Jeremiah 48:1-23

1Concerning Moab, thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot, the God of Israel: “Oy to Nebo! For it will be ravaged. Kiriathaim will be disgraced and captured. The fortress will be shamed, shattered.

2There is no more praise for Moab. In Heshbon they plotted evil against her: ‘Come, let’s cut her off as a nation.’ You too, Madmen, will be silenced— the sword will chase you.

3The sound of outcry from Horonaim, devastation and great destruction!

4Moab is shattered—her little ones have raised a cry to be heard.

5For at the ascent of Luhith they go up with continual weeping. For on the descent to Horonaim they heard the foe’s shattering cry.

6Flee! Escape with your lives! Be like a tamarisk in the wilderness.

7For because of your trust in your works and your treasures, you will be captured, too. Chemosh will go into exile, together with his priests and princes.

8The destroyer will come to every town. No town will escape. The valley will perish and the plain will be destroyed, as Adonai has said.

9Give wings to Moab, for she must fly and get away. Her cities will become a wasteland, with no one living in them.

10Cursed is the one who does the work of Adonai with slackness, and cursed is the one who withholds his sword from blood.

11Moab has been at ease since his youth. He has settled like wine on its dregs. He has not been emptied from jar to jar, nor gone into exile. Therefore he retains his flavor, and his aroma has not changed.

12Therefore behold, days are coming” —it is a declaration of Adonai— “when I will send to him those who will tip him up and over, and they will empty his vessels, and smash his jars in pieces.

13So Moab will be ashamed of Chemosh just as the house of Israel was ashamed of Bethel their confidence.

14How can you say: ‘We are warriors and men valiant for battle’?

15Moab is ravaged, its towns entered, its choice young men gone down to slaughter” —It is a declaration of the King, whose Name is Adonai-Tzva’ot.

16“Moab’s calamity will come soon, and his downfall hastens swiftly.

17Mourn for him, all who are around him, all who know his name. Say: ‘How the mighty scepter, the splendid rod, is broken!’

18O daughter dwelling in Dibon come down from your glory and sit in thirst! For Moab’s destroyer has come to you. He has devastated your strongholds.

19O inhabitant of Aroer, stand by the road and watch— ask him fleeing and her escaping, ‘What has happened?’

20Moab is disgraced, indeed shattered. Wail and shriek! Declare by the Arnon, Moab is ruined!

21Judgment has come on the tableland —on Holon, Jahzah, Mephaath,

22on Dibon, Nebo, Beth-diblathaim,

23on Kiriathaim, Beth-gamul, Beth-meon,