The Judgment on Moab
(Zephaniah 2:8-11)
1Against Moab thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Woe unto Nebo! for it is spoiled: Kiriathaim is confounded and taken: Misgab is confounded and dismayed.
2There shall be no more praise of Moab: in Heshbon they have devised evil against it; come, and let us cut it off from being a nation. Also thou shalt be cut down, O Madmen; the sword shall pursue thee.
3A voice of crying shall be from Horonaim, spoiling and great destruction.
4Moab is destroyed; her little ones have caused a cry to be heard.
5For in the going up of Luhith continual weeping shall go up; for in the going down of Horonaim the enemies have heard a cry of destruction.
6Flee, save your lives, and be like the heath in the wilderness.
7For because thou hast trusted in thy works and in thy treasures, thou shalt also be taken: and Chemosh shall go forth into captivity with his priests and his princes together.
8And the spoiler shall come upon every city, and no city shall escape: the valley also shall perish, and the plain shall be destroyed, as the LORD hath spoken.
9Give wings unto Moab, that it may flee and get away: for the cities thereof shall be desolate, without any to dwell therein.
10Cursed be he that doeth the work of the LORD deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood.
11Moab hath been at ease from his youth, and he hath settled on his lees, and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither hath he gone into captivity: therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent is not changed.
12Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will send unto him wanderers, that shall cause him to wander, and shall empty his vessels, and break their bottles. 13And Moab shall be ashamed of Chemosh, as the house of Israel was ashamed of Bethel their confidence.
14How say ye, We are mighty and strong men for the war?
15Moab is spoiled, and gone up out of her cities, and his chosen young men are gone down to the slaughter, saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts.
16The calamity of Moab is near to come, and his affliction hasteth fast.
17All ye that are about him, bemoan him; and all ye that know his name, say, How is the strong staff broken, and the beautiful rod!
18Thou daughter that dost inhabit Dibon, come down from thy glory, and sit in thirst; for the spoiler of Moab shall come upon thee, and he shall destroy thy strong holds.
19O inhabitant of Aroer, stand by the way, and espy; ask him that fleeth, and her that escapeth, and say, What is done?
20Moab is confounded; for it is broken down: howl and cry; tell ye it in Arnon, that Moab is spoiled,
21And judgment is come upon the plain country; upon Holon, and upon Jahazah, and upon Mephaath, 22And upon Dibon, and upon Nebo, and upon Bethdiblathaim, 23And upon Kiriathaim, and upon Bethgamul, and upon Bethmeon, 24And upon Kerioth, and upon Bozrah, and upon all the cities of the land of Moab, far or near. 25The horn of Moab is cut off, and his arm is broken, saith the LORD. 26Make ye him drunken: for he magnified himself against the LORD: Moab also shall wallow in his vomit, and he also shall be in derision. 27For was not Israel a derision unto thee? was he found among thieves? for since thou spakest of him, thou skippedst for joy.
28O ye that dwell in Moab, leave the cities, and dwell in the rock, and be like the dove that maketh her nest in the sides of the hole's mouth.
29We have heard the pride of Moab, (he is exceeding proud) his loftiness, and his arrogancy, and his pride, and the haughtiness of his heart.
30I know his wrath, saith the LORD; but it shall not be so; his lies shall not so effect it.
31Therefore will I howl for Moab, and I will cry out for all Moab; mine heart shall mourn for the men of Kirheres.
32O vine of Sibmah, I will weep for thee with the weeping of Jazer: thy plants are gone over the sea, they reach even to the sea of Jazer: the spoiler is fallen upon thy summer fruits and upon thy vintage.
33And joy and gladness is taken from the plentiful field, and from the land of Moab; and I have caused wine to fail from the winepresses: none shall tread with shouting; their shouting shall be no shouting.
34From the cry of Heshbon even unto Elealeh, and even unto Jahaz, have they uttered their voice, from Zoar even unto Horonaim, as an heifer of three years old: for the waters also of Nimrim shall be desolate. 35Moreover I will cause to cease in Moab, saith the LORD, him that offereth in the high places, and him that burneth incense to his gods.
