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 5fluttering birds or scattered nestlings, The daughters of 6Moab will be at the crossing places of the 7Arnon.3“8Give us advice, make a decision; 9Cast your 10shadow like night 11at high noon; 12Hide the outcasts, do not betray the fugitive.4Let the 13outcasts of Moab stay with you; Be a hiding place to them from the destroyer.” For the oppressor has come to an end, destruction has ceased, 14Oppressors have been removed from the land.5A 15throne will be established in faithfulness, And a judge will sit on it in trustworthiness in the tent of 16David; Moreover, he will seek justice, And be prompt in righteousness.

617We have heard of the pride of Moab, an excessive pride; Even of his arrogance, pride, and fury; 18His idle boasts are 19false.7Therefore Moab will wail; everyone of Moab will wail. You will moan for the 20raisin cakes of 21Kir-hareseth As those who are utterly stricken.8For the fields of 22Heshbon have 23withered, the vines of 24Sibmah as well; The lords of the nations have trampled down its choice clusters Which reached as far as Jazer and wandered to the deserts; 25Its 26tendrils spread themselves out and passed over the sea.9Therefore I will 27weep bitterly for Jazer, for the vine of Sibmah; I will drench you with my tears, 28Heshbon and Elealeh; For the shouting over your 29summer fruits and your harvest has fallen away.1030Gladness and joy are taken away from the fruitful field; In the 31vineyards also there will be no cries of joy or jubilant shouting, No 32treader treads out wine in the presses, For I have made the shouting to cease.11Therefore my 3334inner being sounds like a harp for Moab. And my 35heart for Kir-hareseth.12So it will come about when Moab 36presents himself, When he 37tires himself upon his 38high 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 has spoken, saying, “Within three years, as 3940a hired worker would count them, the glory of 41Moab will become contemptible along with all his great population, and his remnant will be very small and 42impotent.”