Jeremiah

Against Moab

Concerning Moab, the Lord, the God of Israel, says this: “Woe to Nebo, for it is laid waste. Kiriathaim is captured and disgraced; the fortress is shattered and brought low.

No longer will Moab be praised; people in Heshbon are plotting her downfall: ‘Let us end this nation!’ You, too, Madmen, will be subdued; the sword is behind you.

Listen, a cry from Horonaim— a cry of ruin and destruction!

Moab is destroyed; her cry is heard as far as Zoar.

Her little ones go up the path to Luhith, weeping bitterly as they ascend. On the way down to Horonaim, the cry of destruction still rings out.

Flee, run for your lives, like wild donkeys in the desert.

Since you trusted in your deeds and riches, you will also be captured. Chemosh will go into exile, along with her priests and officials.

The destroyer comes against every city, and not a single one escapes. The valley is plundered, the plain is raped, just as the Lord has announced.

Bury Moab, for she is fallen! Her cities will lie desolate, with no one left to inhabit them. Cursed is anyone who is careless in doing the Lord’s work!

Cursed is anyone who holds back his sword from shedding blood!

From youth, Moab has lived easily, resting comfortably on its wine lees, never having gone into exile, never been drained; thus, it kept its own flavor as wine, and its aroma remained.

And so the day will come —the Lord says— When I will send decanters to her. They will empty her flasks and break her jars.

Then Moab will be ashamed of Chemosh, just as Israel has been ashamed of Bethel, in which they trusted.

How can you say: ‘We are heroes and brave warriors?’

Moab will be destroyed, her towns shattered, and her best young men slaughtered —it is the Lord Sabaoth who speaks, whose name is the Lord.

Moab’s ruin is near; her downfall comes quickly.

All you, her neighbors, grieve for her, all who knew her well; say: “How the mighty scepter is broken, the glorious staff!”

Come down from your glory, sit on the dry ground, all you who live in Dibon; Moab’s destroyer has come against you, he has destroyed your stronghold.

Stand by the way and watch closely, you who dwell in Aroer; ask the men who flee, the women who escape, ask them what has happened.

Moab is shamed, oh, yes, destroyed; howl and cry out for her. Announce it by the Arnon that Moab is ruined.

Judgment has been declared over the land: on Holon, Jahzah, and Mephaath,

on Dibon, Nebo, and Beth-diblathaim,

on Kiriathaim, Beth-gamul, and Beth-meon,

on Kerioth and Bozrah, and on all the cities of Moab, both near and far.

The horn of Moab is cut off, and her strength broken —this is the Lord’s declaration.

Make her drunk! Because she has exalted herself against the Lord, Moab will stumble in her vomit and become a laughingstock in the eyes of others.

Was Israel not a laughingstock to you? Was she found among thieves, so that you mock her whenever you speak of her?

Leave the cities and settle in the rocky cliffs, O inhabitants of Moab. Learn from the dove that builds its nest out of reach on the edge of a cliff.

We have heard of Moab’s pride, his arrogance, and her haughtiness of heart.

The Lord says: I know her insolence; her words are lies, and her deeds are futile.

So I mourn for Moab; I lament for all of Moab; I mourn for the people of Kir-heres.

O vineyard of Sibmah, I weep more for you than for Jazer. Your branches extend all the way to the sea, reaching the Sea of Jazer. The destroyer has fallen on your harvest and your vintage.

Jubilation has ended in the fruit gardens of Moab; the joyful vintage shout is not heard, for I have drained the wine from the wine vats.

The cry of Heshbon and Elealeh is heard as far as Jahaz. From Zoar to Horonaim and Eglath-shelishiyah, their lament is echoing, for even the waters of Nimrim have become desolate.

The Lord declares: I will eliminate anyone in Moab who offers sacrifices on the high place and burns incense to his gods.

And that is why my heart, Like a flute, sobs for Moab; it moans for the people of Kir-heres whose riches have all been destroyed.

Every head is shaved, every beard cut off; there are gashes on their hands, and sackcloth covers their loins.

There is nothing but mourning on all the rooftops and in the public squares of Moab, for I have shattered her like a vessel that no one wants —says the Lord.

What terror has overtaken Moab, what wailing! Oh, how she has turned back in shame! Moab has become a laughingstock and a horror to her neighbors.

For thus says the Lord: Look, an eagle is swooping down, spreading its wings over Moab.

The towns will be captured, the strongholds seized. The hearts of Moab’s warriors On that day will be like the hearts of women in labor.

Moab will be destroyed as a nation for opposing the Lord.

Terror, pit, and snare will be upon you, O people of Moab —says the Lord.

Whoever flees from terror will fall into the pit; whoever climbs out of the pit will be caught in the snare; for I will allow this to happen to Moab in the year of her punishment —says the Lord.

Fugitives stop in the shadow of Heshbon because a fire has gone out from the house of Sihon, burning Moab’s skull and her boastful crown.

Woe to you, Moab, people of Chemosh, who suffer calamity! Your sons are taken into exile, your daughters into captivity.

But in days to come, I will restore the fortunes of Moab—the Lord declares. The judgment on Moab concludes here.