Isaiah 15

A Message about Moab

1. This message came to me concerning Moab: 1 In one night the town of Ar will be leveled, 1 and the city of Kir will be destroyed.

2. Your people will go to their temple in Dibon to mourn. 2 They will go to their sacred shrines to weep. 2 They will wail for the fate of Nebo and Medeba, 2 shaving their heads in sorrow and cutting off their beards.

3. They will wear burlap as they wander the streets. 3 From every home and public square will come the sound of wailing.

4. The people of Heshbon and Elealeh will cry out; 4 their voices will be heard as far away as Jahaz! 4 The bravest warriors of Moab will cry out in utter terror. 4 They will be helpless with fear.

5. My heart weeps for Moab. 5 Its people flee to Zoar and Eglath-shelishiyah. 5 Weeping, they climb the road to Luhith. 5 Their cries of distress can be heard all along the road to Horonaim.

6. Even the waters of Nimrim are dried up! 6 The grassy banks are scorched. 6 The tender plants are gone; 6 nothing green remains.

7. The people grab their possessions 7 and carry them across the Ravine of Willows.

8. A cry of distress echoes through the land of Moab 8 from one end to the other— 8 from Eglaim to Beer-elim.

9. The stream near Dibon[a] runs red with blood, 9 but I am still not finished with Dibon! 9 Lions will hunt down the survivors— 9 both those who try to escape 9 and those who remain behind.

Footnotes:
a. 15:9: As in Dead Sea Scrolls, some Greek manuscripts, and Latin Vulgate; Masoretic Text reads Dimon; also in 15:9b.