Isaiah 16

Prophecy of Moab’s Devastation

11Send the tribute lamb to the ruler of the land, From 23Sela by way of the wilderness to the 4mountain of the daughter of Zion.2Then, like 56fleeing birds or scattered 7nestlings, The daughters of 8Moab will be at the fords of the 9Arnon.3“10Give us advice, make a decision; 11Cast your 12shadow like night 13at high noon; 14Hide the outcasts, do not betray the fugitive.4Let the 15outcasts 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, 16Oppressors have completely disappeared from the land.5A 17throne will even be established in lovingkindness, And a judge will sit on it in faithfulness in the tent of 18David; Moreover, he will seek justice And be prompt in righteousness.

619We have heard of the pride of Moab, an excessive pride; Even of his arrogance, pride, and fury; 20His idle boasts are 21false.7Therefore Moab will wail; everyone of Moab will wail. You will moan for the 22raisin cakes of 23Kir-hareseth As those who are utterly stricken.8For the fields of 24Heshbon have 25withered, the vines of 26Sibmah as well; The lords of the nations have trampled down its choice clusters Which reached as far as Jazer and wandered to the deserts; 27Its tendrils spread themselves out and passed over the sea.9Therefore I will 28weep bitterly for Jazer, for the vine of Sibmah; I will drench you with my tears, O 29Heshbon and Elealeh; For the shouting over your 30summer fruits and your harvest has fallen away.1031Gladness and joy are taken away from the fruitful field; In the 32vineyards also there will be no cries of joy or jubilant shouting, No 33treader treads out wine in the presses, For I have made the shouting to cease.11Therefore my 3435heart intones like a harp for Moab And my 36inward feelings for Kir-hareseth.12So it will come about when Moab 37presents himself, When he 38wearies himself upon his 39high place And comes to his sanctuary to pray, That he will not prevail.

13This is the word which the Lord spoke earlier concerning Moab. 14But now the Lord speaks, saying, “Within three years, as 4041a hired man would count them, the glory of 42Moab will be degraded along with all his great population, and his remnant will be very small and 43impotent.”