7HOW? WILL YOU BE INACTIVE AND YAHWEH HE HAS COMMANDED <TO> <THE> IT AGAINST ASHKELON AND AGAINST [THE] COAST OF THE SEA THERE HE HAS APPOINTED IT 7How can it rest when the LORD has commanded it? He has appointed it against Ashkelon and the shore of its coastland
1OF MOAB THUS HE SAYS YAHWEH OF HOSTS [THE] GOD OF ISRAEL WOE! TO NEBO FOR IT WILL BE DEVASTATED IT WILL BE PUT TO SHAME IT WILL BE CAPTURED KIRIATHAIM IT WILL BE PUT TO SHAME THE STRONGHOLD AND IT WILL BE SHATTERED Judgment on Moab (Isaiah 15:1–9) 1Concerning Moab, this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “Woe to Nebo, for it will be devastated. Kiriathaim will be captured and disgraced; the fortress will be shattered and dismantled.
2THERE NOT AGAIN [WILL BE] [THE] PRAISE OF MOAB IN HESHBON PEOPLE HAVE PLANNED ON IT CALAMITY COME AND LET US CUT OFF IT FROM A NATION ALSO O MADMEN YOU WILL BE SILENT AFTER YOU IT WILL GO [THE] SWORD 2There is no longer praise for Moab; in Heshbon*NoteCloseThe Hebrew for Heshbon sounds like the Hebrew for plot. they devise evil against her: ‘Come, let us cut her off from nationhood.’ You too, O people of Madmen,*NoteCloseThe name of the Moabite town Madmen sounds like the Hebrew for silenced. will be silenced; the sword will pursue you.
3[THE] SOUND OF A CRY OF DISTRESS FROM HORONAIM DEVASTATION AND DESTRUCTION GREAT 3A voice cries out from Horonaim: ‘Devastation and great destruction!’
4IT WILL BE BROKEN MOAB THEY WILL MAKE HEARD A CRY OF DISTRESS SERVANTS ITS 4Moab will be shattered; her little ones will cry out.*NoteCloseHebrew; LXX her cries are heard as far away as Zoar
5FOR [THE] ASCENT OF <THE> LUHITH WITH WEEPING SOMEONE WILL ASCEND WEEPING FOR ON [THE] DESCENT OF HORONAIM [THE] DISTRESSES OF [THE] CRYS OF DESTRUCTION PEOPLE WILL HEAR 5For on the ascent to Luhith they weep bitterly as they go, and on the descent to Horonaim cries of distress resound over the destruction:
6FLEE SAVE LIFE YOUR SO THEY MAY BE LIKE A JUNIPER BUSH IN THE WILDERNESS 6‘Flee! Run for your lives! Become like a juniper in the desert.*NoteCloseOr like a wild donkey or like Aroer ’
7FOR BECAUSE TRUSTING YOU IN DEEDS YOUR AND IN TREASURES YOUR ALSO YOU YOU WILL BE CAPTURED AND HE WILL GO OUT CHEMOSH IN <THE> EXILE PRIESTS HIS AND OFFICIALS HIS TOGETHER 7Because you trust in your works and treasures, you too will be captured, and Chemosh will go into exile with his priests and officials.
8SO HE MAY COME A DESTROYER TO EVERY CITY AND A CITY NOT IT WILL ESCAPE AND IT WILL BE DESTROYED THE VALLEY AND IT WILL BE DESTROYED THE PLAIN WHICH HE HAS SPOKEN YAHWEH 8The destroyer will move against every city, and not one town will escape. The valley will also be ruined, and the high plain will be destroyed, as the LORD has said.
9GIVE SALT TO MOAB FOR [SURELY] FLYING IT WILL GO OUT AND CITIES ITS <INTO> A WASTE THEY WILL BECOME FROM NOT INHABITANT IN <THE> THEM 9Put salt on Moab, for she will be laid waste;*NoteCloseOr Give wings to Moab, for she would fly away her cities will become desolate, with no one to dwell in them.
10[IS] CURSED [ONE WHO] DOES [THE] WORK OF YAHWEH SLACKNESS AND [IS] CURSED [ONE WHO] WITHHOLDS SWORD HIS FROM BLOOD 10Cursed is the one who is remiss in doing the work of the LORD, and cursed is he who withholds his sword from bloodshed.
