god Chemosh will be taken into captivity,
and his priests and officials will be taken with him.
8 The Destroyer will come against every town.
Not one town will escape.
The valley will be ruined.
The high plain will be destroyed.
The Lord said this would happen,
so it will happen.
9 Spread salt over the fields in Moab.
The country will be an empty desert. [ d ]
Moab’s towns will become empty.
No one will live in them.
10 Bad things will happen to those who
don’t obey the Lord and don’t use their swords to kill those people.
11 “Moab has never known trouble.
Moab is like wine left to settle.
Moab has never been poured from one jar to another.
He has not been taken into captivity.
So he tastes as he did before,
and his smell has not changed.”
12 This is what the Lord says:
“But I will soon send men
to pour you from your jars. [ e ]
Then they will empty the jars
and smash them to pieces.”
13 Then the people of Moab will be ashamed of their false god, Chemosh. They will be like the people of Israel who trusted that god in Bethel [ f ] but were ashamed when he did not help them.
14 “You cannot say, ‘We are good soldiers.
We are brave men in battle.’
15 The enemy will attack Moab.
The enemy will enter its towns and destroy them.
Its best young men will be killed in the slaughter.”
This message is from the King.
The King’s name is the Lord All-Powerful.
16 “The end of Moab is near.
Moab will soon be destroyed.
17 All you who live around Moab should cry for that country.
You know how famous Moab is.
So cry for it.
Say, ‘The ruler’s power is broken.
Moab’s power and glory is gone.’
18 “You people living in Dibon, [ g ]
come down from your place of honor.
Sit on the ground in the dust,
because the Destroyer is coming.
And he will destroy your strong cities.
19 “You people living in Aroer,
stand next to the road and watch.
See the man running away.
See that woman running away.
Ask them what happened.
20 “Moab will be ruined and filled with shame.
Moab will cry and cry.
Announce at the Arnon River [ h ]
that Moab is destroyed.
21 People on the high plain have been punished.
Judgment has come to the towns of Holon, Jahzah, and Mephaath.
22 Judgment has come to the towns
of Dibon, Nebo, and Beth Diblathaim.
23 Judgment has come to the towns
of Kiriathaim, Beth Gamul, and Beth Meon.
24 Judgment has come to the towns
of Kerioth and Bozrah.
Judgment has come to all the towns
of Moab, far and near.
25 Moab’s strength has been cut off.
Its arm has been broken.”
This is what the Lord said.
26 “The people of Moab thought they were greater than the Lord .
So punish them until they act like a drunk,
falling and rolling around in his vomit.
Then people will make fun of them.
27 “Moab, you made fun of Israel.
Israel was caught by a gang of thieves.
Every time you spoke about Israel,
you shook your head and acted as if you were better than Israel.
28 People in Moab, leave your towns.
Go live among the rocks;
be like a dove that makes its nest
at the opening of a cave.”
29 “We have heard about Moab’s pride.
He was very proud.
He thought he was important.
He was always bragging.
He was very, very proud.”
30 The Lord says, “I know Moab gets angry quickly and brags about himself,
but his boasts are lies.
He cannot do what he says.
31 So I cry for Moab.
I cry for everyone in Moab.
I cry for the men from Kir Hareseth.
32 I cry with the people of Jazer for Jazer.
Sibmah, in the past your vines spread all the way to the sea.
They reached as far as the town of Jazer.
But the Destroyer has taken your fruit and grapes.
33 Joy and happiness are gone from the large vineyards of Moab.
I stopped the flow of wine from the winepresses.
There is no singing and dancing from people walking on the grapes to make wine.
There are no shouts of joy.
34 “The people of the towns of Heshbon and Elealeh are crying. Their cry is heard even as far away as the town of Jahaz. Their cry is heard from the town of Zoar, as far away as the towns of Horonaim and Eglath Shelishiyah. Even the waters of Nimrim are dried up. 35 I will stop Moab from making burnt offerings on the high places. I will stop them from making sacrifices to their gods.” This is what the Lord said.
36 “I am very sad for Moab. My heart cries like the sad sound of a flute playing a funeral song. I am sad for the people from Kir Hareseth. Their money and riches have all been taken away. 37 Everyone has a shaved head. Everyone’s beard is cut off. Everyone’s hands are cut and bleeding. [ i ] Everyone is wearing sackcloth around their waists. 38 People are crying for the dead everywhere in Moab—on every housetop and in every public square. There is sadness because I have broken Moab like an empty jar.” This is what the Lord said.
