Isaiah 16

Moab and the Throne of Steadfast Love

1Send a lamb to the ruler of the land,
from Sela through the wilderness
to Daughter Zion’s mountain. 2Like wandering birds,
like a scattered nest,
Moab’s daughters will be
at the Arnon crossings. 3“Give counsel; render judgment.
At noon make your shade like night.
Hide the outcasts;
do not betray the fugitive. 4Let my outcasts live with you, Moab;
be a hiding place for them from the destroyer.
For the extortioner is gone, destruction has ended,
the trampler has vanished from the land.

5A throne will be established in steadfast love,
and on it, in David’s tent,
one will sit faithfully,
judging, seeking justice,
and swift to do right.” 6We have heard of Moab’s pride—so very proud—
its arrogance, pride, and fury.
Its boasts are empty. 7So Moab will wail for Moab;
everyone will wail.
For Kir-hareseth’s raisin cakes
you will moan, utterly stricken. 8Heshbon’s fields have withered,
and Sibmah’s vine.
Rulers of nations have struck down its choice branches,
which reached Jazer and wandered into the wilderness;
its shoots spread out and crossed the sea.

9So I weep with Jazer over Sibmah’s vine.
I drench you with my tears, Heshbon and Elealeh,
for a shout has fallen
on your summer fruit and harvest. 10Joy and gladness are taken from fruitful fields;
no singing, no shouting rings through the vineyards.
No one treads wine in the presses.
I have ended the harvest shout. 11So my inward parts sound like a lyre for Moab,
my very heart for Kir-heres. 12When Moab appears at the high place and wears itself out, when it enters its sanctuary to pray, it will achieve nothing.

13This is the word the LORD spoke concerning Moab formerly. 14Now the LORD says, “Within three years, counted like a hired worker’s years, Moab’s glory and all its great multitude will be brought low. The remnant will be very small and powerless.”