11IT HAS BEEN AT EASE MOAB SINCE YOUTH<S> ITS AND [HAS BEEN] UNDISTURBED IT TO LEES ITS AND NOT IT HAS BEEN POURED FROM VESSEL TO VESSEL AND IN <THE> EXILE NOT IT HAS GONE THERE- -FORE IT HAS REMAINED TASTE ITS IN <THE> IT AND AROMA ITS NOT IT HAS BEEN CHANGED 11Moab has been at ease from youth, settled like wine on its dregs; he has not been poured from vessel to vessel or gone into exile. So his flavor has remained the same, and his aroma is unchanged.
12<TO> THEREFORE HERE! DAYS [ARE] COMING [THE] UTTERANCE OF YAHWEH AND I WILL SEND TO <THE> IT [THOSE WHO] TIP AND THEY WILL TIP IT AND VESSELS ITS THEY WILL EMPTY OUT AND JARS THEIR THEY WILL SMASH 12Therefore behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will send to him wanderers, who will pour him out. They will empty his vessels and shatter his jars.
13AND IT WILL BE ASHAMED MOAB FROM CHEMOSH JUST AS THEY WERE ASHAMED [THE] HOUSE OF ISRAEL FROM BETH- -EL TRUST THEIR 13Then Moab will be ashamed of Chemosh, just as the house of Israel was ashamed when they trusted in Bethel.
14HOW? WILL YOU SAY [ARE] WARRIORS WE AND MEN OF STRENGTH FOR <THE> BATTLE 14How can you say, ‘We are warriors, mighty men ready for battle’?
15IT WILL BE DEVASTATED MOAB AND CITIES ITS HE WILL GO UP AND [THE] CHOICEST OF YOUNG MEN ITS THEY WILL GO DOWN TO THE SLAUGHTER [THE] UTTERANCE OF THE KING [IS] YAHWEH OF HOSTS NAME HIS 15Moab has been destroyed and its towns have been invaded; the best of its young men have gone down in the slaughter, declares the King, whose name is the LORD of Hosts.
16[IS] NEAR [THE] DISASTER OF MOAB TO COMING AND CALAMITY ITS IT WILL HASTEN EXCEEDINGLY 16Moab’s calamity is at hand, and his affliction is rushing swiftly.
17SHOW SYMPATHY TO <THE> IT O ALL AROUND IT AND O ALL [THOSE WHO] KNOW <OF> NAME ITS SAY HOW! IT IS BROKEN A STAFF OF STRENGTH A STAFF OF SPLENDOR 17Mourn for him, all you who surround him, everyone who knows his name; tell how the mighty scepter is shattered— the glorious staff!
18COME DOWN FROM HONOR AND SIT IN <THE> THIRST O INHABITANT[S] OF [THE] DAUGHTER OF DIBON FOR [THE] DESTROYER OF MOAB HE WILL COME UP ON <THE> YOU HE WILL RUIN STRONGHOLDS YOUR 18Come down from your glory; sit on parched ground, O daughter dwelling in Dibon, for the destroyer of Moab has come against you; he has destroyed your fortresses.
19TO [THE] ROAD STAND AND WATCH O INHABITANT[S] OF AROER ASK [A MAN WHO] FLEES AND [A WOMAN WHO] ESCAPES SAY WHAT? HAS IT HAPPENED 19Stand by the road and watch, O dweller of Aroer! Ask the man fleeing or the woman escaping, ‘What has happened?’
20IT HAS BEEN PUT TO SHAME MOAB FOR IT HAS BEEN SHATTERED WAIL AND CRY OUT DECLARE AT [THE] ARNON THAT IT HAS BEEN DEVASTATED MOAB 20Moab is put to shame, for it has been shattered. Wail and cry out! Declare by the Arnon that Moab is destroyed.
21AND JUDGMENT IT WILL COME TO [THE] LAND OF THE PLAIN TO HOLON AND TO JAHAZ <TOWARDS> AND ON MEPHAATH 21Judgment has come upon the high plain— upon Holon, Jahzah,*NoteCloseJahzah is a variant of Jahaz; see verse 34. and Mephaath,
24AND ON KERIOTH AND ON BOZRAH AND ON ALL [THE] CITIES OF [THE] LAND OF MOAB <THE> FAR AND <THE> NEAR 24upon Kerioth, Bozrah, and all the towns of Moab, those far and near.
25IT WILL BE CUT OFF [THE] HORN OF MOAB AND ARM ITS IT WILL BE BROKEN [THE] UTTERANCE OF YAHWEH 25The horn of Moab has been cut off, and his arm is broken,” declares the LORD.
