CHAPTER 48
Concerning Moab,
this is what
the LORD
of Hosts,
the God
of Israel,
says:
“Woe
to
Nebo,
for
it will be devastated.
Kiriathaim
will be captured
and disgraced;
the fortress
will be shattered
and dismantled.
There is no
longer
praise
for Moab;
in Heshbon
they devise
evil
against her:
‘Come,
let us cut her off
from nationhood.’
You too,
O people of Madmen,
will be silenced;
the sword
will pursue
you.
For
on the Ascent
to Luhith
they weep
bitterly
as they go,
and
on the descent
to Horonaim
cries
of distress
resound
over the destruction:
Because
you trust
in your works
and treasures,
you
too
will be captured,
and Chemosh
will go
into exile
with
his priests
and officials.
The destroyer
will move
against
every
city,
and not
one town
will escape.
The valley
also will be ruined,
and the high plain
will be destroyed,
as
the LORD
has said.
Put
salt
on Moab,
for
she will be laid waste;
her cities
will become
desolate,
with no one
to dwell
in them.
Cursed be the one
who is negligent
in doing
the work
of the LORD,
and cursed is
he who withholds
his sword
from bloodshed.
Moab
has been at ease
from youth,
settled
like wine
on its dregs;
he has not
been poured
from vessel
to
vessel
or gone
into exile.
So
his taste
has remained the same,
and his aroma
is unchanged.
Therefore
behold,
the days
are coming,
declares
the LORD,
when I will send
to him
wanderers,
who will pour him out.
They will empty
his vessels
and shatter
his jars.
Then Moab
will be ashamed
of Chemosh,
just as
the house
of Israel
was ashamed
when they trusted in
Bethel.
Moab
has been destroyed
and its towns
invaded;
the best
of its young men
have gone down
in the slaughter,
declares
the King
whose name
is the LORD
of Hosts.
Mourn for him,
all you
who surround him,
everyone
who knows
his name;
tell
how
the mighty
scepter
is shattered—
the glorious
staff!
Come down
from your glory;
sit
on parched ground,
O daughter
dwelling
in Dibon,
for
the destroyer
of Moab
has come against you;
he has destroyed
your fortresses.
Stand
by
the road
and watch,
O resident
of Aroer!
Ask
the man fleeing
or the woman escaping,
‘What
has happened?’
Moab
is put to shame,
for
it has been shattered.
Wail
and cry out!
Declare
by the Arnon
that
Moab
is destroyed.
Make him drunk,
because
he has magnified
himself against
the LORD;
so Moab
will wallow
in his own vomit,
and he
will also
become
a laughingstock.
Was
not
Israel
your object of ridicule?
Was he ever found among thieves?
For
whenever
you speak of him
you shake your head.”
Abandon
the towns
and dwell
among the rocks,
O residents
of Moab!
Be
like a dove
that nests
at
the mouth
of a cave.
We have heard
of Moab’s
pride,
his exceeding
pride
and conceit,
his proud arrogance
and haughtiness
of heart.
Therefore
I will wail
for
Moab;
I will cry out
for all
of Moab;
I will moan
for
the men
of Kir-heres.
I will weep for you,
O vine
of Sibmah,
more than I weep
for Jazer.
Your tendrils
have extended
to the sea;
they reach
even to
Jazer.
The destroyer
has fallen
on
your summer fruit
and grape harvest.
Joy
and gladness
are removed
from the orchard
and from the fields
of Moab.
I have stopped
the flow of wine
from the presses;
no one
will tread
with shouts of joy;
their shouts
are not
for joy.
There is a cry
from Heshbon
to
Elealeh;
they raise
their voices
to
Jahaz,
from Zoar
to
Horonaim
and Eglath-shelishiyah;
for
even
the waters
of Nimrim
have dried up.
In Moab,
declares
the LORD,
I will bring an end
to those who make offerings
on the high places
and burn incense
to their gods.
Therefore
My heart
laments
for Moab
like a flute;
it
laments
like a flute
for
the men
of Kir-heres,
because
the wealth
they acquired
has perished.
For
every
head
is shaved
and every
beard
is clipped;
on
every
hand
is a gash
and around
every waist
is sackcloth.
On
all
the rooftops
of Moab
and in the public squares,
everyone
is mourning;
for
I have shattered
Moab
like an unwanted
jar,
declares
the LORD.
How
shattered it is!
How they wail!
How
Moab
has turned
his back
in shame!
Moab
will become
an object of ridicule
and horror
to all
those around
him.”
For
this is what
the LORD
says:
“Behold,
an eagle
swoops down
and spreads
his wings
against
Moab.
Kirioth
has been taken,
and the strongholds
seized.
In that
day
the heart
of Moab’s
warriors
will be
like the heart
of a woman
in labor.
He who flees
the panic
will fall
into
the pit,
and he who climbs
from
the pit
will be caught
in the snare,
for
I will bring
against
Moab
the year
of their punishment,
declares
the LORD.
Those who flee
will stand
helpless
in Heshbon’s
shadow,
because
fire
has gone forth
from Heshbon
and a flame
from within
Sihon.
It will devour
the foreheads
of Moab
and the skulls
of the noisemakers.
Woe to you,
O Moab!
The people
of Chemosh
have perished;
for
your sons
have been taken
into exile
and your daughters
have gone into captivity.
Yet in the latter
days
I will restore
Moab
from captivity,
declares
the LORD.”
Here
ends
the judgment
on Moab.