1. Concerning Moab.Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel:“Woe to Nebo, for it is laid waste! Kiriathaim is put to shame, it is taken;the fortress is put to shame and broken down;
2. the renown of Moab is no more.In Heshbon they planned disaster against her:‘Come, let us cut her off from being a nation!’You also, O Madmen, shall be brought to silence;the sword shall pursue you.
3. “A voice! A cry from Horonaim,‘Desolation and great destruction!’
4. Moab is destroyed;her little ones have made a cry.
5. For at the ascent of Luhiththey go up weeping;for at the descent of Horonaimthey have heard the distressed cry of destruction.
6. Flee! Save yourselves!You will be like a juniper in the desert!
7. For, because you trusted in your works and your treasures,you also shall be taken;and Chemosh shall go into exilewith his priests and his officials.
8. The destroyer shall come upon every city,and no city shall escape;the valley shall perish,and the plain shall be destroyed,as the Lord has spoken.
9. “Give wings to Moab,for she would fly away;her cities shall become a desolation,with no inhabitant in them.
10. “Cursed is he who does the work of the Lord with slackness, and cursed is he who keeps back his sword from bloodshed.
11. “Moab has been at ease from his youthand has settled on his dregs;he has not been emptied from vessel to vessel,nor has he gone into exile;so his taste remains in him,and his scent is not changed.
12. “Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I shall send to him pourers who will pour him, and empty his vessels and break his jars in pieces.
13. Then Moab shall be ashamed of Chemosh, as the house of Israel was ashamed of Bethel, their confidence.