Jeremiah 48
48
A Message about Moab
1This message was given concerning Moab. This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says:
“What sorrow awaits the city of Nebo;
it will soon lie in ruins.
The city of Kiriathaim will be humiliated and captured;
the fortress will be humiliated and broken down.
2No one will ever brag about Moab again,
for in Heshbon there is a plot to destroy her.
‘Come,’ they say, ‘we will cut her off from being a nation.’
The town of Madmen,#48:2 Madmen sounds like the Hebrew word for “silence”; it should not be confused with the English word madmen. too, will be silenced;
the sword will follow you there.
3Listen to the cries from Horonaim,
cries of devastation and great destruction.
4All Moab is destroyed.
Her little ones will cry out.#48:4 Greek version reads Her cries are heard as far away as Zoar.
5Her refugees weep bitterly,
climbing the slope to Luhith.
They cry out in terror,
descending the slope to Horonaim.
6Flee for your lives!
Hide#48:6 Or Hide like a wild donkey; or Hide like a juniper shrub; or Be like [the town of] Aroer. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain. in the wilderness!
7Because you have trusted in your wealth and skill,
you will be taken captive.
Your god Chemosh, with his priests and officials,
will be hauled off to distant lands!
8“All the towns will be destroyed,
and no one will escape—
either on the plateaus or in the valleys,
for the Lord has spoken.
9Oh, that Moab had wings
so she could fly away,#48:9 Or Put salt on Moab, / for she will be laid waste.
for her towns will be left empty,
with no one living in them.
10Cursed are those who refuse to do the Lord’s work,
who hold back their swords from shedding blood!
11“From his earliest history, Moab has lived in peace,
never going into exile.
He is like wine that has been allowed to settle.
He has not been poured from flask to flask,
and he is now fragrant and smooth.
12But the time is coming soon,” says the Lord,
“when I will send men to pour him from his jar.
They will pour him out,
then shatter the jar!
13At last Moab will be ashamed of his idol Chemosh,
as the people of Israel were ashamed of their gold calf at Bethel.#48:13 Hebrew ashamed when they trusted in Bethel.
14“You used to boast, ‘We are heroes,
mighty men of war.’
15But now Moab and his towns will be destroyed.
His most promising youth are doomed to slaughter,”
says the King, whose name is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
16“Destruction is coming fast for Moab;
calamity threatens ominously.
17You friends of Moab,
weep for him and cry!
See how the strong scepter is broken,
how the beautiful staff is shattered!
18“Come down from your glory
and sit in the dust, you people of Dibon,
for those who destroy Moab will shatter Dibon, too.
They will tear down all your towers.
19You people of Aroer,
stand beside the road and watch.
Shout to those who flee from Moab,
‘What has happened there?’
20“And the reply comes back,
‘Moab lies in ruins, disgraced;
weep and wail!
Tell it by the banks of the Arnon River:
Moab has been destroyed!’
21Judgment has been poured out on the towns of the plateau—
on Holon and Jahaz#48:21 Hebrew Jahzah, a variant spelling of Jahaz. and Mephaath,
22on Dibon and Nebo and Beth-diblathaim,
23on Kiriathaim and Beth-gamul and Beth-meon,
24on Kerioth and Bozrah—
all the towns of Moab, far and near.
25“The strength of Moab has ended.
His arm has been broken,” says the Lord.
26“Let him stagger and fall like a drunkard,
for he has rebelled against the Lord.
Moab will wallow in his own vomit,
ridiculed by all.
27Did you not ridicule the people of Israel?
Were they caught in the company of thieves
that you should despise them as you do?
28“You people of Moab,
flee from your towns and live in the caves.
Hide like doves that nest
in the clefts of the rocks.
29We have all heard of the pride of Moab,
for his pride is very great.
We know of his lofty pride,
his arrogance, and his haughty heart.
30I know about his insolence,”
says the Lord,
“but his boasts are empty—
as empty as his deeds.
31So now I wail for Moab;
yes, I will mourn for Moab.
My heart is broken for the men of Kir-hareseth.#48:31 Hebrew Kir-heres, a variant spelling of Kir-hareseth; also in 48:36.
32“You people of Sibmah, rich in vineyards,
I will weep for you even more than I did for Jazer.
Your spreading vines once reached as far as the Dead Sea,#48:32 Hebrew the sea of Jazer.
but the destroyer has stripped you bare!
He has harvested your grapes and summer fruits.
33Joy and gladness are gone from fruitful Moab.
The presses yield no wine.
No one treads the grapes with shouts of joy.
There is shouting, yes, but not of joy.
34“Instead, their awful cries of terror can be heard from Heshbon clear across to Elealeh and Jahaz; from Zoar all the way to Horonaim and Eglath-shelishiyah. Even the waters of Nimrim are dried up now.