39 “Moab is shattered. The people are crying. Moab surrendered. Now Moab is ashamed. People make fun of Moab, but what happened fills them with fear.”
40 The Lord says, “Look! An eagle is diving down from the sky.
It is spreading its wings over Moab.
41 The towns of Moab will be captured.
The strong hiding places will be defeated.
At that time Moab’s soldiers will be filled with fear,
like a woman giving birth.
42 The nation of Moab will be destroyed,
because they thought that they were more important than the Lord .”
43 This is what the Lord says:
“People of Moab, fear, deep holes, and traps [ j ] wait for you.
44 People will be afraid and run away,
and they will fall into the deep holes.
Anyone who climbs out of the deep holes
will be caught in the traps.
I will bring the year of punishment to Moab.”
This is what the Lord said.
45 “People have run from the powerful enemy.
They ran to safety in the town of Heshbon.
But a fire started in Heshbon.
That fire started in Sihon’s town, [ k ]
and it is destroying the leaders of Moab.
It is destroying those proud people.
46 It will be bad for you, Moab.
Chemosh’s people are being destroyed.
Your sons and daughters are being taken away
as prisoners and captives.
47 Moab’s people will be taken away as captives.
But in days to come, I will bring them back.”
This message is from the Lord .
This ends the judgment on Moab.
48 Against Moab thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Woe unto Nebo! for it is spoiled: Kiriathaim is confounded and taken: Misgab is confounded and dismayed.
2 There shall be no more praise of Moab: in Heshbon they have devised evil against it; come, and let us cut it off from being a nation. Also thou shalt be cut down, O Madmen; the sword shall pursue thee.
3 A voice of crying shall be from Horonaim, spoiling and great destruction.
4 Moab is destroyed; her little ones have caused a cry to be heard.
5 For in the going up of Luhith continual weeping shall go up; for in the going down of Horonaim the enemies have heard a cry of destruction.
6 Flee, save your lives, and be like the heath in the wilderness.
7 For because thou hast trusted in thy works and in thy treasures, thou shalt also be taken: and Chemosh shall go forth into captivity with his priests and his princes together.
8 And the spoiler shall come upon every city, and no city shall escape: the valley also shall perish, and the plain shall be destroyed, as the Lord hath spoken.
9 Give wings unto Moab, that it may flee and get away: for the cities thereof shall be desolate, without any to dwell therein.
10 Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood.
11 Moab hath been at ease from his youth, and he hath settled on his lees, and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither hath he gone into captivity: therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent is not changed.
12 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord , that I will send unto him wanderers, that shall cause him to wander, and shall empty his vessels, and break their bottles.
13 And Moab shall be ashamed of Chemosh, as the house of Israel was ashamed of Bethel their confidence.
14 How say ye, We are mighty and strong men for the war?
15 Moab is spoiled, and gone up out of her cities, and his chosen young men are gone down to the slaughter, saith the King, whose name is the Lord of hosts.
16 The calamity of Moab is near to come, and his affliction hasteth fast.
17 All ye that are about him, bemoan him; and all ye that know his name, say, How is the strong staff broken, and the beautiful rod!
18 Thou daughter that dost inhabit Dibon, come down from thy glory, and sit in thirst; for the spoiler of Moab shall come upon thee, and he shall destroy thy strong holds.
19 O inhabitant of Aroer, stand by the way, and espy; ask him that fleeth, and her that escapeth, and say, What is done?
20 Moab is confounded; for it is broken down: howl and cry; tell ye it in Arnon, that Moab is spoiled,
21 And judgment is come upon the plain country; upon Holon, and upon Jahazah, and upon Mephaath,
22 And upon Dibon, and upon Nebo, and upon Bethdiblathaim,
23 And upon Kiriathaim, and upon Bethgamul, and upon Bethmeon,
24 And upon Kerioth, and upon Bozrah, and upon all the cities of the land of Moab, far or near.
25 The horn of Moab is cut off, and his arm is broken, saith the Lord .
26 Make ye him drunken: for he magnified himself against the Lord : Moab also shall wallow in his vomit, and he also shall be in derision.
27 For was not Israel a derision unto thee? was he found among thieves? for since thou spakest of him, thou skippedst for joy.
28 O ye that dwell in Moab, leave the cities, and dwell in the rock, and be like the dove that maketh her nest in the sides of the hole's mouth.
