11. “From its earliest days Moab has lived undisturbed.It has never been taken into exile.Its people are like wine allowed to settle undisturbed on its dregs,never poured out from one jar to another.They are like wine which tastes like it always did,whose aroma has remained unchanged.
12. But the time is coming when I will sendmen against Moab who will empty it out.They will empty the towns of their people,then will lay those towns in ruins.I, the Lord, affirm it!
13. The people of Moab will be disappointed by their god Chemosh.They will be as disappointed as the people of Israel were when they put their trust in the calf god at Bethel.
14. How can you men of Moab say, ‘We are heroes,men who are mighty in battle?’
15. Moab will be destroyed. Its towns will be invaded.Its finest young men will be slaughtered.I, the King, the Lord who rules over all, affirm it!
16. Moab’s destruction is at hand.Disaster will come on it quickly.
17. Mourn for that nation, all you nations living around it,all of you nations that know of its fame.Mourn and say, ‘Alas, its powerful influence has been broken!Its glory and power have been done away!’
18. Come down from your place of honor;sit on the dry ground, you who live in Dibon.For the one who will destroy Moab will attack you;he will destroy your fortifications.
19. You who live in Aroer, stand by the road and watch.Question the man who is fleeing and the woman who is escaping.Ask them, ‘What has happened?’
20. They will answer, ‘Moab is disgraced, for it has fallen!Wail and cry out in mourning!Announce along the Arnon Riverthat Moab has been destroyed.’
21. “Judgment will come on the cities on the high plain: on Holon, Jahzah, and Mephaath,
22. on Dibon, Nebo, and Beth Diblathaim,
23. on Kiriathaim, Beth Gamul, and Beth Meon,
24. on Kerioth and Bozrah. It will come on all the towns of Moab, both far and near.
25. Moab’s might will be crushed. Its power will be broken. I, the Lord, affirm it!
26. “Moab has vaunted itself against me.So make him drunk with the wine of my wrathuntil he splashes around in his own vomit,until others treat him as a laughingstock.
27. For did not you people of Moab laugh at the people of Israel?Did you think that they were nothing but thieves,that you shook your head in contemptevery time you talked about them?