35“I will put an end to Moab,” says the Lord, “for the people offer sacrifices at the pagan shrines and burn incense to their false gods. 36My heart moans like a flute for Moab and Kir-hareseth, for all their wealth has disappeared. 37The people shave their heads and beards in mourning. They slash their hands and put on clothes made of burlap. 38There is crying and sorrow in every Moabite home and on every street. For I have smashed Moab like an old, unwanted jar. 39How it is shattered! Hear the wailing! See the shame of Moab! It has become an object of ridicule, an example of ruin to all its neighbors.”
40This is what the Lord says:
“Look! The enemy swoops down like an eagle,
spreading his wings over Moab.
41Its cities will fall,
and its strongholds will be seized.
Even the mightiest warriors will be in anguish
like a woman in labor.
42Moab will no longer be a nation,
for it has boasted against the Lord.
43“Terror and traps and snares will be your lot,
O Moab,” says the Lord.
44“Those who flee in terror will fall into a trap,
and those who escape the trap will step into a snare.
I will see to it that you do not get away,
for the time of your judgment has come,”
says the Lord.
45“The people flee as far as Heshbon
but are unable to go on.
For a fire comes from Heshbon,
King Sihon’s ancient home,
to devour the entire land
with all its rebellious people.
46“What sorrow awaits you, O people of Moab!
The people of the god Chemosh are destroyed!
Your sons and your daughters
have been taken away as captives.
47But I will restore the fortunes of Moab
in days to come.
I, the Lord, have spoken!”
This is the end of Jeremiah’s prophecy concerning Moab.
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Jeremiah 48: NLT
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Holy Bible, New Living Translation copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation.
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Jeremiah 48
48
Judgment on Moab
1Against #Is. 15:1—16:14; 25:10; Ezek. 25:8–11; Amos 2:1–3; Zeph. 2:8–11Moab.
Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel:
“Woe to #Is. 15:2Nebo!
For it is plundered,
#Num. 32:37; Jer. 48:23; Ezek. 25:9Kirjathaim is shamed and taken;
The high stronghold is shamed and dismayed—
2#Is. 16:14No more praise of Moab.
In #Is. 15:4; Jer. 49:3Heshbon they have devised evil against her:
‘Come, and let us cut her off as a nation.’
You also shall be cut down, O #Is. 10:31Madmen!
The sword shall pursue you;
3A voice of crying shall be from #Is. 15:5; Jer. 48:5, 34Horonaim:
‘Plundering and great destruction!’
4“Moab is destroyed;
Her little ones have caused a cry to be heard;
5#Is. 15:5For in the Ascent of Luhith they ascend with continual weeping;
For in the descent of Horonaim the enemies have heard a cry of destruction.
6“Flee, save your lives!
And be like the #Jer. 17:6juniper in the wilderness.
7For because you have trusted in your works and your #Ps. 52:7; Is. 59:4; Jer. 9:23; (1 Tim. 6:17)treasures,
You also shall be taken.
And #Num. 21:29; Judg. 11:24; Jer. 48:13Chemosh shall go forth into captivity,
His #Jer. 49:3priests and his princes together.
8And #Jer. 6:26the plunderer shall come against every city;
No one shall escape.
The valley also shall perish,
And the plain shall be destroyed,
As the Lord has spoken.
9“Give#Ps. 55:6 wings to Moab,
That she may flee and get away;
For her cities shall be desolate,
Without any to dwell in them.
10#Judg. 5:23; 1 Sam. 15:3, 9; 1 Kin. 20:42Cursed is he who does the work of the Lord deceitfully,
And cursed is he who keeps back his sword from blood.
11“Moab has been at ease from his youth;
He #Zeph. 1:12has settled on his dregs,
And has not been emptied from vessel to vessel,
Nor has he gone into captivity.
Therefore his taste remained in him,
And his scent has not changed.
12“Therefore behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord,
“That I shall send him wine-workers
Who will tip him over
And empty his vessels
And break the bottles.
13Moab shall be ashamed of #1 Kin. 11:7Chemosh,
As the house of Israel #Hos. 10:6was ashamed of #1 Kin. 12:29; 13:32–34; Hos. 8:5, 6Bethel, their confidence.
14“How can you say, #Is. 16:6‘We are mighty
And strong men for the war’?
15Moab is plundered and gone up from her cities;
Her chosen young men have #(Is. 40:30, 31); Jer. 50:27gone down to the slaughter,” says #Jer. 46:18; 51:57; Mal. 1:14the King,
Whose name is the Lord of hosts.
16“The calamity of Moab is near at hand,
And his affliction comes quickly.
17Bemoan him, all you who are around him;
And all you who know his name,
Say, #Is. 9:4; 14:4, 5‘How the strong staff is broken,
The beautiful rod!’
18“O #Is. 47:1daughter inhabiting #Num. 21:30; Josh. 13:9, 17; Is. 15:2; Jer. 48:22Dibon,
Come down from your glory,
And sit in thirst;
For the plunderer of Moab has come against you,
He has destroyed your strongholds.
19O inhabitant of #Deut. 2:36; Josh. 12:2; Is. 17:2Aroer,
#1 Sam. 4:13, 14, 16Stand by the way and watch;
Ask him who flees
And her who escapes;
Say, ‘What has happened?’