36Therefore mine heart shall sound for Moab like pipes, and mine heart shall sound like pipes for the men of Kirheres: because the riches that he hath gotten are perished. 37For every head shall be bald, and every beard clipped: upon all the hands shall be cuttings, and upon the loins sackcloth. 38There shall be lamentation generally upon all the housetops of Moab, and in the streets thereof: for I have broken Moab like a vessel wherein is no pleasure, saith the LORD. 39They shall howl, saying, How is it broken down! how hath Moab turned the back with shame! so shall Moab be a derision and a dismaying to all them about him.
40For thus saith the LORD; Behold, he shall fly as an eagle, and shall spread his wings over Moab.
41Kerioth is taken, and the strong holds are surprised, and the mighty men's hearts in Moab at that day shall be as the heart of a woman in her pangs.
42And Moab shall be destroyed from being a people, because he hath magnified himself against the LORD.
43Fear, and the pit, and the snare, shall be upon thee, O inhabitant of Moab, saith the LORD.
44He that fleeth from the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that getteth up out of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for I will bring upon it, even upon Moab, the year of their visitation, saith the LORD.
45They that fled stood under the shadow of Heshbon because of the force: but a fire shall come forth out of Heshbon, and a flame from the midst of Sihon, and shall devour the corner of Moab, and the crown of the head of the tumultuous ones.
46Woe be unto thee, O Moab! the people of Chemosh perisheth: for thy sons are taken captives, and thy daughters captives.
47Yet will I bring again the captivity of Moab in the latter days, saith the LORD. Thus far is the judgment of Moab.
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
Judgment on Moab
(Isaiah 15:1–9)
1 Of Moab. Thus says Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel: Woe to Nebo! for it is laid waste; Kiriathaim is disappointed, it is taken; Misgab is put to shame and broken down.
2 The praise of Moab is no more; in Heshbon they have devised evil against her: Come, and let us cut her off from being a nation. You also, Madmen, shall be brought to silence: the sword shall pursue you.
3 The sound of a cry from Horonaim, desolation and great destruction!
4 Moab is destroyed; her little ones have caused a cry to be heard.
5 For by the ascent of Luhith with continual weeping shall they go up; for at the descent of Horonaim they have heard the distress of the cry of destruction.
6 Flee, save your lives, and be like the heath in the wilderness.
7 For, because you have trusted in your works and in your treasures, you also shall be taken: and Chemosh shall go forth into captivity, his priests and his princes together.
8 The destroyer shall come on every city, and no city shall escape; the valley also shall perish, and the plain shall be destroyed; as Yahweh has spoken.
9 Give wings to Moab, that she may fly and get her away: and her cities shall become a desolation, without any to dwell therein.
10 Cursed is he who does the work of Yahweh negligently; and cursed is he who keeps back his sword from blood.
11 Moab has been at ease from his youth, and he has settled on his lees, and has not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither has he gone into captivity: therefore his taste remains in him, and his scent is not changed.
12 Therefore, behold, the days come, says Yahweh, that I will send to him those who pour off, and they shall pour him off; and they shall empty his vessels, and break their bottles in pieces. 13 Moab shall be ashamed of Chemosh, as the house of Israel was ashamed of Bethel their confidence.
14 How do you say, We are mighty men, and valiant men for the war?
15 Moab is laid waste, and they are gone up into his cities, and his chosen young men are gone down to the slaughter, says the King, whose name is Yahweh of Armies.
16 The calamity of Moab is near to come, and his affliction hurries fast.
17 All you who are around him, bemoan him, and all you who know his name; say, How is the strong staff broken, the beautiful rod!
18 You daughter who dwells in Dibon, come down from your glory, and sit in thirst; for the destroyer of Moab has come up against you, he has destroyed your strongholds.
