Isaiah 15

Moab Will Be Punished

1 *Is 25.10-12;Jr 48.1-47;Ez 25.8-11;Am 2.1-3;Zep 2.8-11. This is a message about Moab:

The towns of Ar and Kir

were destroyed in a night.

Moab is left in ruins!

2 Everyone in Dibon has gone up

to the temple*15.2 Everyone … temple: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text. and the shrines

to cry and weep.

All of Moab is crying.

Heads and beards are shaved*15.2 Heads … shaved: As a sign of sorrow and mourning.

because of what happened

at Nebo and Medeba.

3 In the towns and at home,

everyone wears sackcloth

and cries loud and long.

4 From Heshbon and Elealeh,

weeping is heard in Jahaz;

Moab’s warriors scream

while trembling with fear.

Pity Moab

5 I pity Moab!

Its people are running to Zoar

and to Eglath-Shelishiyah.

They cry on their way up

to the town of Luhith;

on the road to Horonaim

they tell of disasters.

6 The streams of Nimrim

and the grasslands

have dried up.

Every plant is parched.

7 The people of Moab are leaving,

crossing over Willow Creek,

taking everything they own

and have worked for.

8 In the towns of Eglaim

and of Beerelim

and everywhere else in Moab

mournful cries are heard.

9 The streams near Dimon

are flowing with blood.

But the Lord will bring

even worse trouble to Dimon,*15.9 Dimon … Dimon: The Standard Hebrew Text; the Dead Sea Scrolls and one ancient translation have "Dibon … Dibon."

because all in Moab who escape

will be attacked by lions.*15.9 lions: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 9.