Moab’s Destruction
(Zephaniah 2:8–11)

1Send the lamb

to the ruler of the land,

from Sela in the wilderness,

to the mountain of the daughter of Zion.

2And it will come to pass that, like a fluttering bird

or a nestling cast out,

so shall be the daughters of Moab

at the fords of the Arnon.

3“Bring in counsel;

make judgment;

set like the night

your shadow in the middle of noontime.

Hide those driven away,

do not uncover the one fleeing.

4Let sojourn among you the outcasts of Moab;

be a shelter for them from the face of the destroyer.”

For the extortioner comes to an end and destruction ceases;

the tramplers of the land are finished off.

5And in loving devotion† a throne will be established,

and one will sit on it in faithfulness in the tent of David—

one judging and seeking justice,

and hastening righteousness.

6We have heard of the pride of Moab—

exceeding pride—

of his arrogance and his pride and his wrath;

not so are his lies.

7Therefore Moab will wail;

let everyone wail for Moab;

for the raisin-cakes of Kir-Hareseth

you⁺ will mourn, utterly stricken.

8For the fields of Heshbon languish,

and the vine of Sibmah.

The lords of the nations

have struck down its choicest vines,

which had reached as far as Jazer,

and wandered to the desert—

her branches stretched out

and passed over the sea.†

9Upon thus I weep with the weeping of Jazer,

for the vine of Sibmah,

I will drench you with my tears,

O Heshbon and Elealeh.

For over your summer fruit—

over your summer fruit the shouting have fallen silent.

10And gladness and rejoicing are gathered up from the field of planting,

and in the vineyards there is no singing, and no shouting,

and the wine in the presses, the treader does not tread;

their shouting I have made cease.

11Upon thus my bowels do moan for Moab like a harp,

and my inmost being for Kir-heres.†

12And it will come to pass, when it is seen that Moab has become weary

on the high place,

that he will come to his sanctuary to pray;

he will not prevail.

13This is the word that YHWH has spoken to Moab from that time; 14and YHWH has spoken, saying, “In three years, according to the years of a hireling, then the glory of Moab will be turned to dishonor, with all the great multitude; and the remnant is little—small, not mighty.”