[1] And they will send ... to the mountain of the daughter of Zion. [2] For
the daughters of Moab will be like wandering birds, like a place from which
the young birds have gone in flight, at the ways across the Arnon. [3] Give
wise directions, make a decision; let your shade be as night in full day:
keep safe those who are in flight; do not give up the wandering ones. [4]
Let those who have been forced out of Moab have a resting-place with you;
be a cover to them from him who is making waste their land: till the cruel
ones are cut off, and wasting has come to an end, and those who take
pleasure in crushing the poor are gone from the land. [5] Then a king's
seat will be based on mercy, and one will be seated on it in the tent of
David for ever; judging uprightly, and quick to do righteousness. [6] We
have had word of the pride of Moab, how great it is; how he is lifted up in
pride and passion: his high words about himself are false. [7] For this
cause everyone in Moab will give cries of grief for Moab: crushed to the
earth, they will be weeping for the men of Kir-hareseth. [8] For the fields
of Heshbon are waste, the vine of Sibmah is dead; the lords of nations were
overcome by the produce of her vines; her vine-plants went as far as Jazer,
and came even to the waste land; her branches were stretched out to the
sea. [9] For this cause my sorrow for the vine of Sibmah will be like the
weeping for Jazer: my eyes are dropping water on you, O Heshbon and
Elealeh! For they are sounding the war-cry over your summer fruits and the
getting in of your grain; [10] And all joy is gone; no longer are they glad
for the fertile field; and in the vine-gardens there are no songs or sounds
of joy: the crushing of grapes has come to an end, and its glad cry has
been stopped. [11] For this cause the cords of my heart are sounding for
Moab, and I am full of sorrow for Kir-heres. [12] And when Moab goes up to
the high place, and makes prayer in the house of his god, it will have no
effect. [13] This is the word which the Lord said about Moab in the past.
[14] But now the Lord has said, In three years, the years of a servant
working for payment, the glory of Moab, all that great people, will be
turned to shame, and the rest of Moab will be very small and without
honour.
