Jeremiah 48

1 To Moab: This is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says: “How terrible for Nebo, for it’s laid waste. Kiriathaim is put to shame, it’s captured. The fortress is put to shame, it’s shattered.ISV — Jeremiah 48:1

2 The pride of Moab is no more. In Heshbon they plotted evil against her: ‘Come and let’s eliminate her as a nation.’ Madmen ^{a48:2 Madmen was a town in Moab. The name sounds like the Heb. word silenced} will also be silenced, and the sword will pursue you.ISV — Jeremiah 48:2

3 The sound of crying will come from Horonaim, devastation and great destruction.ISV — Jeremiah 48:3

4 Moab will be destroyed; her little ones will cry out.ISV — Jeremiah 48:4

5 Indeed, at the ascent of Luhith people will go up with bitter weeping. At the descent of Horonaim the anguished cries over the destruction will be heard.ISV — Jeremiah 48:5

6 Flee, save your lives, and you will be like a wild donkey ^{b48:6 So LXX; MT reads Aroer} in the desert.ISV — Jeremiah 48:6

7 But, because you trust in your deeds and your riches, you will also be captured. Chemosh ^{c48:7 Chemosh was the chief Moabite deity.} will go out into exile, along with his priests and officials.ISV — Jeremiah 48:7

8 A destroyer will come to every town and no town will escape. The valley will be ruined and the plateau destroyed.” This ^{d48:8 The Heb. lacks this.} is what the LORD has said!ISV — Jeremiah 48:8

9 “Put salt ^{e48:9 Or take wing} on Moab ^{f48:9 i.e. as a sign of destruction} for she will surely fall. Her towns will become desolate places, ^{g48:9 Lit. a desolation} without any inhabitants in them.ISV — Jeremiah 48:9

10 Cursed is the one who is slack in doing the LORD’s work. Cursed is the one who holds back his sword from shedding ^{h48:10 The Heb. lacks shedding} blood.ISV — Jeremiah 48:10

11 Moab has been at ease from his youth. He has been undisturbed like wine ^{i48:11 The Heb. lacks like wine} on its dregs and not poured from vessel to vessel. He has not gone into exile. Therefore, his flavor has remained, and his aroma has not changed.ISV — Jeremiah 48:11

12 “Therefore, look, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I’ll send those who tip over vessels ^{j48:12 The Heb. lacks vessels} to him, and they’ll tip him over. They’ll empty his vessels and shatter his jars.ISV — Jeremiah 48:12

13 Moab will be ashamed because of Chemosh just as the house of Israel was ashamed because of Bethel, their confidence.ISV — Jeremiah 48:13

14 “How can you say, ‘We’re strong warriors, and soldiers ready ^{k48:14 The Heb. lacks ready} for battle’?ISV — Jeremiah 48:14

15 Moab will be destroyed, and the enemy ^{l48:15 Lit. he} will come up against her cities. Her finest young men will go down to slaughter,” declares the King, whose name is the LORD of the Heavenly Armies.ISV — Jeremiah 48:15

16 “Moab’s disaster is near at hand, and his calamity is coming very quickly.ISV — Jeremiah 48:16

17 Mourn for him, all who live around him, and all who know his name. Say, ‘Oh how the mighty rod is broken, the glorious staff.’ISV — Jeremiah 48:17

18 “Come down from glory, and sit on parched ground, O woman who lives in Dibon, for the destroyer of Moab will come up against you to destroy you. He will destroy your strongholds.ISV — Jeremiah 48:18

19 Stand by the road and keep watch, O woman who lives in Aroer. Ask the man who flees and the woman who escapes. Say, ‘What happened’?ISV — Jeremiah 48:19

20 Moab will be put to shame, for it will be destroyed. Wail and cry out. Announce by the Arnon that Moab is destroyed.ISV — Jeremiah 48:20

21 Judgment has come to the plateau: ^{m48:21 Moab was located on a plateau overlooking the Jordan River.} to Holon and Jahzah, and against Mephaath,ISV — Jeremiah 48:21

22 Dibon, Nebo, and Beth-diblathaim,ISV — Jeremiah 48:22

23 against Kiriathaim, Beth-gamul, and Beth-meon,ISV — Jeremiah 48:23

24 against Kerioth, Bozrah, and all the towns in the land of Moab, both far and near.ISV — Jeremiah 48:24

25 The strength ^{n48:25 Lit. horn} of Moab is cut off, and his arm is broken,” declares the LORD.ISV — Jeremiah 48:25

26 “Make him drunk for he has exalted himself against the LORD. Moab will wallow in his vomit, and he will be the object of mocking.ISV — Jeremiah 48:26

