aSend the tribute lamb to the ruler of the land,
From bSela by way of the wilderness to the cmountain of the daughter of Zion.
2 Then, like afleeing birds or scattered nestlings,
The daughters of bMoab will be at the fords of the cArnon.
3 “Bring us counsel, make a decision;
Cast your ashadow like night at high noon;
bHide those banished, do not reveal the one who flees.
4 Let the banished of Moab sojourn with you;
Be a hiding place to them from the destroyer.”
For the extortioner has come to an end, destruction has ceased,
aOppressors have completely disappeared from the land.
5 And a athrone will be established in lovingkindness,
And a judge will sit on it in truth in the tent of bDavid;
Moreover, he will seek justice
And be prompt in righteousness.
6 aWe have heard of the pride of Moab, an excessive pride;
Even of his lofty pride, pride, and fury;
bHis idle boasts are false.
7 Therefore Moab will wail; everyone of Moab will wail.
You will moan for the araisin cakes of bKir‑hareseth
As those who are utterly stricken.
8 For the fields of aHeshbon have languished, the vines of bSibmah as well;
The lords of the nations have trampled down its choice clusters
Which reached as far as Jazer and wandered to the deserts;
cIts tendrils spread themselves out and passed over the sea.
9 Therefore I will aweep bitterly for Jazer, for the vine of Sibmah;
I will drench you with my tears, O bHeshbon and Elealeh;
For the shouting over your csummer fruits and your harvest has fallen away.
10 aGladness and joy are taken away from the fruitful orchard;
In the bvineyards also there will be no cries of joy or shouts of jubilation,
No ctreader treads out wine in the presses,
For I have made the shouting to cease.
11 Therefore my ainner being moans like a harp for Moab
And my inward feelings for Kir‑hareseth.
12 So it will be when Moab aappears,
When he bwearies himself upon his chigh place
And comes to his sanctuary to pray,
That he will not prevail.
13 This is the word which Yahweh spoke earlier concerning Moab. 14 But now Yahweh speaks, saying, “Within three years, as aa hired man would count them, the glory of bMoab will be dishonored along with all his great population, and his remnant will be very small and not mighty.”