PROPHECIES AGAINST MOAB

48 About Moab,a this is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says:

Woe to Nebo,b because it is about to be destroyed;

Kiriathaim will be put to shame;c it will be taken captive.

The fortress will be put to shame and dismayed!

2 There is no longer praise for Moab;

they plan harm against her in Heshbon:d

Come, let’s cut her off from nationhood.

Also, Madmen, you will be silenced;

the sword will followe you.

3 A voice cries out from Horonaim,f

“devastation and a crushing blow!”g

4 Moab will be shattered;

her little ones will cry out.

5 For on the Ascent to Luhith

they will be weeping continually,A

and on the descent to Horonaim

will be heard cries of distress over the destruction:h

6 Flee! Save your lives!i

Be like a juniper bush* j in the wilderness.

7 Because you trust in your works and treasures,

you will be captured also.

Chemoshk will go into exile

with his priests and officials.l

8 The destroyerm will move against every town;

not one town will escape.

The valley will perish,

and the plain will be annihilated,n

as the Lord has said.

9 Make Moab a salt marsh,C,o

for she will run away;D

her towns will become a desolation,

without inhabitant.p

10 The one who does

the Lord’s business deceitfullyE is cursed,q

and the one who withholds

his sword from bloodshed is cursed.

11 Moab has been left quiet since his youth,

settled like wine on its dregs.r

He hasn’t been poured from one container to another

or gone into exile.

So his taste has remained the same,

and his aroma hasn’t changed.

12 Therefore look, the days are comings—

this is the Lord’s declaration—

when I will send pourers to him, who will pour him out.

They will empty his containers

and smash his jars.

13 Moab will be put to shame because of Chemosh,

just as the house of Israel was put to shame

because of Bethelt that they trusted in.