1. Concerning Moab:The Lord of heavenly forces,the God of Israel, proclaims:How awful for Nebo;it lies in ruins.Kirathaim is captured and shamed;the fortress is disgraced,reduced to rubble.
2. No one sings Moab’s praise any longer!In Heshbon they are hatchinga plot against her:"Come, let’s bring down the nation!"You too, madmen, will be silenced;the sword will pursue you.
3. Listen to the cries for help from Horonaim:"Destruction and massive devastation!"
4. Moab is shattered;its young cry for help.
5. On the way up to Luhith,there is uncontrollable weeping.On the way down to Horonaim,they hear sobs of anguish.
6. Run for your lives!Be like Aroer in the desert.
7. Because you have reliedon your own strength and treasures,you also will be captured.Chemosh will go into exile,together with his priests and officials.
8. The destroyer will sweep through every town;no town will escape.The valleys will be ravaged;the plateaus will be destroyed,because the Lord has declared it so.
9. Give wings to Moab,and it would fly awaybecause its towns lie in ruins,with no one left in them.
10. Cursed is the one who is halfheartedin doing the Lord’s work.Cursed is the one who restrainsthe sword from bloodshed.
11. From early on Moab has been at ease,like wine left to settle on its sediment.It hasn’t been poured into jars;nor has Moab been taken into exile.Therefore, its taste is still pleasant,and its aroma is the same.
12. But the time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will send to him someone to spill it—to pour out his wine and to smash his jars.
13. And Moab will be put to shame on account of Chemosh, just as the people of Israel were put to shame on account of Bethel, in which they trusted.
14. How can you claim,"We’re soldiers; we’re war heroes"?