| 1This is what the LORD says: "Because Moab has committed three crimes--make that four!--I will not revoke my decree of judgment. They burned the bones of Edom's king into lime. | 1This is what the LORD says: "Because Moab has committed three crimes--make that four!--I will not revoke my decree of judgment. They burned the bones of Edom's king into lime. |
| 2So I will set Moab on fire, and it will consume Kerioth's fortresses. Moab will perish in the heat of battle amid war cries and the blaring of the ram's horn. | 2So I will set Moab on fire, and it will consume Kerioth's fortresses. Moab will perish in the heat of battle amid war cries and the blaring of the ram's horn. |
| 3I will remove Moab's leader; I will kill all Moab's officials with him." The LORD has spoken! | 3I will remove Moab's leader; I will kill all Moab's officials with him." The LORD has spoken! |
| 4This is what the LORD says: "Because Judah has committed three covenant transgressions--make that four!--I will not revoke my decree of judgment. They rejected the LORD's law; they did not obey his commands. Their false gods, to which their fathers were loyal, led them astray. | 4This is what the LORD says: "Because Judah has committed three covenant transgressions--make that four!--I will not revoke my decree of judgment. They rejected the LORD's law; they did not obey his commands. Their false gods, to which their fathers were loyal, led them astray. |
| 5So I will set Judah on fire, and it will consume Jerusalem's fortresses." | 5So I will set Judah on fire, and it will consume Jerusalem's fortresses." |
| 6This is what the LORD says: "Because Israel has committed three covenant transgressions--make that four!--I will not revoke my decree of judgment. They sold the innocent for silver, the needy for a pair of sandals. | 6This is what the LORD says: "Because Israel has committed three covenant transgressions--make that four!--I will not revoke my decree of judgment. They sold the innocent for silver, the needy for a pair of sandals. |
| 7They trample on the dirt-covered heads of the poor; they push the destitute away. A man and his father go to the same girl; in this way they show disrespect for my moral purity. | 7They trample on the dirt-covered heads of the poor; they push the destitute away. A man and his father go to the same girl; in this way they show disrespect for my moral purity. |
| 8They stretch out on clothing seized as collateral; they do so right beside every altar! They drink wine bought with the fines they have levied; they do so right in the temple of their God! | 8They stretch out on clothing seized as collateral; they do so right beside every altar! They drink wine bought with the fines they have levied; they do so right in the temple of their God! |
| 9For Israel's sake I destroyed the Amorites. They were as tall as cedars and as strong as oaks, but I destroyed the fruit on their branches and their roots in the ground. | 9For Israel's sake I destroyed the Amorites. They were as tall as cedars and as strong as oaks, but I destroyed the fruit on their branches and their roots in the ground. |
| 10I brought you up from the land of Egypt; I led you through the wilderness for forty years so you could take the Amorites' land as your own. | 10I brought you up from the land of Egypt; I led you through the wilderness for forty years so you could take the Amorites' land as your own. |
| 11I made some of your sons prophets and some of your young men Nazirites. Is this not true, you Israelites?" The LORD is speaking! | 11I made some of your sons prophets and some of your young men Nazirites. Is this not true, you Israelites?" The LORD is speaking! |
| 12"But you made the Nazirites drink wine; you commanded the prophets, 'Do not prophesy!' | 12"But you made the Nazirites drink wine; you commanded the prophets, 'Do not prophesy!' |
| 13Look! I will press you down, like a cart loaded down with grain presses down. | 13Look! I will press you down, like a cart loaded down with grain presses down. |
| 14Fast runners will find no place to hide; strong men will have no strength left; warriors will not be able to save their lives. | 14Fast runners will find no place to hide; strong men will have no strength left; warriors will not be able to save their lives. |
| 15Archers will not hold their ground; fast runners will not save their lives, nor will those who ride horses. | 15Archers will not hold their ground; fast runners will not save their lives, nor will those who ride horses. |
| 16Bravehearted warriors will run away naked in that day." The LORD is speaking! | 16Bravehearted warriors will run away naked in that day." The LORD is speaking! |
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