Chapter 16

Send³ ye the lamb to the ruler⁶ of the land from Sela to the wilderness, unto the mount of the daughter of Zion.

For it shall be, [that], as a wandering⁶ bird cast out³⁰ of the nest, [so] the daughters of Moab shall be at the fords of Arnon.

Take⁵⁴ counsel, execute³ judgment; make³ thy shadow as the night in the midst of the noonday; hide¹⁶ the outcasts;¹² bewray¹⁷ not him that wandereth.⁶

Let mine outcasts¹² dwell⁴ with thee, Moab; be³ thou a covert to them from the face of the spoiler:⁶ for the extortioner⁵ is at an end,¹ the spoiler ceaseth,¹ the oppressors⁶ are consumed¹ out of the land.

And in mercy shall the throne be established:⁹⁰ and he shall sit¹ upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging,⁶ and seeking⁶ judgment, and hasting righteousness.

We have heard¹ of the pride of Moab; [he is] very proud: [even] of his haughtiness, and his pride, and his wrath: [but] his lies [shall] not [be] so.

Therefore shall Moab howl⁵⁵ for Moab, every one shall howl:⁵⁵ for the foundations of Kirhareseth shall ye mourn;⁴ surely [they are] stricken.

For the fields of Heshbon languish,⁴⁹ [and] the vine of Sibmah: the lords of the heathen have broken down¹ the principal plants thereof, they are come¹ [even] unto Jazer, they wandered¹ [through] the wilderness: her branches are stretched out,⁸ they are gone over¹ the sea.

Therefore I will bewail⁴ with the weeping of Jazer the vine of Sibmah: I will water¹⁷ thee with my tears, O Heshbon, and Elealeh: for the shouting for thy summer fruits and for thy harvest is fallen.¹

And gladness is taken away,⁸ and joy out of the plentiful field; ³⁷⁶⁰ and in the vineyards there shall be no singing,²⁹ neither shall there be shouting:³⁷ the treaders⁶ shall tread out⁴ no wine in [their] presses; I have made [their vintage] shouting to cease.⁵²

Wherefore my bowels shall sound⁴ like an harp for Moab, and mine inward parts for Kirharesh.

And it shall come to pass, when it is seen⁸ that Moab is weary⁸ on the high place, that he shall come¹ to his sanctuary to pray;⁹⁹ but he shall not prevail.⁴

This [is] the word that the LORD hath spoken¹⁴ concerning Moab since that time.

But now the LORD hath spoken,¹⁴ saying,² Within three years, as the years of an hireling, and the glory of Moab shall be contemned,⁸ with all that great multitude; and the remnant [shall be] very small [and] feeble. ³⁵²⁴