19 Inhabitant of Aroer, stand by the way, and watch: ask him who flees, and her who escapes; say, What has been done?
20 Moab is disappointed; for it is broken down: wail and cry; tell it by the Arnon, that Moab is laid waste.
21 Judgment has come on the plain country, on Holon, and on Jahzah, and on Mephaath, 22 and on Dibon, and on Nebo, and on Beth Diblathaim, 23 and on Kiriathaim, and on Beth Gamul, and on Beth Meon, 24 and on Kerioth, and on Bozrah, and on all the cities of the land of Moab, far or near. 25 The horn of Moab is cut off, and his arm is broken, says Yahweh. 26 Make him drunken; for he magnified himself against Yahweh: and Moab shall wallow in his vomit, and he also shall be in derision. 27 For wasn’t Israel a derision to you? was he found among thieves? for as often as you speak of him, you shake your head.
28 You inhabitants of Moab, leave the cities, and dwell in the rock; and be like the dove that makes her nest over the mouth of the abyss.
29 We have heard of the pride of Moab. He is very proud; his loftiness, and his pride, and his arrogance, and the haughtiness of his heart.
30 I know his wrath, says Yahweh, that it is nothing; his boastings have worked nothing.
31 Therefore will I wail for Moab; yes, I will cry out for all Moab: for the men of Kir Heres shall they mourn.
32 With more than the weeping of Jazer will I weep for you, vine of Sibmah: your branches passed over the sea, they reached even to the sea of Jazer: on your summer fruits and on your vintage the destroyer is fallen.
33 Gladness and joy is taken away from the fruitful field and from the land of Moab; and I have caused wine to cease from the wine presses: none shall tread with shouting; the shouting shall be no shouting.
34 From the cry of Heshbon even to Elealeh, even to Jahaz have they uttered their voice, from Zoar even to Horonaim, to Eglath Shelishiyah: for the waters of Nimrim also shall become desolate. 35 Moreover I will cause to cease in Moab, says Yahweh, him who offers in the high place, and him who burns incense to his gods.
36 Therefore my heart sounds for Moab like pipes, and my heart sounds like pipes for the men of Kir Heres: therefore the abundance that he has gotten is perished. 37 For every head is bald, and every beard clipped: on all the hands are cuttings, and on the waist sackcloth. 38 On all the housetops of Moab and in its streets there is lamentation every where; for I have broken Moab like a vessel in which none delights, says Yahweh. 39 How it is broken down! How they wail! How Moab has turned the back with shame! So shall Moab become a derision and a terror to all who are around him.
40 For thus says Yahweh: Behold, he shall fly as an eagle, and shall spread out his wings against Moab.
41 Kerioth is taken, and the strongholds are seized, and the heart of the mighty men of Moab at that day shall be as the heart of a woman in her pangs.
42 Moab shall be destroyed from being a people, because he has magnified himself against Yahweh.
43 Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are on you, inhabitant of Moab, says Yahweh.
44 He who flees from the fear shall fall into the pit; and he who gets up out of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for I will bring on him, even on Moab, the year of their visitation, says Yahweh.
45 Those who fled stand without strength under the shadow of Heshbon; for a fire is gone forth out of Heshbon, and a flame from the midst of Sihon, and has devoured the corner of Moab, and the crown of the head of the tumultuous ones.
46 Woe to you, O Moab! the people of Chemosh is undone; for your sons are taken away captive, and your daughters into captivity.
47 Yet will I bring back the captivity of Moab in the latter days, says Yahweh. Thus far is the judgment of Moab.
Judgment on Moab
(Isaiah 15:1–9)
1 Concerning Moab, this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says:
“Woe to Nebo,
for it will be devastated.
Kiriathaim will be captured and disgraced;
the fortress will be shattered and dismantled.
2 There is no longer praise for Moab;
in Heshbon a they devise evil against her:
‘Come, let us cut her off from nationhood.’
You too, O people of Madmen, b will be silenced;
the sword will pursue you.
3 A voice cries out from Horonaim:
‘Devastation and great destruction!’
4 Moab will be shattered;
her little ones will cry out. c
5 For on the ascent to Luhith
they weep bitterly as they go,
and on the descent to Horonaim
cries of distress resound
over the destruction:
6 ‘Flee! Run for your lives!
