37. Every head is shavedand every beard cut off;every hand is slashedand every waist is covered with sackcloth.
38. On all the roofs in Moaband in the public squaresthere is nothing but mourning,for I have broken Moablike a jar that no one wants,’declares the Lord.
39. ‘How shattered she is! How they wail!How Moab turns her back in shame!Moab has become an object of ridicule,an object of horror to all those around her.’
40. This is what the Lord says:‘Look! An eagle is swooping down,spreading its wings over Moab.
41. Kerioth will be capturedand the strongholds taken.In that day the hearts of Moab’s warriorswill be like the heart of a woman in labour.
42. Moab will be destroyed as a nationbecause she defied the Lord.
43. Terror and pit and snare await you,you people of Moab,’declares the Lord.
44. ‘Whoever flees from the terrorwill fall into a pit,whoever climbs out of the pitwill be caught in a snare;for I will bring on Moabthe year of her punishment,’declares the Lord.
45. ‘In the shadow of Heshbonthe fugitives stand helpless,for a fire has gone out from Heshbon,a blaze from the midst of Sihon;it burns the foreheads of Moab,the skulls of the noisy boasters.
46. Woe to you, Moab!The people of Chemosh are destroyed;your sons are taken into exileand your daughters into captivity.
47. ‘Yet I will restore the fortunes of Moabin days to come,’declares the Lord.Here ends the judgment on Moab.