29 We have heard the pride of Moab, (he is exceeding proud) his loftiness, and his arrogancy, and his pride, and the haughtiness of his heart.
30 I know his wrath, saith the Lord ; but it shall not be so; his lies shall not so effect it.
31 Therefore will I howl for Moab, and I will cry out for all Moab; mine heart shall mourn for the men of Kirheres.
32 O vine of Sibmah, I will weep for thee with the weeping of Jazer: thy plants are gone over the sea, they reach even to the sea of Jazer: the spoiler is fallen upon thy summer fruits and upon thy vintage.
33 And joy and gladness is taken from the plentiful field, and from the land of Moab, and I have caused wine to fail from the winepresses: none shall tread with shouting; their shouting shall be no shouting.
34 From the cry of Heshbon even unto Elealeh, and even unto Jahaz, have they uttered their voice, from Zoar even unto Horonaim, as an heifer of three years old: for the waters also of Nimrim shall be desolate.
35 Moreover I will cause to cease in Moab, saith the Lord , him that offereth in the high places, and him that burneth incense to his gods.
36 Therefore mine heart shall sound for Moab like pipes, and mine heart shall sound like pipes for the men of Kirheres: because the riches that he hath gotten are perished.
37 For every head shall be bald, and every beard clipped: upon all the hands shall be cuttings, and upon the loins sackcloth.
38 There shall be lamentation generally upon all the housetops of Moab, and in the streets thereof: for I have broken Moab like a vessel wherein is no pleasure, saith the Lord .
39 They shall howl, saying, How is it broken down! how hath Moab turned the back with shame! so shall Moab be a derision and a dismaying to all them about him.
40 For thus saith the Lord ; Behold, he shall fly as an eagle, and shall spread his wings over Moab.
41 Kerioth is taken, and the strong holds are surprised, and the mighty men's hearts in Moab at that day shall be as the heart of a woman in her pangs.
42 And Moab shall be destroyed from being a people, because he hath magnified himself against the Lord .
43 Fear, and the pit, and the snare, shall be upon thee, O inhabitant of Moab, saith the Lord .
44 He that fleeth from the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that getteth up out of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for I will bring upon it, even upon Moab, the year of their visitation, saith the Lord .
45 They that fled stood under the shadow of Heshbon because of the force: but a fire shall come forth out of Heshbon, and a flame from the midst of Sihon, and shall devour the corner of Moab, and the crown of the head of the tumultuous ones.
46 Woe be unto thee, O Moab! the people of Chemosh perisheth: for thy sons are taken captives, and thy daughters captives.
47 Yet will I bring again the captivity of Moab in the latter days, saith the Lord . Thus far is the judgment of Moab.
48 Concerning ( A ) Moab. This is what the Lord of armies, the God of Israel says:
“Woe to ( B ) Nebo, for it has been destroyed;
( C ) Kiriathaim has been put to shame, it has been captured;
The high stronghold has been put to shame and [ a ] shattered.
2 There is no longer praise for Moab;
In ( D ) Heshbon they have devised disaster against her:
‘Come and let’s cut her off from being a nation!’
You too, [ b ] Madmen, will be silenced;
The sword will follow you.
3 The sound of an outcry from ( E ) Horonaim,
‘Devastation and great destruction!’
4 Moab is broken,
Her little ones have sounded out a cry of distress .
5 For they will go up by the ascent of ( F ) Luhith
With continual weeping;
For at the descent of Horonaim
They have heard the [ c ] anguished cry of destruction.
6 ( G ) Flee, save yourselves,
So that you may be like a juniper in the wilderness.
7 For because of your ( H ) trust in your own achievements and treasures,
You yourself will also be captured;
And ( I ) Chemosh will go off into exile
Together with his priests and his leaders.
8 A destroyer will come to every city,
So that no city will escape;
The valley also will be ruined
And the ( J ) plateau will be destroyed,
As the Lord has said.
9 Give [ d ] ( K ) wings to Moab,
For she will [ e ] flee away;
And her cities will become a ( L ) desolation,
Without inhabitants in them.
10 ( M ) Cursed is the one who does the Lord ’ s work ( N ) negligently,
And cursed is the one who restrains his ( O ) sword from blood.
11 “Moab has been ( P ) at ease since his youth;
He has also been ( Q ) peaceful, like wine on [ f ] its dregs,
And he has not been ( R ) poured from vessel to vessel,
Nor has he gone into exile.
