Isaiah 16

1 “I will send creatures that crawl over the land. Is Zion’s mountain not a deserted rock?”

2 “Daughter of Moab, you will be like a young bird taken from one that has flown away. Then, Arnon,”

3 “Consider further. Make a shelter for her grief continually. They flee in midday darkness, stunned with fear. Do not let yourself be led captive.”

4 “Moab’s fugitives will live with you and be your shelter from the pursuer, because your alliance has been removed and the oppressive ruler has perished from the earth.”

5 “A throne will be established with mercy, and one will sit on it faithfully in David’s tent, judging, seeking judgment, and hastening righteousness.”

6 “We have heard Moab’s arrogance—he is very arrogant. You removed his pride, but your divination will not happen that way.”

7 “No, not that way. Moab will wail, and everyone in Moab will wail. You will care for those living in Deseth and will not be ashamed.”

8 “Heshbon’s plains and Sibmah’s vine will mourn. You who swallowed nations, trample her vineyards as far as Jazer. You will not come together. Wander in the desert. Those sent out were abandoned because they crossed the desert.”

9 “Therefore I will weep for Sibmah’s vine as Jazer weeps. Heshbon and Elealeh, he brought down your trees. I will trample your harvest and vintage, and every plant will fall.”

10 “Joy and celebration will be removed from your vineyards. No one will rejoice there or tread wine in the vats, because the vintage has ended.”

11 “Therefore my belly will sound like a harp for Moab, and my inward parts like the wall you rebuilt.”

12 “Moab will be ashamed after exhausting himself at the altars. He will enter the shrines made by his own hands to pray, but they will be unable to rescue him.”

13 “This is the word the Lord spoke against Moab when he first spoke.”

14 “Now I say: within three years, counted as exactly as a hired worker’s term, Moab’s glory and great wealth will be dishonored. Only a small, insignificant number will remain.”