Moab’s Destruction
(Zephaniah 2:8–11)

1Sende the lorde of the worlde a lambe from the rocke that lyeth towarde the desert, vnto the hyl of the daughter Sion.

2For as for the daughters of Moab they shalbe as a trembling birde that is put out of her neste: for they shall cary them vnto Arnon.

3Gather your counsell, come together in iudgement, couer vs with your shadowe in the midday as the nyght doth hyde the chased, and bewray not them that are fled.

4Let my persecuted people dwell among you, Moab be thou their refuge against the destroyer: for the aduersarie is brought to naught, the robber is vndone, the tiraunt is wasted out of the lande.

5And in mercie shall the seate be prepared, and he shall sit vpon it in the trueth in the tabernacle of Dauid, iudging and sekyng iudgement, and makyng haste vnto ryghteousnesse.

6We haue hearde of the pride of Moab, he is very proude, presumptuous, arrogant, and full of indignation, and vayne are his lyes.

7Therfore shall Moab make lamentation because of the Moabites that shalbe slayne yea they shall wayle altogether: because of the foundations of the citie that is made of bricke shall ye complayne, euen ye lame people that are left only behynde.

8For the vines of Hesbon are cut downe: as for the vine of Sibma, the lordes of the heathen haue broken downe her principall braunches, they are come euen vnto Iazer, they went on wandering vnto the wildernesse, her goodly braunches were throwen downe as they went ouer the sea.

9Therfore wyll I mourne for Iazer, and for the vine of Sibma, I wyl poure my teares vpon thee O Hesbon and Eleale: for the crye of thyne enemies is fallen vpon thy sommer fruites, and vpon thy haruest.

10The mirth and cheare is taken away out of the plentifull fielde, and in the vineyardes there shalbe no ioy nor gladnesse: The treader shall treade out no wine in their presses, the song of their mery cheare haue I layde downe.

11Wherfore my bowels shall rumble like an Harpe for Moabs sake, & mine inwarde partes for the cities sake that is made of bricke.

12And it shall come to passe, that when it is seene that Moab shalbe made weery of his hyll chappelles, he shall come to his temple to pray, but he shall not be able.

13So then this is the saying that the Lorde hath spoken concernyng Moab since that tyme. 14But nowe the Lorde hath spoken, saying: In three yeres, which shalbe as the yeres of an hired seruaunt, shall the glorie of Moab be turned into contempt throughout all his multitude, which is very great: and that which remayneth shalbe very small and feeble.