Therefore [ g ] he retains his flavor,
And his aroma has not changed.
12 Therefore behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord , “when I will send to him those who tip vessels , and they will tip him over, and they will pour out his vessels and smash [ h ] his jars. 13 And Moab will be ( S ) ashamed of ( T ) Chemosh, just as the house of Israel was ashamed of ( U ) Bethel, their confidence.
14 How can you say, ‘We are ( V ) warriors,
And men competent for battle’?
15 Moab has been destroyed and [ i ] men have gone up to [ j ] his cities;
His choicest [ k ] ( W ) young men have also gone down to the slaughter,”
Declares the ( X ) King, whose name is the Lord of armies.
16 “The disaster of Moab will ( Y ) soon come,
And his catastrophe has hurried quickly.
17 Mourn for him, all you who live around him,
And all of you who know his name;
Say, ‘How the mighty [ l ] ( Z ) scepter has been broken,
A staff of splendor!’
18 ( AA ) Come down from your glory
And sit on the parched ground,
O ( AB ) daughter living in ( AC ) Dibon,
For the destroyer of Moab has come up against you,
He has ruined your strongholds.
19 Stand by the road and keep watch,
You inhabitant of ( AD ) Aroer;
( AE ) Ask him who flees and her who escapes
And say, ‘What has happened?’
20 Moab has been put to shame, for it has been [ m ] shattered.
Wail and cry out;
Declare by the ( AF ) Arnon
That Moab has been destroyed.
21 “Judgment has also come upon the plain, upon Holon, ( AG ) Jahzah, and against ( AH ) Mephaath, 22 against Dibon, Nebo, and Beth-diblathaim, 23 against Kiriathaim, Beth-gamul, and ( AI ) Beth-meon, 24 against ( AJ ) Kerioth, Bozrah, and all the cities of the land of Moab, far and near. 25 The ( AK ) horn of Moab has been cut off, and his ( AL ) arm broken,” declares the Lord . 26 “ ( AM ) Make him drunk, for he has [ n ] become ( AN ) arrogant toward the Lord ; so Moab will [ o ] vomit, and he also will become a laughingstock. 27 Now was Israel not a ( AO ) laughingstock to you? Or was he [ p ] ( AP ) caught among thieves? For whenever you speak about him you ( AQ ) shake your head in scorn .
28 Leave the cities and live among the ( AR ) rocky cliffs,
You inhabitants of Moab,
And be like a ( AS ) dove that nests
Beyond the mouth of the chasm.
29 ( AT ) We have heard of the pride of Moab—he is very proud—
Of his haughtiness, his ( AU ) pride, his arrogance, and [ q ] his self-exaltation.
30 I know his ( AV ) fury,” declares the Lord ,
“But it is futile;
His idle boasts have accomplished nothing.
31 Therefore I will ( AW ) wail for Moab,
For all of Moab I will cry out;
[ r ] I will moan for the men of ( AX ) Kir-heres.
32 More than the ( AY ) weeping for ( AZ ) Jazer
I will weep for you, O vine of Sibmah!
Your tendrils stretched across the sea,
They reached to the sea of Jazer;
Upon your summer fruits and your grape harvest
The destroyer has fallen.
33 So ( BA ) joy and rejoicing are removed
From the fruitful field, and from the land of Moab.
And I have ( BB ) eliminated the wine from the wine presses;
No one will tread them with shouting,
The shouting will not be shouts of joy .
34 ( BC ) From the outcry at Heshbon to ( BD ) Elealeh, to Jahaz they have [ s ] raised their voice, from ( BE ) Zoar to Horonaim, and to Eglath-shelishiyah; for even the waters of Nimrim will become desolate. 35 And I will put an end to Moab,” declares the Lord , “the one who offers sacrifice on the ( BF ) high place and the one who [ t ] ( BG ) burns incense to his gods.
36 “Therefore My ( BH ) heart makes a sound like flutes for Moab; My heart also makes a sound like flutes for the men of Kir-heres. Therefore they have ( BI ) lost the abundance it produced. 37 For ( BJ ) every head is shaved bald, and every beard cut short; there are gashes on all the hands, and ( BK ) sackcloth around the waists. 38 On all the ( BL ) housetops of Moab and in its public squares [ u ] there is mourning everywhere; for I have broken Moab like an undesirable ( BM ) vessel,” declares the Lord . 39 “How [ v ] shattered it is! How they have wailed! How Moab has turned his back—he is ashamed! So Moab will become a laughingstock and an ( BN ) object of terror to all around him.”
