2ND CHAPTER

Moab Will Be Judged for Its Crimes

1  This is what the Lord says: 

Because Moab has committed three crimes, and now a fourth crime, 

I will not change my plans. 

The Moabites have cremated Edom’s king. 

2  I will send a fire on Moab 

and burn down the palaces of Kerioth. 

Moab will die during the noise of battle 

while troops are shouting and rams’ horns are blowing. 

3  I will take their judges away from them. 

I will kill all their officials at the same time. 

The Lord has said this. 

Judah Will Be Judged for Its Crimes

4  This is what the Lord says: 

Because Judah has committed three crimes, and now a fourth crime, 

I will not change my plans. 

The people of Judah have rejected the Lord’s Teachings 

and haven’t kept his laws. 

They have been led astray by false teachings, 

the same ones their ancestors followed. 

5  I will send a fire on Judah 

and burn down the palaces of Jerusalem. 

Israel Will Be Judged for Its Crimes

6  This is what the Lord says: 

Because Israel has committed three crimes, and now a fourth crime, 

I will not change my plans. 

The people of Israel sell the righteous for money 

and the needy for a pair of sandals. 

7  They stomp the heads of the poor into the dust. 

They push the humble out of the way. 

Father and son sleep with the same woman. 

They dishonor my holy name. 

8  Beside every altar, they spread themselves out on clothes 

taken as security. 

In the temples of their gods, they drink the wine 

that they bought with fines. 

9  I destroyed the Amorites in front of them, 

although the Amorites were as tall as cedars and as strong as oaks. 

I destroyed their fruit above the ground and their roots below it. 

10  I brought you out of Egypt. 

I led you through the desert for 40 years 

so that you could take possession of the land of the Amorites. 

11  I also sent you prophets from among your children 

and Nazirites from among your youths. 

Isn’t that so, people of Israel? 

The Lord has declared this. 

12  You made the Nazirites drink wine. 

You commanded the prophets to stop prophesying. 

13  I am going to crush you as an overloaded wagon crushes a person. 

14  Runners will not be able to escape. 

Strong men will find that their strength is useless. 

Soldiers will not be able to save themselves. 

15  Archers will not stand their ground. 

Fast runners will not be able to escape. 

Horsemen will not be able to save themselves. 

16  Brave soldiers will run away naked that day. 

The Lord has declared this.