Jeremiah 48

1 Of Moab. "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: 'Woe to Nebo, because it is about to be destroyed; Kiriathaim will be put to shame, it will be taken captive. The fortress is put to shame and broken down.

Now it came to pass in the seventh month that Ismael the son of Nathanias the son of Eleasa of the seed royal, came, and ten men with him, to Godolias to Massepha: and they ate bread there together.

2 The praise of Moab is no more; in Heshbon they have devised evil against her: "Come, and let us cut her off from being a nation." You also, Madmen, shall be brought to silence: the sword shall pursue you.

And Ismael rose up, and the ten men that were with him, and smote Godolias, whom the king of Babylon had appointed [governor] over the land,

3 The sound of a cry from Horonaim, "destruction and great calamity."

and all the Jews that were with him in Massepha, and all the Chaldeans that were found there.

4 Moab is destroyed; her little ones have caused a cry to be heard.

And it came to pass on the second day after he had smitten Godolias, and no man knew [of it],

5 For by the ascent of Luhith with continual weeping shall they go up; for at the descent of Horonaim they have heard the distress of the cry of destruction.

that there came men from Sychem, and from Salem, and from Samaria, [even] eighty men, having their beards shaven, and their clothes rent, and beating their breasts, and [they had] manna and frankincense in their hands, to bring [them] into the house of the Lord.

6 "Flee, save your lives, and be like a shrub in the wilderness."

And Ismael went out to meet them; [and] they went on and wept: and he said to them, Come in to Godolias.

7 For, because you have trusted in your works and in your treasures, you also shall be taken: and Chemosh shall go forth into captivity, his priests and his officials together.

And it came to pass, when they had entered into the midst of the city, [that] he slew them [and cast them] into a pit.

8 The destroyer shall come on every city, and no city shall escape; the valley also shall perish, and the plain shall be destroyed; as the LORD has spoken.

But ten men were found there, and they said to Ismael, Slay us not: for we have treasures in the field, wheat and barley, honey and oil. So he passed by, and slew them not in the midst of their brethren.

9 Give wings to Moab, that she may fly and get her away: and her cities shall become a desolation, without any to dwell in them.'

Now the pit into which Ismael cast all whom he smote, is the great pit, which king Asa had made for fear of Baasa king of Israel: [even] this Ismael filled with slain men.

10 Cursed is he who does the work of the LORD negligently; and cursed is he who keeps back his sword from blood.

And Ismael brought back all the people that were left in Massepha, and the king's daughter, whom the captain of the guard had committed in charge to Godolias the son of Achicam: and he went away beyond the children of Ammon.

11 'Moab has been at ease from his youth, and he has settled on his lees, and has not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither has he gone into captivity: therefore his taste remains in him, and his scent is not changed.

And Joanan the son of Caree, and all the leaders of the host that were with him, heard of all the evil deeds which Ismael had done.

12 Therefore look, the days come,' says the LORD, 'that I will send to him those who pour off, and they shall pour him off; and they shall empty his vessels, and break their bottles in pieces.

And they brought all their army, and went to fight against him, and found him near much water in Gabaon.

13 Moab shall be ashamed of Chemosh, as the house of Israel was ashamed of Bethel their confidence.

And it came to pass, when all the people that was with Ismael saw Joanan, and the leaders of the host that was with him,

14 How can you say, "We are mighty men, and valiant men for the war?"

that they returned to Joanan.

15 Moab is laid waste, and they are gone up into his cities, and his chosen young men are gone down to the slaughter,' says the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts.

But Ismael escaped with eight men and went to the children of Ammon.