27 Wasn’t Israel an object of mocking for you? Wasn’t he treated like a thief, ^{o48:27 Lit. found among thieves} so that whenever you spoke about him you shook your head in contempt? ^{p48:27 The Heb. lacks in contempt}ISV — Jeremiah 48:27

28 Abandon the cities, and live on the cliffs, ^{q48:28 Or among the crags; i.e. on the face of a cliff} you inhabitants of Moab. Be like a dove that builds a nest by the mouth of a cave.ISV — Jeremiah 48:28

29 We have heard about Moab’s pride— he’s very proud— his haughtiness, his arrogance, his insolence, and his conceit. ^{r48:29 Lit. the elevation of his heart}ISV — Jeremiah 48:29

30 I know his gall,” declares the LORD, “and it’s futile; the boasting that they do is futile.ISV — Jeremiah 48:30

31 Therefore, I’ll wail for Moab, and for the whole of Moab I’ll cry out, for the men of Kir-heres I’ll moan.ISV — Jeremiah 48:31

32 More than the weeping for Jazer, ^{s48:32 Jazer was a town in Moab.} I’ll weep for you, vine of Sibmah. ^{t48:32 Sibmah was a town in Moab noted for its vineyards.} Your branches spread out to the sea, and reached as far as the Sea of Jazer. ^{u48:32 i.e. the Dead Sea} On your summer fruit and grapes ^{v48:32 Lit. your vintage} the destroyer will fall.ISV — Jeremiah 48:32

33 Gladness and rejoicing will be taken away from the fruitful land. ^{w48:33 Or from Carmel} From the land of Moab I’ll cause the wine in the wine presses to stop flowing. ^{x48:33 The Heb. lacks flowing} The workers won’t tread ^{y48:33 Lit. He won’t tread} the grapes with a loud shout. ^{z48:33 Lit. with a shout, shout} There will be no shout!ISV — Jeremiah 48:33

34 “From the cry of Heshbon, to Elealeh, to Jahaz they have lifted up their voice. From Zoar to Horonaim and to Eglath-shelishiyah, even the waters of Nimrim will become a desolate place.ISV — Jeremiah 48:34

35 In Moab,” declares the LORD, “I’ll put an end to the one who offers a burnt offering on the high place and to the one who burns incense to his gods.ISV — Jeremiah 48:35

36 Therefore my heart wails for Moab like flutes ^{aa48:36 i.e. flutes were played as a part of mourning for the dead} and my heart wails for the men of Kir-heres like flutes. Therefore they’ll lose the abundance they produced.ISV — Jeremiah 48:36

37 Indeed every head will be bald ^{bb48:37 i.e. heads were shaved as a sign of mourning} and every beard cut short. ^{cc48:37 i.e. beards were cut short as a sign of mourning} There will be gashes on all the hands ^{dd48:37 i.e. people cut themselves as a sign of mourning} and sackcloth on the loins.ISV — Jeremiah 48:37

38 On all the housetops of Moab and in the streets there will be nothing but mourning, for I’ll break Moab like a vessel that no one wants,” declares the LORD.ISV — Jeremiah 48:38

39 “How it will be shattered! How they’ll wail! How Moab will turn his back in shame! Moab will be an object of ridicule and terror to all those around him.”ISV — Jeremiah 48:39

40 For this is what the LORD says: “Look, like an eagle one will fly swiftly and spread his wings against Moab.ISV — Jeremiah 48:40

41 The towns ^{ee48:41 Or Kerioth} will be captured and the strongholds seized. On that day the hearts of the warriors of Moab will be like the heart of a woman in labor.ISV — Jeremiah 48:41

42 Moab will be destroyed as a nation ^{ff48:42 Lit. from being a nation} because he exalted himself against the LORD.ISV — Jeremiah 48:42

43 Terror, pit, and trap will be used ^{gg48:43 The Heb. lacks used} against you who live in Moab,” declares the LORD.ISV — Jeremiah 48:43

44 “The one who flees from the terror will fall into a pit. And the one who comes up out of the pit will be caught in a trap. For I’ll bring upon her, that is upon Moab, the time of her ^{hh48:44 Lit. their} punishment,” declares the LORD.ISV — Jeremiah 48:44

45 “The fugitives will stand without strength in the shadow of Heshbon, for fire will go out from Heshbon and a flame from the middle of Sihon. It will devour the forehead of Moab and the heads of the rebellious people. ^{ii48:45 Lit. sons of tumult}ISV — Jeremiah 48:45

46 How terrible for you, Moab! The people of Chemosh ^{jj48:46 Chemosh was the chief deity of Moab.} will perish. Indeed, your sons will be taken into captivity, and your daughters as well. ^{kk48:46 Lit. daughters into captivity}ISV — Jeremiah 48:46

47 But I’ll restore the fortunes of Moab in the latter days,” declares the LORD. This concludes the judgment on Moab.ISV — Jeremiah 48:47