1 Send a lamb as tribute to the ruler of the land, from Sela, through the wilderness, to the mountain of the daughter of Zion.

Send ye the lamb to the ruler of the land from Sela to the wilderness, unto the mount of the daughter of Zion.

2 Like a bird that wanders from its nest, so the daughters of Moab will be at the fords of the Arnon.

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 Bring counsel and make a decision. Provide shade as if it were night, even at midday. Hide the outcasts; do not reveal the wanderers.

Take counsel, execute judgment; make thy shadow as the night in the midst of the noonday; hide the outcasts; bewray not him that wandereth.

4 Let my outcasts live among you, O Moab. Be a shelter for them from the destroyer. For the oppressor will come to an end, destruction will cease, and those who trample others will disappear from the land.

Let mine outcasts dwell with thee, Moab; be thou a covert to them from the face of the spoiler: for the extortioner is at an end, the spoiler ceaseth, the oppressors are consumed out of the land.

5 Then a throne will be established in steadfast love, and one will sit on it in faithfulness, in the tent of David—a judge who seeks justice and is quick to do what is right.

And in mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness.

6 We have heard of Moab’s pride—how exceedingly proud and arrogant he is, full of pride, fury, and empty boasts.

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 will wail for Moab—everyone will wail. Mourn for the raisin cakes of Kir-hareseth, utterly stricken and grieving.

Therefore shall Moab howl for Moab, every one shall howl: for the foundations of Kirhareseth shall ye mourn; surely they are stricken.

8 The fields of Heshbon languish, as does the vine of Sibmah. The rulers of the nations have struck its choice vines, which reached as far as Jazer, wandered into the wilderness, and spread their shoots abroad, crossing the sea.

For the fields of Heshbon languish, and the vine of Sibmah: the lords of the heathen have broken down the principal plants thereof, they are come even unto Jazer, they wandered through the wilderness: her branches are stretched out, they are gone over the sea.

9 Therefore, I weep with the weeping of Jazer for the vine of Sibmah. I drench you with my tears, O Heshbon and Elealeh, for over your summer fruits and your harvest, shouts of joy have fallen silent.

Therefore I will bewail with the weeping of Jazer the vine of Sibmah: I will water thee with my tears, O Heshbon, and Elealeh: for the shouting for thy summer fruits and for thy harvest is fallen.

10 Joy and gladness are taken away from the fertile fields. In the vineyards, no songs are sung, no cheers are heard. No one treads out wine in the presses—the cheerful shouting has stopped.

And gladness is taken away, and joy out of the plentiful field; and in the vineyards there shall be no singing, neither 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 moans like a lyre for Moab, and my innermost being for Kir Hareseth.

Wherefore my bowels shall sound like an harp for Moab, and mine inward parts for Kirharesh.

12 When Moab appears, weary on the high places, and comes to his sanctuary to pray, he will not prevail.

And it shall come to pass, when it is seen that Moab is weary on the high place, that he shall come to his sanctuary to pray; but he shall not prevail.

13 This is the word the LORD spoke concerning Moab in the past.

This is the word that the LORD hath spoken concerning Moab since that time.

14 But now the LORD has spoken, saying: In three years, as precisely as the years of a hired worker, the glory of Moab, along with its great multitude, will be brought into contempt. Only a small and insignificant remnant will remain, not mighty at all.

But now the LORD hath spoken, saying, Within three years, as the years of an hireling, and the glory of Moab shall be contemned, with all that great multitude; and the remnant shall be very small and feeble.