Become like a juniper in the desert. d’
7 Because you trust in your works and treasures,
you too will be captured,
and Chemosh will go into exile
with his priests and officials.
8 The destroyer will move against every city,
and not one town will escape.
The valley will also be ruined,
and the high plain will be destroyed,
as the LORD has said.
9 Put salt on Moab,
for she will be laid waste; e
her cities will become desolate,
with no one to dwell in them.
10 Cursed is the one who is remiss
in doing the work of the LORD,
and cursed is he who withholds
his sword from bloodshed.
11 Moab has been at ease from youth,
settled like wine on its dregs;
he has not been poured from vessel to vessel
or gone into exile.
So his flavor has remained the same,
and his aroma is unchanged.
12 Therefore behold, the days are coming,
declares the LORD,
when I will send to him wanderers,
who will pour him out.
They will empty his vessels
and shatter his jars.
13 Then Moab will be ashamed of Chemosh,
just as the house of Israel was ashamed
when they trusted in Bethel.
14 How can you say, ‘We are warriors,
mighty men ready for battle’?
15 Moab has been destroyed
and its towns have been invaded;
the best of its young men
have gone down in the slaughter,
declares the King,
whose name is the LORD of Hosts.
16 Moab’s calamity is at hand,
and his affliction is rushing swiftly.
17 Mourn for him, all you who surround him,
everyone who knows his name;
tell how the mighty scepter is shattered—
the glorious staff!
18 Come down from your glory; sit on parched ground,
O daughter dwelling in Dibon,
for the destroyer of Moab has come against you;
he has destroyed your fortresses.
19 Stand by the road and watch,
O dweller of Aroer!
Ask the man fleeing or the woman escaping,
‘What has happened?’
20 Moab is put to shame, for it has been shattered.
Wail and cry out!
Declare by the Arnon
that Moab is destroyed.
21 Judgment has come upon the high plain—
upon Holon, Jahzah, f and Mephaath,
22 upon Dibon, Nebo, and Beth-diblathaim,
23 upon Kiriathaim, Beth-gamul, and Beth-meon,
24 upon Kerioth, Bozrah, and all the towns of Moab,
those far and near.
25 The horn of Moab has been cut off,
and his arm is broken,”
declares the LORD.
26 “Make him drunk,
because he has magnified himself against the LORD;
so Moab will wallow in his own vomit,
and he will also become a laughingstock.
27 Was not Israel your object of ridicule?
Was he ever found among thieves?
For whenever you speak of him
you shake your head.
28 Abandon the towns and settle among the rocks,
O dwellers of Moab!
Be like a dove
that nests at the mouth of a cave.
29 We have heard of Moab’s pomposity,
his exceeding pride and conceit,
his proud arrogance and haughtiness of heart.
30 I know his insolence,”
declares the LORD,
“but it is futile.
His boasting is as empty as his deeds.
31 Therefore I will wail for Moab;
I will cry out for all of Moab;
I will moan for the men of Kir-heres. g
32 I will weep for you, O vine of Sibmah,
more than I weep for Jazer.
Your tendrils have extended to the sea; h
they reach even to Jazer. i
The destroyer has descended
on your summer fruit and grape harvest.
33 Joy and gladness are removed from the orchard
and from the fields of Moab.
I have stopped the flow of wine from the presses;
no one treads them with shouts of joy;
their shouts are not for joy.
34 There is a cry from Heshbon to Elealeh;
they raise their voices to Jahaz,
from Zoar to Horonaim and Eglath-shelishiyah;
for even the waters of Nimrim have dried up.
35 In Moab, declares the LORD,
I will bring an end
to those who make offerings on the high places
and burn incense to their gods.
36 Therefore My heart laments like a flute for Moab;
it laments like a flute for the men of Kir-heres,
because the wealth they acquired has perished.
37 For every head is shaved
and every beard is clipped;
on every hand is a gash,
and around every waist is sackcloth.
38 On all the rooftops of Moab
and in the public squares,
everyone is mourning;
for I have shattered Moab like an unwanted jar,”
declares the LORD.