26MAKE DRUNK IT FOR ON YAHWEH IT HAS MAGNIFIED ITSELF AND IT WILL SPLASH MOAB IN VOMIT ITS AND IT WILL BECOME <INTO> A LAUGHING STOCK ALSO IT 26“Make him drunk, because he has magnified himself against the LORD; so Moab will wallow in his own vomit, and he will also become a laughingstock.
27AND <IF>? NOT THE LAUGHING STOCK WAS IT TO <THE> YOU ISRAEL OR? AMONG THIEVES WAS IT FOUND FOR AS OFTEN AS WORDS YOUR IN <THE> IT YOU SHOOK YOURSELF 27Was not Israel your object of ridicule? Was he ever found among thieves For whenever you speak of him you shake your head.
28ABANDON CITIES AND DWELL AMONG THE ROCK[S] O INHABITANTS OF MOAB AND BE LIKE A DOVE [WHICH] IT MAKES A NEST ON [THE] SIDES OF [THE] MOUTH OF A RAVINE 28Abandon the towns and settle among the rocks, O dwellers of Moab! Be like a dove that nests at the mouth of a cave.
29WE HAVE HEARD [THE] PRIDE OF MOAB PROUD VERY HAUGHTINESS ITS AND PRIDE ITS AND BOASTFULNESS ITS AND [THE] LOFTINESS OF HEART ITS 29We have heard of Moab’s pomposity, his exceeding pride and conceit, his proud arrogance and haughtiness of heart.
30I I KNOW [THE] UTTERANCE OF YAHWEH ARROGANCE ITS AND [IT IS] NOT RIGHT EMPTY BOASTS ITS NOT RIGHT THEY HAVE ACCOMPLISHED 30I know his insolence,” declares the LORD, “but it is futile. His boasting is as empty as his deeds.
31THERE- -FORE ON MOAB I WILL WAIL AND FOR MOAB ALL OF IT I WILL CRY OUT CONCERNING [THE] PEOPLE OF KIR HERES HE WILL GROAN 31Therefore I will wail for Moab; I will cry out for all of Moab; I will moan for the men of Kir-heres.*NoteCloseKir-heres is a variant of Kir-hareseth; also in verse 36; see Isaiah 16:7.
32MORE THAN [THE] WEEPING OF JAZER I WILL WEEP FOR <THE> YOU O VINE OF SIBMAH TENDRILS YOUR THEY PASSED OVER [THE] SEA TO [THE] SEA OF JAZER THEY REACHED ON SUMMER FRUIT YOUR AND ON GRAPE HARVEST YOUR A DESTROYER HE HAS FALLEN 32I will weep for you, O vine of Sibmah, more than I weep for Jazer. Your tendrils have extended to the sea;*NoteCloseProbably the Dead Sea they reach even to Jazer.*NoteCloseTwo Hebrew manuscripts and LXX; most Hebrew manuscripts to the Sea of Jazer The destroyer has descended on your summer fruit and grape harvest.
33AND IT HAS BEEN REMOVED JOY AND REJOICING FROM [THE] GARDEN-LAND AND FROM [THE] LAND OF MOAB AND WINE FROM WINE-PRESSES I HAVE MADE TO CEASE NOT ANYONE WILL TREAD SHOUTING SHOUTING NOT SHOUTING 33Joy and gladness are removed from the orchard and from the fields of Moab. I have stopped the flow of wine from the presses; no one treads them with shouts of joy; their shouts are not for joy.
34FROM [THE] CRY OF DISTRESS OF HESHBON TO ELEALEH TO JAHAZ PEOPLE WILL GIVE VOICE THEIR FROM ZOAR TO HORONAIM EGLATH SHELISHIYAH FOR ALSO [THE] WATERS OF NIMRIM <INTO> WASTES THEY WILL BECOME 34There is a cry from Heshbon to Elealeh; they raise their voices to Jahaz, from Zoar to Horonaim and Eglath-shelishiyah; for even the waters of Nimrim have dried up.
35AND I WILL PUT AN END TO OF MOAB [THE] UTTERANCE OF YAHWEH [ONE WHO] OFFERS UP A HIGH PLACE AND [ONE WHO] MAKES SMOKE TO GODS HIS 35In Moab, declares the LORD, I will bring an end to those who make offerings on the high places and burn incense to their gods.
36THERE- -FORE HEART MY FOR MOAB LIKE FLUTES IT WILL GROAN AND HEART MY CONCERNING [THE] PEOPLE OF KIR HERES LIKE FLUTES IT WILL GROAN THERE- -FORE [THE] WEALTH <OF> [WHICH] HE ACQUIRED THEY WILL BE LOST 36Therefore My heart laments like a flute for Moab; it laments like a flute for the men of Kir-heres, because the wealth they acquired has perished.