20Moab is shamed, for he is broken down.
#Is. 16:7Wail and cry!
Tell it in #Num. 21:13Arnon, that Moab is plundered.
21“And judgment has come on the plain country:
On Holon and Jahzah and Mephaath,
22On Dibon and Nebo and Beth Diblathaim,
23On Kirjathaim and Beth Gamul and Beth Meon,
24On #Jer. 48:41; Amos 2:2Kerioth and Bozrah,
On all the cities of the land of Moab,
Far or near.
25#Ps. 75:10; Zech. 1:19–21The horn of Moab is cut off,
And his #Ezek. 30:21arm is broken,” says the Lord.
26“Make#Jer. 25:15 him drunk,
Because he exalted himself against the Lord.
Moab shall wallow in his vomit,
And he shall also be in derision.
27For #Zeph. 2:8was not Israel a derision to you?
#Jer. 2:26Was he found among thieves?
For whenever you speak of him,
You shake your head in #Lam. 2:15; (Mic. 7:8–10)scorn.
28You who dwell in Moab,
Leave the cities and #Ps. 55:6, 7dwell in the rock,
And be like #Song 2:14the dove which makes her nest
In the sides of the cave’s mouth.
29“We have heard the #Is. 16:6; Zeph. 2:8, 10pride of Moab
(He is exceedingly proud),
Of his loftiness and arrogance and #Jer. 49:16pride,
And of the haughtiness of his heart.”
30“I know his wrath,” says the Lord,
“But it is not right;
#Is. 16:6; Jer. 50:36His lies have made nothing right.
31Therefore #Is. 15:5; 16:7, 11I will wail for Moab,
And I will cry out for all Moab;
I will mourn for the men of Kir Heres.
32#Is. 16:8, 9O vine of Sibmah! I will weep for you with the weeping of #Num. 21:32; Is. 16:10Jazer.
Your plants have gone over the sea,
They reach to the sea of Jazer.
The plunderer has fallen on your summer fruit and your vintage.
33#Is. 16:10; Jer. 25:10; Joel 1:12Joy and gladness are taken
From the plentiful field
And from the land of Moab;
I have caused wine to fail from the winepresses;
No one will tread with joyous shouting—
Not joyous shouting!
34“From#Is. 15:4–6 the cry of Heshbon to #Num. 32:3, 37Elealeh and to Jahaz
They have uttered their voice,
#Is. 15:5, 6From Zoar to Horonaim,
Like a three-year-old heifer;
For the waters of Nimrim also shall be desolate.
35“Moreover,” says the Lord,
“I will cause to cease in Moab
#Is. 15:2; 16:12The one who offers sacrifices in the high places
And burns incense to his gods.
36Therefore #Is. 15:5; 16:11My heart shall wail like flutes for Moab,
And like flutes My heart shall wail
For the men of Kir Heres.
Therefore #Is. 15:7the riches they have acquired have perished.
37“For #Is. 15:2, 3; Jer. 16:6; 41:5; 47:5every head shall be bald, and every beard clipped;
On all the hands shall be cuts, and #Gen. 37:34; Is. 15:3; 20:2on the loins sackcloth—
38A general lamentation
On all the #Is. 15:3housetops of Moab,
And in its streets;
For I have #Jer. 22:28broken Moab like a vessel in which is no pleasure,” says the Lord.
39“They shall wail:
‘How she is broken down!
How Moab has turned her back with shame!’
So Moab shall be a derision
And a dismay to all those about her.”
40For thus says the Lord:
“Behold, #Deut. 28:49; Jer. 49:22; Hos. 8:1; Hab. 1:8one shall fly like an eagle,
And #Is. 8:8spread his wings over Moab.
41Kerioth is taken,
And the strongholds are surprised;
#Is. 13:8; 21:3; Jer. 30:6; Mic. 4:9, 10The mighty men’s hearts in Moab on that day shall be
Like the heart of a woman in birth pangs.
42And Moab shall be destroyed #Ps. 83:4; Jer. 48:2as a people,
Because he exalted himself against the Lord.
43#Is. 24:17, 18; Lam. 3:47Fear and the pit and the snare shall be upon you,
O inhabitant of Moab,” says the Lord.
44“He who flees from the fear shall fall into the pit,
And he who gets out of the pit shall be caught in the #1 Kin. 19:17; Is. 24:18; Amos 5:19snare.
For upon Moab, upon it #Jer. 11:23I will bring
The year of their punishment,” says the Lord.
45“Those who fled stood under the shadow of Heshbon
Because of exhaustion.
But #Num. 21:28, 29a fire shall come out of Heshbon,
A flame from the midst of #Num. 21:21, 26; Ps. 135:11Sihon,
And #Num. 24:17shall devour the brow of Moab,
The crown of the head of the sons of tumult.
46#Num. 21:29Woe to you, O Moab!
The people of Chemosh perish;
For your sons have been taken captive,
And your daughters captive.
47“Yet I will bring back the captives of Moab
#Jer. 49:6, 39In the latter days,” says the Lord.
Thus far is the judgment of Moab.
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