Judgment on Moab, Judah, and Israel

1This is what the LORD {YHWH} says:

“For three transgressions of Moab (of his father), even four,

I will not revoke My judgment (I will not revoke the punishment),a

because he burned to lime

the bones of Edom’s (red) king.

2So I will send fire against Moab (of his father)

to consume the citadels of Kerioth (cities).

Moab will die in tumult,

amid war cries and the sound of the ram’s horn.

3I will cut off the ruler of Moab

and kill all the officials with him,”

says the LORD {YHWH}.

4This is what the LORD {YHWH} says:

“For three transgressions of Judah (praised), even four,

I will not revoke My judgment,

because they reject the Law of the LORD

and fail to keep His statutes;

they are led astray by the lies

in which their fathers walked.

5So I will send fire upon Judah (praised)

to consume the citadels of Jerusalem (city of peace).”

6This is what the LORD {YHWH} says:

“For three transgressions of Israel (he wrestles with God), even four,

I will not revoke My judgment,

because they sell the righteous for silver

and the needy for a pair of sandals.

7They trample on the heads of the poor

as on the dust of the earth;

they push the needy out of their way.

A man and his father

have relations with the same girl

and so profane My holy name.

8They lie down beside every altar

on garments taken in pledge.

And in the house of their God (of their gods),b

they drink wine obtained through fines (they drink the wine of those who have been fined).c

9Yet it was I who destroyed

the Amorite (a sayer) before them,

though his height was like that of the cedars,

and he was as strong as the oaks.

Yet I destroyed his fruit above

and his roots below.

10And I brought you⁺ up from the land of Egypt (land of bondage)

and led you⁺ forty years in the wilderness,

that you might take possession

of the land of the Amorite (a sayer).

11I raised up prophets from your⁺ sons

and Nazirites from your⁺ young men.

Is this not true,

O children of Israel (he wrestles with God)?”

declares the LORD {YHWH}.

12“But you⁺ made the Nazirites drink wine

and commanded the prophets not to prophesy.

13Behold, I am about to crush you in your⁺ place

as with a cart full of grain.

14Escape will fail the swift,

the strong will not prevail by his strength,

and the mighty will not save his life.

15The archer will not stand his ground,

the fleet of foot will not escape,

and the horseman will not save his life.

16Even the bravest of mighty men

will flee naked on that day,”

declares the LORD {YHWH}.