39 “How shattered it is! How they wail!
How Moab has turned his back in shame!
Moab has become an object of ridicule and horror
to all those around him.”
40 For this is what the LORD says:
“Behold, an eagle swoops down
and spreads his wings against Moab.
41 Kirioth has been taken,
and the strongholds seized.
In that day the heart of Moab’s warriors
will be like the heart of a woman in labor.
42 Moab will be destroyed as a nation
because he vaunted himself against the LORD.
43 Terror and pit and snare await you, O dweller of Moab,”
declares the LORD.
44 “Whoever flees the panic
will fall into the pit,
and whoever climbs from the pit
will be caught in the snare.
For I will bring upon Moab
the year of their punishment,”
declares the LORD.
45 “Those who flee will stand helpless in Heshbon’s shadow,
because fire has gone forth from Heshbon
and a flame from within Sihon.
It devours the foreheads of Moab
and the skulls of the sons of tumult.
46 Woe to you, O Moab!
The people of Chemosh have perished;
for your sons have been taken into exile
and your daughters have gone into captivity.
47 Yet in the latter days I will restore Moab from captivity, j”
declares the LORD.
Here ends the judgment on Moab.
Footnotes:
2 a The Hebrew for Heshbon sounds like the Hebrew for plot .
2 b The name of the Moabite town Madmen sounds like the Hebrew for silenced .
4 c Hebrew; LXX her cries are heard as far away as Zoar
6 d Or like a wild donkey or like Aroer
9 e Or Give wings to Moab, for she would fly away
21 f Jahzah is a variant of Jahaz ; see verse 34.
31 g Kir-heres is a variant of Kir-hareseth ; also in verse 36; see Isaiah 16:7.
32 h Probably the Dead Sea
32 i Two Hebrew manuscripts and LXX; most Hebrew manuscripts to the Sea of Jazer
47 j Or restore the fortunes of Moab
The Judgment on Moab
(Zephaniah 2:8-11)
1Concerning Moab: 'Thus said Jehovah of Hosts, God of Israel: Woe unto Nebo, for it is spoiled, Put to shame, captured hath been Kiriathaim, Put to shame hath been the high tower, Yea, it hath been broken down.
2There is no more praise of Moab, In Heshbon they devised against it evil: Come, and we cut it off from being a nation, Also, O Madmen, thou art cut off, After thee goeth a sword.
3A voice of a cry is from Horonaim, Spoiling and great destruction.
4Destroyed hath been Moab, Caused a cry to be heard have her little ones.
5For the ascent of Luhith with weeping, Go up doth weeping, For in the descent of Horonaim Adversaries a cry of desolation have heard.
6Flee ye, deliver yourselves, Ye are as a naked thing in a wilderness.
7For, because of thy trusting in thy works, And in thy treasures, even thou art captured, And gone out hath Chemosh in a removal, His priests and his heads together.
8And come in doth a spoiler unto every city, And no city doth escape, And perished hath the valley, And destroyed been the plain, as Jehovah said.
9Give wings to Moab, for she utterly goeth out, And her cities are for a desolation, Without an inhabitant in them.
10Cursed is he who is doing the work of Jehovah slothfully, And cursed is he Who is withholding his sword from blood.
11Secure is Moab from his youth, And at rest is he for his preserved things, And he hath not been emptied out from vessel unto vessel, And into captivity he hath not gone, Therefore hath his taste remained in him, And his fragrance hath not been changed.
12Therefore, lo, days are coming, An affirmation of Jehovah, And I have sent to him wanderers, And they have caused him to wander, And his vessels they empty out, And his bottles they dash in pieces. 13And ashamed hath been Moab because of Chemosh, As the house of Israel have been ashamed Because of Beth-El their confidence.
14How do ye say, We are mighty, And men of strength for battle?
15Spoiled is Moab, and her cities hath one gone up, And the choice of its young men Have gone down to slaughter, An affirmation of the King, Jehovah of Hosts is His name.
16Near is the calamity of Moab to come, And his affliction hath hasted exceedingly.
