Jeremiah 48:20-47

They answer, ‘Moab is humiliated. Weep and cry for Moab, for she has been defeated!’ Announce the news beside the Arnon River: ‘Moab is devastated.’ “YAHWEH has judged the cities of the plateau and has punished them. Those cities include Holon, Jahzah, Mephaath, Dibon, Nebo, Beth Diblathaim, Kiriathaim, Beth Gamul, Beth Meon, Kerioth, and Bozrah. He has punished all the cities of Moab, far and near.” YAHWEH declares: “All the strength of Moab is cut off, and her power is broken.” “Make Moab drink from this cup until drunk because she exalted herself against YAHWEH. Drunken Moab will wallow in her own vomit until she makes the world laugh at her. And they will say, ‘Didn’t you make fun of Israel in the past? Didn’t you say Israel was nothing but crooks? Whenever you spoke of her, didn’t you shake your head in disgust?’ “People of Moab, flee your cities and hide in the rocks. Be like doves that make their nests among the cliffs. Everyone knows about the pride of Moab. I have heard about how very proud, arrogant, and lofty she is. How highly she thinks of herself! But I, YAHWEH, know of her insolent defiance. Her boasts are empty and accomplish nothing.” Therefore I wail for Moab; I cry out for the whole country, and I mourn for the people of Kir Hareseth. I will weep for you more than I wept for Jazer, O vine of Sibmah! Your branches passed over the Dead Sea and spread to the sea of Jazer. An enemy has destroyed your figs and your grapes. YAHWEH “The people no longer experience joy and gladness in the fruitful land of Moab; for I have stopped the people from making wine. They are no longer shouting happily as they tread the grapes, for no wine is coming out of the wine presses. People are indeed shouting but not for joy. “The loud cries of Heshbon are heard as far as Elealeh and Jahaz. Cries from Zoar are heard in Horonaim and Eglath Shelishiyah. The brook of Nimrim has dried up. I will eliminate Moab’s idolaters, those who offer sacrifices in the high place and make offerings to their god,” declares YAHWEH. Therefore, my heart sobs for Moab like a mournful flute. My heart moans as a sad funeral song played on a flute for the people of Kir Hareseth. All the wealth they accumulated has disappeared. Every head is shaved, and every beard is cut off as a sign of mourning. And around the waist is sackcloth, on all the hands are gashes. “On all the housetops of Moab and in the streets, people are mourning because I have broken Moab like a discarded vessel for which no one cares,” declares YAHWEH. How it is broken! How they wail! How Moab has turned her back in disgrace! All the surrounding nations find Moab a laughingstock and a thing of horror. YAHWEH For YAHWEH says: “Look, an enemy will swoop down and attack Moab with no warning, like an eagle diving from the sky. The enemy will capture the cities and the fortresses of Kerioth. On that day, Moab’s warriors will be as frightened as a woman in her birth pains. Moab will be destroyed, wiped from the earth, because she exalted herself against YAHWEH.” For YAHWEH declares, “Terror, pit, and a snare are waiting for you, people of Moab! The one who flees from the terror will fall into the pit, and the one who climbs out of the pit will be caught in the snare.” For YAHWEH declares, “I will bring upon Moab the year of her punishment. In Heshbon’s shelter, exhausted refugees are helpless, for fire came out from Heshbon, a flame from the house of Sihon. It has burned everything from the frontiers to the mountain heights of those war-loving people, the Moabites. Woe to you, O Moab! The people who worshiped Chemosh are gone, for your sons have been taken captive and your daughters into exile. Yet in the days to come, I will bring Moab’s captives home,” declares YAHWEH.