17. All you who live around it, sob over its people. Be sad, you who know how famous Moab is. Say, 'Its powerful ruler's rod is broken! His glorious staff is smashed.'
18. "Come down from your glorious city, you who live in Dibon. Come and sit on the thirsty ground. The one who destroys your country will come up and attack you. Your enemies will destroy your cities that have high walls around them.
19. Stand by the road and watch, you who live in Aroer. Ask the men who are running away. Ask the women who are escaping. Ask them, 'What has happened?'
20. Moab has been put to shame. It has been destroyed. Sob and cry out! Tell everyone Moab has been destroyed. Announce it by the Arnon River.
21. The high flatlands have been judged. So have Holon, Jahzah and Mephaath.
22. Dibon, Nebo and Beth Diblathaim have been judged.
23. So have Kiriathaim, Beth Gamul and Beth Meon.
24. Kerioth and Bozrah have also been judged. And so have all of the towns of Moab, far and near alike.
25. Moab 's power is gone. Its strength is broken," announces the Lord.
26. "Moab's people think they are better than I am. So let their enemies make them drunk. Let the people get sick and throw up. Let them roll around in the mess they have made. Let people laugh at them.
27. Moab , you laughed at Israel, didn't you? Were Israel's people caught among robbers? Is that why you shake your head at them? Is that why you make fun of them every time you talk about them?
28. Leave your towns, you who live in Moab. Go and live among the rocks. Be like a dove that makes its nest at the mouth of a cave.