Add parallel Print Page Options

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.
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.

“Take counsel,
    execute justice,
make your shadow as the night
    at the height of noon.
Hide the outcasts,
    do not betray the fugitive.
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.
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.

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.
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.
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.
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.

13 This is the word that the Lord has spoken earlier concerning Moab. 14 But now the Lord has spoken, saying, Within three years, as the years of a hireling, the glory of Moab shall be brought into contempt with all his great population, and his remnant shall be very small and feeble.

Read full chapter

Moab Destroyed

16 Send (A)the lamb to the ruler of the land,
(B)From [a]Sela to the wilderness,
To the mount of the daughter of Zion.
For it shall be as a (C)wandering bird thrown out of the nest;
So shall be the daughters of Moab at the fords of the (D)Arnon.

“Take counsel, execute judgment;
Make your shadow like the night in the middle of the day;
Hide the outcasts,
Do not betray him who escapes.
Let My outcasts dwell with you, O Moab;
Be a shelter to them from the face of the [b]spoiler.
For the extortioner is at an end,
Devastation ceases,
The oppressors are consumed out of the land.
In mercy (E)the throne will be established;
And One will sit on it in truth, in the tabernacle of David,
(F)Judging and seeking justice and hastening (G)righteousness.”

We have heard of the (H)pride of Moab—
He is very proud—
Of his haughtiness and his pride and his wrath;
(I)But his [c]lies shall not be so.
Therefore Moab shall (J)wail for Moab;
Everyone shall wail.
For the foundations (K)of Kir Hareseth you shall mourn;
Surely they are stricken.

For (L)the fields of Heshbon languish,
And (M)the vine of Sibmah;
The lords of the nations have broken down its choice plants,
Which have reached to Jazer
And wandered through the wilderness.
Her branches are stretched out,
They are gone over the (N)sea.
Therefore I will bewail the vine of Sibmah,
With the weeping of Jazer;
I will drench you with my tears,
(O)O Heshbon and Elealeh;
For [d]battle cries have fallen
Over your summer fruits and your harvest.

10 (P)Gladness is taken away,
And joy from the plentiful field;
In the vineyards there will be no singing,
Nor will there be shouting;
No treaders will tread out wine in the presses;
I have made their shouting cease.
11 Therefore (Q)my [e]heart shall resound like a harp for Moab,
And my inner being for [f]Kir Heres.

12 And it shall come to pass,
When it is seen that Moab is weary on (R)the high place,
That he will come to his sanctuary to pray;
But he will not prevail.

13 This is the word which the Lord has spoken concerning Moab since that time. 14 But now the Lord has spoken, saying, “Within three years, (S)as the years of a hired man, the glory of Moab will be despised with all that great multitude, and the remnant will be very small and feeble.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 16:1 Lit. Rock
  2. Isaiah 16:4 devastator
  3. Isaiah 16:6 Lit. vain talk
  4. Isaiah 16:9 Or shouting has
  5. Isaiah 16:11 Lit. belly
  6. Isaiah 16:11 Kir Hareseth, v. 7