Jeremiah 48:1-23

1About Moab, this is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says: Woe to Nebo, because it is about to be destroyed; Kiriathaim will be put to shame; it will be taken captive. The fortress will be put to shame and dismayed!

2There is no longer praise for Moab; they plan harm against her in Heshbon: Come, let’s cut her off from nationhood. Also, Madmen, you will be silenced; the sword will follow you.

3A voice cries out from Horonaim, “devastation and a crushing blow!”

4Moab will be shattered; her little ones will cry out.

5For on the Ascent to Luhith they will be weeping continually, and on the descent to Horonaim will be heard cries of distress over the destruction:

6Flee! Save your lives! Be like a juniper bush in the wilderness.

7Because you trust in your works and treasures, you will be captured also. Chemosh will go into exile with his priests and officials.

8The destroyer will move against every town; not one town will escape. The valley will perish, and the plain will be annihilated, as the Lord has said.

9Make Moab a salt marsh, for she will run away; her towns will become a desolation, without inhabitant.

10The one who does the Lord’s business deceitfully is cursed, and the one who withholds his sword from bloodshed is cursed.

11Moab has been left quiet since his youth, settled like wine on its dregs. He hasn’t been poured from one container to another or gone into exile. So his taste has remained the same, and his aroma hasn’t changed.

12Therefore look, the days are coming  — this is the Lord’s declaration — when I will send pourers to him, who will pour him out. They will empty his containers and smash his jars.

13Moab will be put to shame because of Chemosh, just as the house of Israel was put to shame because of Bethel that they trusted in.

14How can you say, “We are warriors — valiant men for battle”?

15The destroyer of Moab and its towns has come up, and the best of its young men have gone down to slaughter. This is the King’s declaration; the Lord of Armies is his name.

16Moab’s calamity is near at hand; his disaster is rushing swiftly.

17Mourn for him, all you surrounding nations, everyone who knows his name. Say, “How the mighty scepter is shattered, the glorious staff!”

18Come down from glory; sit on parched ground, resident of the daughter of Dibon, for the destroyer of Moab has come against you; he has destroyed your fortresses.

19Stand by the highway and watch, resident of Aroer! Ask him who is fleeing or her who is escaping, “What happened?”

20Moab is put to shame, indeed dismayed. Wail and cry out! Declare by the Arnon that Moab is destroyed.

21“Judgment has come to the land of the plateau  — to Holon, Jahzah, Mephaath,

22Dibon, Nebo, Beth-diblathaim,

23Kiriathaim, Beth-gamul, Beth-meon,