40 For this is what the Lord says:
“Behold, one will ( BO ) fly swiftly like an eagle
And ( BP ) spread out his wings against Moab.
41 Kerioth has been captured
And the strongholds have been seized,
So the ( BQ ) hearts of the warriors of Moab on that day
Will be like the heart of a ( BR ) woman in labor.
42 Moab will be ( BS ) destroyed from being a people
Because he has [ w ] become ( BT ) arrogant toward the Lord .
43 ( BU ) Terror, pit, and snare are coming upon you,
Inhabitant of Moab,” declares the Lord .
44 “The one who ( BV ) flees from the terror
Will fall into the pit,
And the one who climbs up out of the pit
Will be caught in the snare;
For I will bring upon her, upon Moab,
The year of their ( BW ) punishment,” declares the Lord .
45 “In the shadow of Heshbon
The fugitives stand without strength;
For a fire has spread out from Heshbon
And a ( BX ) flame from the midst of ( BY ) Sihon,
And it has devoured the ( BZ ) forehead of Moab
And the scalps of the [ x ] loud revelers.
46 ( CA ) Woe to you, Moab!
The people of ( CB ) Chemosh have perished;
For your sons have been taken away captive,
And your daughters into captivity.
47 Yet I will ( CC ) restore the fortunes of Moab
In the [ y ] latter days,” declares the Lord .
This is the extent of the judgment on Moab.
48 Concerning Moab: ( B )
This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says:
“Woe to Nebo, ( C ) for it will be ruined.
Kiriathaim ( D ) will be disgraced and captured;
the stronghold [ a ] will be disgraced and shattered.
2 Moab will be praised ( E ) no more;
in Heshbon [ b ] ( F ) people will plot her downfall:
‘Come, let us put an end to that nation.’ ( G )
You, the people of Madmen, [ c ] will also be silenced;
the sword will pursue you.
3 Cries of anguish arise from Horonaim, ( H )
cries of great havoc and destruction.
4 Moab will be broken;
her little ones will cry out. [ d ]
5 They go up the hill to Luhith, ( I )
weeping bitterly as they go;
on the road down to Horonaim ( J )
anguished cries over the destruction are heard.
6 Flee! ( K ) Run for your lives;
become like a bush [ e ] in the desert. ( L )
7 Since you trust in your deeds and riches, ( M )
you too will be taken captive,
and Chemosh ( N ) will go into exile, ( O )
together with his priests and officials. ( P )
8 The destroyer ( Q ) will come against every town,
and not a town will escape.
The valley will be ruined
and the plateau ( R ) destroyed,
because the Lord has spoken.
9 Put salt ( S ) on Moab,
for she will be laid waste [ f ] ; ( T )
her towns will become desolate,
with no one to live in them.
10 “A curse on anyone who is lax in doing the Lord ’s work!
A curse on anyone who keeps their sword ( U ) from bloodshed! ( V )
11 “Moab has been at rest ( W ) from youth,
like wine left on its dregs, ( X )
not poured from one jar to another—
she has not gone into exile.
So she tastes as she did,
and her aroma is unchanged.
12 But days are coming,”
declares the Lord ,
“when I will send men who pour from pitchers,
and they will pour her out;
they will empty her pitchers
and smash her jars.
13 Then Moab will be ashamed ( Y ) of Chemosh, ( Z )
as Israel was ashamed
when they trusted in Bethel. ( AA )
14 “How can you say, ‘We are warriors, ( AB )
men valiant in battle’?
15 Moab will be destroyed and her towns invaded;
her finest young men ( AC ) will go down in the slaughter, ( AD ) ”
declares the King, ( AE ) whose name is the Lord Almighty. ( AF )
16 “The fall of Moab is at hand; ( AG )
her calamity will come quickly.
17 Mourn for her, all who live around her,
all who know her fame; ( AH )
say, ‘How broken is the mighty scepter, ( AI )
how broken the glorious staff!’
18 “Come down from your glory
and sit on the parched ground, ( AJ )
you inhabitants of Daughter Dibon, ( AK )
for the one who destroys Moab
will come up against you
and ruin your fortified cities. ( AL )
19 Stand by the road and watch,
you who live in Aroer. ( AM )
Ask the man fleeing and the woman escaping,
ask them, ‘What has happened?’
20 Moab is disgraced, for she is shattered.
Wail ( AN ) and cry out!
