1. (This is) the burden of Moab, That in a night Ar-Moab is laid
waste, is destroyed; that in a night Kir-Moab is laid waste, is
destroyed. 2. They go up to the house, and Dibon (to) the high places
for weeping. On Nebo and on Medeba Moab howls, and all heads
baldness, every beard cut off. 3. In its streets, they are girded
with sackcloth; on its roofs and in its squares all of it howls,
coming down with weeping. 4. And Heshbon cries and Eleaich--even to
Jahaz is their voice heard; therefore the warriors of Moab cry, his
soul is distress in him. 5. My heart for Moab cries out; her
fugitives (are fled) as far as Zoar--an heifer of three years old;
for he that goes up Luhith with weeping goes up by it, for in the way
of Horonaim a cry of destruction they lift up. 6. For the waters of
Nimrim (are and) shall be desolations: for withered is the grass,
gone is the herbage, verdure there is none. 7. Therefore the
remainder of what each one has made, (and their) hoard, over the
brook of the willows they carry them away. 8. For the cry goes round
the border of Moab; even to Eglaim (is) its howling (heard), and to
Beer-Elim its howling. 9. For the waters of Dimon are full of blood;
and I will bring upon Dimon additions, on the escaped of Moab a lion;
and on the remnant of it.
XVI.--1. Send ye the lamb to the ruler of the land from Sela to the
wilderness, to the mountain of the daughter of Zion. 2. And it shall
come to pass like a bird wandering, (like) a nest cast out, shall be
the daughters of Moab, the fords of Arnon. 3. [Alexander omits the
_translation_ of this verse, but comments on it. . . .] 4. Let my
outcasts, Moab, sojourn with thee; be thou a covert to them from the
face of the spoiler: for the extortioner is at an end, oppression has
ceased, consumed are the tramplers out of the land. 5. And a throne
shall be established in mercy; and one shall sit upon it in truth in
the tent of David, judging and seeking justice, and prompt in equity.
6. We have heard of the pride of Moab, the very proud, his
haughtiness, and his pride, and his wrath, the falsehood of his
pretensions. 7. Therefore Moab shall howl for Moab; all of it shall
howl; for the grapes of Kir-hareseth shall ye sigh, altogether
smitten. 8. For the fields of Heshbon are withered--the vine of
Sibmah--the lords of the nations broke down its choice plants--unto
Jazer they reached--they strayed into the desert--its branches--they
were stretched out--they reached to the sea. 9. Therefore I will weep
with the weeping of Jazer (for) the vine of Sibmah. I will wet thee
(with) my tears, Heshbon and (thee) Elealeh! for upon thy fruit and
thy harvest a cry has fallen. 10. And taken away is joy and gladness
from the fruitful field: and in the vineyards shall no (more) be
sung, no (more) be shouted; wine in the presses shall the treader not
tread; the cry have I stilled. 11. Therefore my bowels for Moab like
the harp shall sound, and my inwards for Kirhares. 12. And it shall
come to pass, when Moab has appeared (before his gods), when he has
wearied himself (with vain oblations) on the high place, then he
shall enter into his sanctuary to pray, and shall not be able (to
obtain an answer).
13. This is the word which Jehovah spake concerning Moab of old.
14. And now Jehovah speaks, saying, In three years, like the years of
an hireling, the glory of Moab, shall be disgraced, with all the
great throng, and the remnant shall be small, and few, not much.