¹Send rams as tribute to the ruler of the land,[#tc The Hebrew text reads literally, “Send [a plural imperatival form is used] a ram [to] the ruler of the land.” The term כַּר (kar, “ram”) should be emended to the plural כָּרִים (karim). The singular form in the text is probably the result of haplography; note that the next word begins with a mem (מ).]

from Sela in the desert

to the hill of Daughter Zion.

²At the fords of the Arnon[#tn The verb that introduces this verse serves as a discourse particle and is untranslated; see note on “in the future” in 2:2.]

the Moabite women are like a bird

that flies about when forced from its nest.

³“Bring a plan, make a decision![#sn It is unclear who is being addressed in this verse. Perhaps the prophet, playing the role of a panic stricken Moabite refugee, requests the leaders of Judah (the imperatives are plural) to take pity on the fugitives.]

Provide some shade in the middle of the day!

Hide the fugitives! Do not betray the one who tries to escape!

⁴Please let the Moabite fugitives live among you.[#tn That is, “live as resident foreigners.”]

Hide them from the destroyer!”

Certainly the one who applies pressure will cease,

the destroyer will come to an end,

those who trample will disappear from the earth.

⁵Then a trustworthy king will be established;

he will rule in a reliable manner,

this one from David’s family.

He will be sure to make just decisions

and will be experienced in executing justice.

⁶We have heard about Moab’s pride,

their great arrogance,

their boasting, pride, and excess.

But their boastful claims are empty!

⁷So Moab wails over its demise –[#tn Heb “So Moab wails for Moab.”]

they all wail!

Completely devastated, they moan

about what has happened to the raisin cakes of Kir Hareseth.

⁸For the fields of Heshbon are dried up,

as well as the vines of Sibmah.

The rulers of the nations trample all over its vines,

which reach Jazer and spread to the desert;

their shoots spread out and cross the sea.

⁹So I weep along with Jazer[#tn Heb “So I weep with the weeping of Jazer.” Once more the speaker (the Lord? – see v. 10b) plays the role of a mourner (see 15:5).]

over the vines of Sibmah.

I will saturate you with my tears, Heshbon and Elealeh,

for the conquering invaders shout triumphantly

over your fruit and crops.

¹⁰Joy and happiness disappear from the orchards,

and in the vineyards no one rejoices or shouts;

no one treads out juice in the wine vats –

I have brought the joyful shouts to an end.

¹¹So my heart constantly sighs for Moab, like the strumming of a harp,[#tn Heb “so my intestines sigh for Moab like a harp.” The word מֵעַי (me’ay, “intestines”) is used here of the seat of the emotions. English idiom requires the word “heart.” The point of the comparison to a harp is not entirely clear. Perhaps his sighs of mourning resemble a harp in sound, or his constant sighing is like the repetitive strumming of a harp.]

my inner being sighs for Kir Hareseth.

¹²When the Moabites plead with all their might at their high places,[#tn The verb that introduces this verse serves as a discourse particle and is untranslated; see note on “in the future” in 2:2.]

and enter their temples to pray, their prayers will be ineffective!

¹³This is the message the Lord previously announced about Moab.

¹⁴Now the Lord makes this announcement: “Within exactly three years Moab’s splendor will disappear, along with all her many people; there will be just a few, insignificant survivors left.”[#tn Heb “in three years, like the years of a hired worker.” The three years must be reckoned exactly, just as a hired worker would carefully keep track of the time he had agreed to work for an employer in exchange for a predetermined wage.; #tn Heb “and the splendor of Moab will be disgraced with all the great multitude, and a small little remnant will not be strong.”]