Jeremiah 48:1-13

The Prophecy concerning Moab

48¹ Concerning Moab. Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Alas for Nebo, it is laid waste! Kiriathaim is put to shame, it is taken; the fortress is put to shame and broken down; ² the renown of Moab is no more. In Heshbon they planned evil against her: "Come, let us cut her off from being a nation!" You also, O Madmen, shall be brought to silence; the sword shall pursue you. ³ Hark! a cry from Horonaim, "Desolation and great destruction!" ⁴ "Moab is destroyed!" her little ones cry out. ⁵ For at the ascent of Luhith they go up weeping bitterly; for at the descent of Horonaim they have heard the distressing cry of anguish. ⁶ Flee! Save yourselves! Be like a wild ass in the desert! ⁷ Surely, because you trusted in your strongholds and your treasures, you also shall be taken; Chemosh shall go out into exile, with his priests and his attendants. ⁸ The destroyer shall come upon every town, and no town shall escape; the valley shall perish, and the plain shall be destroyed, as the Lord has spoken. ⁹ Set aside salt for Moab, for she will surely fall; her towns shall become a desolation, with no inhabitant in them. ¹⁰ Accursed is the one who is slack in doing the work of the Lord; and accursed is the one who keeps back the sword from bloodshed. ¹¹ Moab has been at ease from his youth, settled like wine on its dregs; he has not been emptied from vessel to vessel, nor has he gone into exile; therefore his flavor has remained and his aroma is unspoiled. ¹² Therefore, the time is surely coming, says the Lord, when I shall send to him decanters to decant him, and empty his vessels, and break his jars in pieces. ¹³ Then Moab shall be ashamed of Chemosh, as the house of Israel was ashamed of Bethel, their confidence.