16 The calamity of Moab is near to come, and his affliction hurries fast.

And Joanan, and all the leaders of the host that were with him, took all the remnant of the people, whom he [had] brought back from Ismael, mighty men in war, and the women, and the other [property], and the eunuchs, whom they [had] brought back from Gabaon:

17 All you who are around him, bemoan him, and all you who know his name; say, "How is the strong staff broken, the beautiful rod."

and they departed, and dwelt in Gaberoch-amaa, that is by Bethleem, to go into Egypt, for fear of the Chaldeans:

18 You daughter who dwells in Dibon, come down from your glory, and sit in thirst; for the destroyer of Moab has come up against you, he has destroyed your strongholds.

for they were afraid of them, because Ismael had smitten Godolias, whom the king of Babylon made [governor] in the land.

19 Inhabitant of Aroer, stand by the way, and watch: ask him who flees, and her who escapes; say, "What has been done?"

20 "Moab is disappointed; for it is broken down: wail and cry; tell it by the Arnon, that Moab is laid waste."

21 Judgment has come on the plain country, on Holon, and on Jahzah, and on Mephaath,

22 and on Dibon, and on Nebo, and on Beth Diblathaim,

23 and on Kiriathaim, and on Beth Gamul, and on Beth Meon,

24 and on Kerioth, and on Bozrah, and on all the cities of the land of Moab, far or near.

25 The horn of Moab is cut off, and his arm is broken,' says the LORD.

26 'Make him drunk; for he magnified himself against the LORD: and Moab shall wallow in his vomit, and he also shall be in derision.

27 For wasn't Israel a derision to you? Was he found among thieves? For as often as you speak of him, you shake your head.

28 You inhabitants of Moab, leave the cities, and dwell in the rock; and be like the dove that makes her nest over the mouth of the abyss.

29 We have heard of the pride of Moab--he is very proud--of his pride, and his vanity, and his arrogance, and the haughtiness of his heart.

30 I know his wrath,' says the LORD, 'that it is nothing; his boastings have worked nothing.

31 therefore I will wail for Moab; yes, I will cry out for all Moab; I will mourn for the men of Kir Heres.

32 With more than the weeping of Jazer will I weep for you, vine of Sibmah: your branches passed over the sea, they reached even to Jazer; on your summer fruits and on your vintage the destroyer is fallen.

33 Gladness and joy is taken away from the fruitful field and from the land of Moab; and I have caused wine to cease from the wine presses: none shall tread with shouting; the shouting shall be no shouting.

34 From the cry of Heshbon even to Elealeh, even to Jahaz have they uttered their voice, from Zoar even to Horonaim, to Eglath Shelishiyah: for the waters of Nimrim also shall become desolate.

35 And I will cause to cease in Moab,' says the LORD, 'the one who offers sacrifice upon the high place, and the one who burns incense to his gods.

36 Therefore my heart sounds for Moab like pipes, and my heart sounds like pipes for the men of Kir Heres: therefore the abundance that he has gotten is perished.

37 For every head is bald, and every beard clipped: on all the hands are cuttings, and on the waist sackcloth.

38 On all the housetops of Moab and in its streets there is lamentation every where; for I have broken Moab like a vessel in which none delights,' says the LORD.

39 How it is broken down. How they wail. How Moab has turned the back with shame. So shall Moab become a derision and a terror to all who are around him.'

40 For thus says the LORD: 'Look, he shall fly as an eagle, and shall spread out his wings against Moab.

41 Kerioth is taken, and the strongholds are seized, and the heart of the mighty men of Moab at that day shall be as the heart of a woman in her pangs.

42 Moab shall be destroyed from being a people, because he has magnified himself against the LORD.

43 Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are on you, inhabitant of Moab, says the LORD.

44 He who flees from the fear shall fall into the pit; and he who gets up out of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for I will bring on him, even on Moab, the year of their visitation,' says the LORD.

45 'Those who fled stand without strength under the shadow of Heshbon; for a fire has gone forth out of Heshbon, and a flame from the city of Sihon, and it has destroyed the forehead of Moab, and the crown of the sons of tumult.

46 Woe to you, O Moab. The people of Chemosh is undone; for your sons are taken away captive, and your daughters into captivity.

47 Yet will I bring back the captivity of Moab in the latter days,' says the LORD. Thus far is the judgment of Moab."