Jeremiah 48

1Concerning Moab, thus says Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel: Woe to Nebo! For it lies ruined; Kiriathaim stands shamed and captured; Misgab stands shamed and dismayed.

2No more praise remains for Moab; in Heshbon they have plotted calamity against her: "Come, let us destroy her from nationhood." You too, Madmen, will fall silent; a sword will pursue you.

3The sound of crying from Horonaim: devastation and great ruin!

4Moab is broken; her little ones, her young ones, have sounded a cry.

5For sore weeping shall ascend the ascent of Luhith; for at the descent of Horonaim they have heard anguished cries of destruction.

6Flee, escape with your lives, and be like a shrub in the wilderness.

7Because you trusted in your works and your treasures, you too will be captured, and Chemosh will go into exile with his priests and his princes together.

8A destroyer will come upon every city, and no city will escape; the valley will perish, and the plain will be destroyed, as Yahweh has said.

9Give wings to Moab, for she will surely flee and escape; her cities will become a desolation, without any dweller in them.

10Cursed is he who does Yahweh's work deceitfully, and cursed is he who withholds his sword from blood.

11Moab has rested secure from his youth and settled quietly on his dregs; he has not been poured from one vessel to another, nor gone into exile. Therefore his flavor remains in him, and his aroma has not changed.

12Therefore, look, days are coming, declares Yahweh, when I will send pourers to him who will pour him off, empty his vessels, and shatter their bottles.

13Moab will be ashamed of Chemosh, as Israel's house was ashamed of Bethel their confidence.

14How do you say, "We are champions, and men of strength for battle"?

15Moab lies devastated, her cities overrun, and her elite young men have gone down to the slaughter, declares the King whose name is Yahweh of Hosts.

16Moab's calamity comes near, and his affliction hurries exceedingly.

17Mourn for him, all you who surround him, and all you who know his name; say, "How is the staff of strength broken, the rod of splendor!"

18Come down from your glory, dweller, and sit in thirst—inhabitant, daughter of Dibon—for Moab's destroyer has come upon you; he has ruined your fortresses.

20Moab is put to shame, for she is shattered; wail and cry out, proclaim at Arnon that Moab is devastated.

21Judgment has come upon the tableland, upon Holon, Jahzah, and Mephaath.

22and on Dibon, and on Nebo, and on Beth-diblathaim,

23and upon Kiriathaim, and upon Beth-gamul, and upon Beth-meon,

24and on Kerioth, and on Bozrah, and on all the cities of the land of Moab, both distant and near.

25Moab's horn is cut down, and his arm is broken, says Yahweh.

26Make him drunk, for he has boasted against Yahweh; Moab will wallow in his vomit, and he himself will become a laughingstock.

27For was Israel not a laughingstock to you? Was he found among thieves? For every time your words turned to him, you wagged your head.

28Abandon the cities and dwell in the rock, inhabitants of Moab, and be like the dove that makes her nest in the sides of the pit's mouth.

29We have heard Moab's arrogance—he is exceedingly proud in his loftiness, his pride, his haughtiness, and the elevation of his heart.

30I know his wrath, says Yahweh, but it is not so; his lies have not done so.

31Therefore I howl over Moab; for all Moab I cry out, for the men of Kir-heres my heart mourns.

32I weep for you beyond Jazer’s weeping, vine of Sibmah—your branches have crossed the sea, reaching even to Jazer’s sea; the destroyer has fallen on your summer fruits and your vintage.

33Joy and gladness have been removed from the fruitful field and from the land of Moab, and I have caused wine to cease from the winepresses; no one shall tread with shouting—shouting shall be no shouting.

34From Heshbon's cry to Elealeh to Jahaz they have raised their voices, from Zoar to Horonaim to the third heifer—for even Nimrim's waters will become desolate.

35I will bring to an end in Moab those who ascend the high place and those who burn incense to their gods, declares Yahweh.

36So my heart groans for Moab like pipes, and my heart groans like pipes for the men of Kir Heres; so the riches he has gained have perished.

37For every head is bald, and every beard shorn; gashes on all hands, and sackcloth on the loins.

38There is mourning on all the rooftops of Moab and in all its streets, for I have broken Moab like a vessel in which no one delights, says Yahweh.

39How shattered she is! How they wail! How Moab turns his back in shame! Moab will become a mockery and a horror to everyone around him.

40For this is what Yahweh says: Look, he will fly like an eagle and spread his wings against Moab.

41Kerioth is captured, the strongholds seized, and the hearts of Moab's mighty men on that day will be like the heart of a woman in her distress.

42Moab will be annihilated from being a people, because he has exalted himself against Yahweh.

43Dread, pit, and snare await you, dweller of Moab, says Yahweh.

44Whoever flees from terror falls into the pit, and whoever climbs from the pit is caught in the snare; for I will bring upon Moab the year of their visitation, declares Yahweh.

45Fugitives stood in Heshbon's shade, drained of strength, because fire burst from Heshbon, a flame from Sihon's midst that consumed Moab's flank and the pates of the boisterous sons.

46Woe to you, Moab! The people of Chemosh has perished, for your sons have been taken captive and your daughters into captivity.

47I will restore the captivity of Moab in the latter days, says Yahweh. Thus far is the judgment of Moab.