Announce by the Arnon ( AO )
that Moab is destroyed.
21 Judgment has come to the plateau ( AP ) —
to Holon, ( AQ ) Jahzah ( AR ) and Mephaath, ( AS )
22 to Dibon, ( AT ) Nebo ( AU ) and Beth Diblathaim,
23 to Kiriathaim, ( AV ) Beth Gamul and Beth Meon, ( AW )
24 to Kerioth ( AX ) and Bozrah ( AY ) —
to all the towns ( AZ ) of Moab, far and near.
25 Moab’s horn [ g ] ( BA ) is cut off;
her arm ( BB ) is broken,”
declares the Lord .
26 “Make her drunk, ( BC )
for she has defied ( BD ) the Lord .
Let Moab wallow in her vomit; ( BE )
let her be an object of ridicule. ( BF )
27 Was not Israel the object of your ridicule? ( BG )
Was she caught among thieves, ( BH )
that you shake your head ( BI ) in scorn ( BJ )
whenever you speak of her?
28 Abandon your towns and dwell among the rocks,
you who live in Moab.
Be like a dove ( BK ) that makes its nest
at the mouth of a cave. ( BL )
29 “We have heard of Moab’s pride ( BM ) —
how great is her arrogance!—
of her insolence, her pride, her conceit
and the haughtiness ( BN ) of her heart.
30 I know her insolence but it is futile,”
declares the Lord ,
“and her boasts ( BO ) accomplish nothing.
31 Therefore I wail ( BP ) over Moab,
for all Moab I cry out,
I moan for the people of Kir Hareseth. ( BQ )
32 I weep for you, as Jazer ( BR ) weeps,
you vines of Sibmah. ( BS )
Your branches spread as far as the sea [ h ] ;
they reached as far as [ i ] Jazer.
The destroyer has fallen
on your ripened fruit and grapes.
33 Joy and gladness are gone
from the orchards and fields of Moab.
I have stopped the flow of wine ( BT ) from the presses;
no one treads them with shouts of joy. ( BU )
Although there are shouts,
they are not shouts of joy.
34 “The sound of their cry rises
from Heshbon ( BV ) to Elealeh ( BW ) and Jahaz, ( BX )
from Zoar ( BY ) as far as Horonaim ( BZ ) and Eglath Shelishiyah,
for even the waters of Nimrim are dried up. ( CA )
35 In Moab I will put an end
to those who make offerings on the high places ( CB )
and burn incense ( CC ) to their gods,”
declares the Lord .
36 “So my heart laments ( CD ) for Moab like the music of a pipe;
it laments like a pipe for the people of Kir Hareseth. ( CE )
The wealth they acquired ( CF ) is gone.
37 Every head is shaved ( CG )
and every beard ( CH ) cut off;
every hand is slashed
and every waist is covered with sackcloth. ( CI )
38 On all the roofs in Moab
and in the public squares ( CJ )
there is nothing but mourning,
for I have broken Moab
like a jar ( CK ) that no one wants,”
declares the Lord .
39 “How shattered ( CL ) she is! How they wail!
How Moab turns her back in shame!
Moab has become an object of ridicule, ( CM )
an object of horror to all those around her.”
40 This is what the Lord says:
“Look! An eagle is swooping ( CN ) down,
spreading its wings ( CO ) over Moab.
41 Kerioth [ j ] ( CP ) will be captured
and the strongholds taken.
In that day the hearts of Moab’s warriors ( CQ )
will be like the heart of a woman in labor. ( CR )
42 Moab will be destroyed ( CS ) as a nation ( CT )
because she defied ( CU ) the Lord .
43 Terror ( CV ) and pit and snare ( CW ) await you,
you people of Moab,”
declares the Lord .
44 “Whoever flees ( CX ) from the terror
will fall into a pit,
whoever climbs out of the pit
will be caught in a snare;
for I will bring on Moab
the year ( CY ) of her punishment,”
declares the Lord .
45 “In the shadow of Heshbon
the fugitives stand helpless,
for a fire has gone out from Heshbon,
a blaze from the midst of Sihon; ( CZ )
it burns the foreheads of Moab,
the skulls ( DA ) of the noisy boasters.
46 Woe to you, Moab! ( DB )
The people of Chemosh are destroyed;
your sons are taken into exile
and your daughters into captivity.
47 “Yet I will restore ( DC ) the fortunes of Moab
in days to come,”
declares the Lord .
Here ends the judgment on Moab.
