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1Send the lamb to the ruler of the land, from 2Sela, by way of the desert, to the mount of the daughter of Zion.
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Like fleeing birds, like a scattered nest, so are the daughters of Moab at 3the fords of the Arnon.
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"Give counsel; grant justice; 4make your shade like night at the height of noon; shelter the outcasts; do not reveal the fugitive;
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let 5the outcasts of Moab sojourn among you; be a shelter to thema from the destroyer. When the oppressor is no more, and destruction has ceased, and he who tramples underfoot has vanished from the land,
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6then a throne will be established in steadfast love, and on it will sit in faithfulness in the tent of David one who judges and seeks justice and is swift to do righteousness."
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7We have heard of the pride of Moab-- how proud he is!-- 8of his arrogance, his pride, and his insolence; in his idle boasting he is not right.
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Therefore let Moab wail for Moab, 9let everyone wail. Mourn, utterly stricken, for the 10raisin cakes of 11Kir-hareseth.
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For the fields of Heshbon languish, and 12the vine of Sibmah; the lords of the nations have struck down its branches, which reached to Jazer and strayed to the desert; its shoots spread abroad and passed over the sea.
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Therefore 13I weep with 14the weeping of Jazer for the vine of Sibmah; I drench you with my tears, O Heshbon and Elealeh; for over 15your summer fruit and your harvest the shout has ceased.
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16And joy and gladness are taken away from 17the fruitful field, and in the vineyards no 18songs are sung, no cheers are raised; no 19treader treads out wine 20in the presses; I have put an end to the shouting.
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Therefore 21my inner parts moan like a lyre for Moab, and my inmost self for Kir-hareseth.
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And when Moab presents himself, when 22he wearies himself on 23the high place, when he comes to his sanctuary to pray, he will not prevail.
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This is the word that the LORD spoke concerning Moab 24in the past.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
(English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online)