This message is about the country of Moab. This is what the Lord All- Powerful, the God of the people of Israel, says: "It will be bad for Mount Nebo. Mount Nebo will be ruined. The town of Kiriathaim will be humbled. It will be captured. The strong place will be humbled. It will be shattered.
Moab will not be praised again. Men in Heshbon will plan Moab's defeat. They will say, 'Come, let us put an end to that nation.' Madmenah, you will also be silenced. The sword will chase you.
Moab's people go up the path to Luhith. They are crying bitterly as they go. On the road down to the town of Horonaim, cries of pain and suffering can be heard.
You trust in the things you made and in your wealth, so you will be captured. The god Chemosh will be taken into captivity, and his priests and officials will be taken with him.
The Destroyer will come against every town. Not one town will escape. The valley will be ruined. The high plain will be destroyed. The Lord said this would happen, so it will happen.
"Moab has never known trouble. Moab is like wine left to settle. Moab has never been poured from one jar to another. He has not been taken into captivity. So he tastes as he did before, and his smell has not changed."
Then the people of Moab will be ashamed of their false god, Chemosh. They will be like the people of Israel who trusted that god in Bethel but were ashamed when he did not help them.
The enemy will attack Moab. The enemy will enter its towns and destroy them. Its best young men will be killed in the slaughter." This message is from the King. The King's name is the Lord All-Powerful.
All you who live around Moab should cry for that country. You know how famous Moab is. So cry for it. Say, 'The ruler's power is broken. Moab's power and glory is gone.'
"You people living in Dibon, come down from your place of honor. Sit on the ground in the dust, because the Destroyer is coming. And he will destroy your strong cities.
"The people of Moab thought they were greater than the Lord. So punish them until they act like a drunk, falling and rolling around in his vomit. Then people will make fun of them.
"Moab, you made fun of Israel. Israel was caught by a gang of thieves. Every time you spoke about Israel, you shook your head and acted as if you were better than Israel.
I cry with the people of Jazer for Jazer. Sibmah, in the past your vines spread all the way to the sea. They reached as far as the town of Jazer. But the Destroyer has taken your fruit and grapes.
Joy and happiness are gone from the large vineyards of Moab. I stopped the flow of wine from the winepresses. There is no singing and dancing from people walking on the grapes to make wine. There are no shouts of joy.
"The people of the towns of Heshbon and Elealeh are crying. Their cry is heard even as far away as the town of Jahaz. Their cry is heard from the town of Zoar, as far away as the towns of Horonaim and Eglath Shelishiyah. Even the waters of Nimrim are dried up.
"I am very sad for Moab. My heart cries like the sad sound of a flute playing a funeral song. I am sad for the people from Kir Hareseth. Their money and riches have all been taken away.
People are crying for the dead everywhere in Moab—on every housetop and in every public square. There is sadness because I have broken Moab like an empty jar." This is what the Lord said.
The towns of Moab will be captured. The strong hiding places will be defeated. At that time Moab's soldiers will be filled with fear, like a woman giving birth.
People will be afraid and run away, and they will fall into the deep holes. Anyone who climbs out of the deep holes will be caught in the traps. I will bring the year of punishment to Moab." This is what the Lord said.
"People have run from the powerful enemy. They ran to safety in the town of Heshbon. But a fire started in Heshbon. That fire started in Sihon's town, and it is destroying the leaders of Moab. It is destroying those proud people.
"Moab's people will be taken away as captives. But in days to come, I will bring them back." This message is from the Lord. This ends the judgment on Moab.