1 Send lambs as tribute to the ruler of the land, from Sela, across the desert, to the mountain of the Daughter of Zion.

2 Like fluttering birds pushed from the nest, so are the women of Moab at the fords of the Arnon River.

3 »Give us counsel and render a decision. Make your shadow like night at high noon. Hide the fugitives! Do not betray the refugees.

4 »Let the Moabite fugitives stay with you. Be their shelter from the destroyer. The oppressor will come to an end. Destruction will cease! For the aggressor will vanish from the land.

5 »In love a throne will be established and in faithfulness a man will sit on it. One shall sit upon it in truth and faithfulness. He will be from the tent of David. He will judge and seek justice and speed the cause of righteousness.«

6 We have heard of the pride of Moab and of his arrogance. We know of his pride, conceit and empty boasting.

7 The Moabites cry, they cry out together for Moab. Lament and grieve for the men and the raisin cakes of Kir Hareseth.

8 The fields of Heshbon and the vines of Sibmah wither. The rulers of the nations have trampled down the choicest vines, which once reached Jazer and spread toward the desert. Their shoots spread out and went as far as the sea.

9 So I weep, as Jazer weeps, for the vines of Sibmah. O Heshbon, O Elealeh, I drench you with tears! The shouts of joy over your ripened fruit and over your harvests have been stilled.

10 Joy and gladness are taken away from the orchards. No one sings or shouts in the vineyards! No one treads out wine at the presses, for I have put an end to the shouting.

11 That is why my heart mourns for Moab like a harp. I mourn for Kir Hareseth.

12 When the people of Moab appear at the worship site, they will only wear themselves out. They will come into the holy place to pray, but they will not be able to.

13 This is the message Jehovah spoke about Moab in the past.

14 Now Jehovah says: »Moab's honor will be despised within three years. I will count them like workers count the years left of their contracts. In spite of their great number, the survivors will be very few and powerless.«