17Bemoan for him, all ye round about him, And all knowing his name, say ye: How hath it been broken, the staff of strength, The rod of beauty.
18Come down from honour, sit in thirst, O inhabitant, daughter of Dibon, For a spoiler of Moab hath come up to thee, He hath destroyed thy fenced places.
19On the way stand, and watch, O inhabitant of Aroer, Ask the fugitive and escaped, Say, What hath happened?
20Put to shame hath been Moab, For it hath been broken down, Howl and cry, declare ye in Arnon, For spoiled is Moab,
21And judgment hath come in unto the land of the plain -- unto Holon, And unto Jahazah, and on Mephaath, 22And on Dibon, and on Nebo, And on Beth-Diblathaim, and on Kirathaim, 23And on Beth-Gamul, and on Beth-Meon, 24And on Kerioth, and on Bozrah, And on all cities of the land of Moab, The far off and the near. 25Cut down hath been the horn of Moab, And his arm hath been broken, An affirmation of Jehovah. 26Declare ye him drunk, For against Jehovah he made himself great And Moab hath stricken in his vomit, And he hath been for a derision -- even he. 27And was not Israel the derision to thee? Among thieves was he found? For since thy words concerning him, Thou dost bemoan thyself.
28Forsake cities, and dwell in a rock, Ye inhabitants of Moab, And be as a dove making a nest in the passages of a pit's mouth.
29We have heard of the arrogance of Moab, Exceeding proud! His haughtiness, and his arrogance, And his pride, and the height of his heart,
30I -- I have known, an affirmation of Jehovah, His wrath, and it is not right, His devices -- not right they have done.
31Therefore for Moab I howl, even for Moab -- all of it, I cry for men of Kir-Heres, it doth mourn,
32With the weeping of Jazer, I weep for thee, O vine of Sibmah, Thy branches have passed over a sea, Unto the sea of Jazer they have come, On thy summer fruits, and on thy harvest, A spoiler hath fallen.
33And removed hath been joy and gladness From the fruitful field, Even from the land of Moab, And wine from wine-presses I have caused to cease, Shouting doth not proceed, The shouting is no shouting!
34Because of the cry of Heshbon unto Elealeh, Unto Jahaz they have given their voice, From Zoar unto Horonaim, A heifer of the third year, For even waters of Nimrim become desolations. 35And I have caused to cease to Moab, An affirmation of Jehovah, Him who is offering in a high place, And him who is making perfume to his god.
36Therefore my heart for Moab as pipes doth sound, And my heart for men of Kir-Heres As pipes doth sound, Therefore the abundance he made did perish. 37For every head is bald, and every beard diminished, On all hands cuttings, and on the loins -- sackcloth. 38On all roofs of Moab, and in her broad-places, All of it -- is lamentation, For I have broken Moab as a vessel in which there is no pleasure, An affirmation of Jehovah. 39How hath it been broken down! they have howled, How hath Moab turned the neck ashamed, And Moab hath been for a derision. And for a terror to all round about her.
40For thus said Jehovah: Lo, as an eagle he doth flee, And hath spread his wings unto Moab.
41Captured have been the cities, And the strongholds are caught, And the heart of the mighty of Moab Hath been in that day as the heart of a distressed woman.
42And Moab hath been destroyed from being a people, For against Jehovah he exerted himself.
43Fear, and a snare, and a gin, are for thee, O inhabitant of Moab -- an affirmation of Jehovah,
44Whoso is fleeing because of the fear falleth into the snare, And whoso is coming up from the snare is captured by the gin, For I bring in unto her -- unto Moab -- The year of their inspection, An affirmation of Jehovah.
45In the shadow of Heshbon stood powerless have fugitives, For fire hath gone forth from Heshbon, And a flame from within Sihon, And it consumeth the corner of Moab, And the crown of the sons of Shaon.
46Woe to thee, O Moab, Perished hath the people of Chemosh, For thy sons were taken with the captives, And thy daughters with the captivity.
47And I have turned back to the captivity of Moab, In the latter end of the days, An affirmation of Jehovah! Hitherto is the judgment of Moab.
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