37FOR EVERY HEAD [WILL BE] BALDNESS AND EVERY BEARD [WILL BE] CLIPPED [WILL BE] ON ALL HANDS CUTS AND [WILL BE] ON LOINS SACKCLOTH 37For every head is shaved and every beard is clipped; on every hand is a gash, and around every waist is sackcloth.
38[WILL BE] ON ALL [THE] ROOFS OF MOAB AND IN OPEN PLACES ITS ALL OF IT WAILING FOR I WILL BREAK <OBJ.> MOAB LIKE A VESSEL [WHICH] THERE NOT [IS] PLEASURE IN <THE> IT [THE] UTTERANCE OF YAHWEH 38On all the rooftops of Moab and in the public squares, everyone is mourning; for I have shattered Moab like an unwanted jar declares the LORD.
39HOW! IT HAS BEEN SHATTERED THEY WILL WAIL HOW! IT HAS TURNED A NECK MOAB IT WILL BE ASHAMED AND IT WILL BECOME MOAB <INTO> A LAUGHING STOCK AND <INTO> AN OBJECT OF TERROR TO ALL AROUND IT 39“How shattered it is! How they wail! How Moab has turned his back in shame! Moab has become an object of ridicule and horror to all those around him.”
40FOR THUS HE SAYS YAHWEH THERE! LIKE <THE> EAGLE SOMEONE WILL SWOOP DOWN AND HE WILL SPREAD OUT WINGS HIS AGAINST MOAB 40For this is what the LORD says: “Behold, an eagle swoops down and spreads his wings against Moab.
41IT WILL BE CAPTURED <THE> KERIOTH AND THE STRONGHOLDS IT WILL BE SEIZED AND IT WILL BE [THE] HEART OF [THE] WARRIORS OF MOAB ON THE DAY <THE> THAT LIKE [THE] HEART OF A WOMAN IN LABOR 41Kirioth has been taken, and the strongholds seized. In that day the heart of Moab’s warriors will be like the heart of a woman in labor.
42AND IT WILL BE DESTROYED MOAB FROM A PEOPLE FOR ON YAHWEH IT HAS MAGNIFIED ITSELF 42Moab will be destroyed as a nation because he vaunted himself against the LORD.
43TERROR AND PIT AND SNARE [WILL BE] ON YOU O INHABITANT OF MOAB [THE] UTTERANCE OF YAHWEH 43Terror and pit and snare await you, O dweller of Moab,” declares the LORD.
44THE [ONE WHO] FLEES FROM BEFORE THE TERROR HE WILL FALL INTO THE PIT AND THE [ONE WHO] CLIMBS UP FROM THE PIT HE WILL BE CAUGHT IN <THE> SNARE FOR I WILL BRING TO IT TO MOAB [THE] YEAR OF PUNISHMENT THEIR [THE] UTTERANCE OF YAHWEH 44“Whoever flees the panic will fall into the pit, and whoever climbs from the pit will be caught in the snare. For I will bring upon Moab the year of their punishment,” declares the LORD.
45IN [THE] SHADOW OF HESHBON THEY WILL STAND FROM STRENGTH [THOSE WHO] FLEE FOR A FIRE IT WILL GO FORTH FROM HESHBON AND A FLAME FROM BETWEEN SIHON AND IT CONSUMED [THE] FOREHEAD OF MOAB AND [THE] SCALP OF [THE] SONS OF UPROAR 45“Those who flee will stand helpless in Heshbon’s shadow, because fire has gone forth from Heshbon and a flame from within Sihon. It devours the foreheads of Moab and the skulls of the sons of tumult.
46WOE! TO <THE> YOU O MOAB IT WILL PERISH [THE] PEOPLE OF CHEMOSH FOR THEY WILL BE TAKEN SONS YOUR IN <THE> CAPTIVITY AND DAUGHTERS YOUR IN <THE> CAPTIVITY 46Woe to you, O Moab! The people of Chemosh have perished; for your sons have been taken into exile and your daughters have gone into captivity.
47AND I WILL TURN BACK [THE] CAPTIVITY OF MOAB AT [THE] END OF THE DAYS [THE] UTTERANCE OF YAHWEH [IS] TO HERE [THE] JUDGMENT OF MOAB 47Yet in the latter days I will restore Moab from captivity,*NoteCloseOr restore the fortunes of Moab ” declares the LORD. Here ends the judgment on Moab.