Isaiah 16  Modern English Version

16 Send the lamb
    to the ruler of the land
from Sela by way of the wilderness,
    to the mount of the daughter of Zion.
² For it shall be that as a wandering bird
    cast out of the nest,
so the daughters of Moab shall be
    at the fords of Arnon.

³ “Take counsel,
    execute justice,
make your shadow as the night
    at the height of noon.
Hide the outcasts,
    do not betray the fugitive.
⁴ Let my outcasts dwell with you, Moab;
    be a hiding place to them from the face of the destroyer.”

For the extortioner has come to an end;
    the destroyer ceases;
    the oppressors are consumed out of the land.
⁵ In mercy the throne shall be established;
    and one who judges and seeks justice
    and is diligent in righteousness
shall sit on it in truth
    in the tabernacle of David, judging.

⁶ We have heard 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.
⁷ Therefore Moab shall wail for Moab;
    everyone shall wail.
For the loss of raisin cakes of Kir Hareseth you shall mourn;
    surely they are destroyed.
⁸ For the fields of Heshbon languish,
    and the vine of Sibmah;
the lords of the nations
    have broken down its choice plants;
they have come as far as Jazer
    and wandered through the wilderness.
Her branches are stretched out;
    they are passed over the sea.
⁹ Therefore I will weep bitterly for Jazer,
    the vine of Sibmah;
I will water you with my tears,
    O Heshbon and Elealeh.
For the shouting for your summer fruits
    and for your harvest has fallen away.
¹⁰ Gladness and joy are taken away out of the plentiful field,
    and in the vineyards there shall be no singing,
    nor shall there be shouting;
the treaders shall tread out no wine in their presses.
    I have made their vintage shouting to cease.
¹¹ Therefore my heart shall sound like a harp for Moab,
    and my inward parts for Kir Hareseth.
¹² When it is seen that Moab
    is weary on the high place,
he shall come to his sanctuary to pray;
    but he shall not prevail.