Chapter 16

Prophecy of Moab’s Devastation

1 aSend the tribute lamb to the ruler of the land,

From 1bSela by way of the wilderness to the cmountain of the daughter of Zion.

2 Then, like 1afleeing birds or scattered 2nestlings,

The daughters of bMoab will be at the fords of the cArnon.

3 “1Give us advice, make a decision;

2Cast your ashadow like night 3at high noon;

bHide the outcasts, do not betray the fugitive.

4 “Let the 1outcasts of Moab stay with you;

Be a hiding place to them from the destroyer.”

For the extortioner has come to an end, destruction has ceased,

aOppressors have completely disappeared from the land.

5 A athrone will even be established in lovingkindness,

And a judge will sit on it in faithfulness in the tent of bDavid;

Moreover, he will seek justice

And be prompt in righteousness.

6 aWe have heard of the pride of Moab, an excessive pride;

Even of his arrogance, pride, and fury;

bHis idle boasts are 1false.

7 Therefore Moab will wail; everyone of Moab will wail.

You will moan for the araisin cakes of bKir-hareseth

As those who are utterly stricken.

8 For the fields of aHeshbon have 1withered, the vines of bSibmah as well;

The lords of the nations have trampled down its choice clusters

Which reached as far as Jazer and wandered to the deserts;

cIts tendrils spread themselves out and passed over the sea.

9 Therefore I will aweep bitterly for Jazer, for the vine of Sibmah;

I will drench you with my tears, O bHeshbon and Elealeh;

For the shouting over your csummer fruits and your harvest has fallen away.

10 aGladness and joy are taken away from the fruitful field;

In the bvineyards also there will be no cries of joy or jubilant shouting,

No ctreader treads out wine in the presses,

For I have made the shouting to cease.

11 Therefore my 1aheart intones like a harp for Moab

And my 2inward feelings for Kir-hareseth.

12 So it will come about when Moab apresents himself,

When he bwearies himself upon his chigh place

And comes to his sanctuary to pray,

That he will not prevail.

13 This is the word which the Lord spoke earlier concerning Moab.

14 But now the Lord speaks, saying, “Within three years, as 1aa hired man would count them, the glory of bMoab will be degraded along with all his great population, and his remnant will be very small and 2impotent.”