1
This is what the Lord Almighty said about Moab:
1 "Pity the people of Nebo - their town is destroyed! Kiriathaim is captured, its mighty fortress torn down, and its people put to shame;
2
the splendor of Moab is gone. The enemy have captured Heshbon and plot to destroy the nation of Moab. The town of Madmen will be silenced; armies will march against it.
3
The people of Horonaim cry out, "Violence! Destruction!'
4
"Moab has been destroyed; listen to the children crying.
5
Hear the sound of their sobs along the road up to Luhith, the cries of distress on the way down to Horonaim.
6
"Quick, run for your lives!' they say. "Run like a wild desert donkey!'
7
"Moab, you trusted in your strength and your wealth, but now even you will be conquered; your god Chemosh will go into exile, along with his princes and priests.
8
Not a town will escape the destruction; both valley and plain will be ruined. I, the Lord, have spoken.
9
Set up a tombstone for Moab; it will soon be destroyed. Its towns will be left in ruins, and no one will live there again."
10
(Curse those who do not do the Lord's work with all their heart! Curse those who do not slash and kill!)
11
The Lord said, "Moab has always lived secure and has never been taken into exile. Moab is like wine left to settle undisturbed and never poured from jar to jar. Its flavor has never been ruined, and it tastes as good as ever.
12
"So now, the time is coming when I will send people to pour Moab out like wine. They will empty its wine jars and break them in pieces.
13
Then the Moabites will be disillusioned with their god Chemosh, just as the Israelites were disillusioned with Bethel, a god in whom they trusted.
14
"Men of Moab, why do you claim to be heroes, brave soldiers tested in war?
15
Moab and its cities are destroyed; its finest young men have been slaughtered. I am the king, the Lord Almighty, and I have spoken.
16
Moab's doom approaches; its ruin is coming soon.
17
"Mourn for that nation, you that live nearby, all of you that know its fame. Say, "Its powerful rule has been broken; its glory and might are no more.'
18
You that live in Dibon, come down from your place of honor and sit on the ground in the dust; Moab's destroyer is here and has left its forts in ruins.
19
You that live in Aroer, stand by the road and wait; ask those who are running away, find out from them what has happened.
20
"Moab has fallen,' they will answer, "weep for it; it is disgraced. Announce along the Arnon River that Moab is destroyed!'
21
"Judgment has come on the cities of the plateau: on Holon, Jahzah, Mephaath,
22
Dibon, Nebo, Beth Diblathaim,
23
Kiriathaim, Bethgamul, Bethmeon,
24
Kerioth, and Bozrah. Judgment has come on all the cities of Moab, far and near.
25
Moab's might has been crushed; its power has been destroyed. I, the Lord, have spoken."
26
The Lord said, "Make Moab drunk, because it has rebelled against me. Moab will roll in its own vomit, and people will laugh.
27
Moab, remember how you made fun of the people of Israel? You treated them as though they had been caught with a gang of robbers.
28
"You people who live in Moab, leave your towns! Go and live on the cliffs! Be like the dove that makes its nest in the sides of a ravine.
29
Moab is very proud! I have heard how proud, arrogant, and conceited the people are, how much they think of themselves.