Isaiah, 16

1. Send ye the lamb to the ruler of the land from Sela to the wilderness, unto the mount of the daughter of Zion.

1. Like bewildered birds cast out of their nests, the daughters of Moab stay at the fords of Arnon.

2. For it shall be, [that], as a wandering bird cast out of the nest, [so] the daughters of Moab shall be at the fords of Arnon.

2. From Sela, across the wilderness, they send lambs to the mount of Zion: are they not the rulers of the land?

3. Take counsel, execute judgment; make thy shadow as the night in the midst of the noonday; hide the outcasts; bewray not him that wandereth.

3. They say: "Take counsel, render decision with justice. Even at high noon let your shade be like the night to hide the fugitives. Do not betray the refugees.

4. Let mine outcasts dwell with thee, Moab; be thou a covert to them from the face of the spoiler: for the extortioner is at an end, the spoiler ceaseth, the oppressors are consumed out of the land.

4. Let the outcasts from Moab sojourn among you; be a refuge to them against the destroyer." and the destruction is over and those who trample the land underfoot have gone,

5. And in mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness.

5. a throne will be established steadfast in love. One from the House of David, for the sake of truth will sit on it; he will administer justice swiftly and judge the people righteously.)

6. We have heard of the pride of Moab; [he is] very proud: [even] of his haughtiness, and his pride, and his wrath: [but] his lies [shall] not [be] so.

6. We have heard of the pride of Moab, of her arrogance and insolence, of her empty pretensions.

7. Therefore shall Moab howl for Moab, every one shall howl: for the foundations of Kirhareseth shall ye mourn; surely [they are] stricken.

7. Let her wail then, and let everyone wail for her. Mourn for the raisin-cakes of Kirhareseth.

8. For the fields of Heshbon languish, [and] the vine of Sibmah: the lords of the heathen have broken down the principal plants thereof, they are come [even] unto Jazer, they wandered [through] the wilderness: her branches are stretched out, they are gone over the sea.

8. The fields of Heshbon languish, the vines of Sibmah wither. The tyrants of the nations have trampled down the choicest vines, those that once reached Jazer, spreading towards the desert, stretching out as far as the sea.

9. Therefore I will bewail with the weeping of Jazer the vine of Sibmah: I will water thee with my tears, O Heshbon, and Elealeh: for the shouting for thy summer fruits and for thy harvest is fallen.

9. Therefore I weep as Jazer weeps for the vines of Sibmah. I drench you, O Heshbon, O Elealeh, with my tears! For over your fruit and your vintage have been heard loud battle cheers.

10. And gladness is taken away, and joy out of the plentiful field; and in the vineyards there shall be no singing, neither shall there be shouting: the treaders shall tread out no wine in [their] presses; I have made [their vintage] shouting to cease.

10. But they are gone: joy and gladness have now vanished from your orchards. In the vineyards no more singing is heard, no more shout of joy is raised. In the winepresses no foot treads out wine, no voice shouts in exultation, no heart sings a vintage song.

11. Wherefore my bowels shall sound like an harp for Moab, and mine inward parts for Kirharesh.

11. Like a lyre, therefore, my soul moans for Moab; my heart pines for Kir-areseth.

12. And it shall come to pass, when it is seen that Moab is weary on the high place, that he shall come to his sanctuary to pray; but he shall not prevail.

12. When Moab appears on the high places, she will only grow weary; when she goes to pray at the sanctuary, it will be to no avail.

13. This [is] the word that the LORD hath spoken concerning Moab since that time.

13. This is the word which Yahweh spoke against Moab in the past. But

14. But now the LORD hath spoken, saying, Within three years, as the years of an hireling, and the glory of Moab shall be contemned, with all that great multitude; and the remnant [shall be] very small [and] feeble.

14. now Yahweh says, "Within three years, like the years of a servant bound by contract, the glorious power of Moab will have ceased to command respect, her survivors will be very few and feeble."