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Against Moab. Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: "Woe to Nebo! For it is plundered, Kirjathaim is shamed and taken; The high stronghold is shamed and dismayed--
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No more praise of Moab. In Heshbon they have devised evil against her: 'Come, and let us cut her off as a nation.' You also shall be cut down, O Madmen! The sword shall pursue you;
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A voice of crying shall be from Horonaim: 'Plundering and great destruction!'
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"Moab is destroyed; Her little ones have caused a cry to be heard;
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For in the Ascent of Luhith they ascend with continual weeping; For in the descent of Horonaim the enemies have heard a cry of destruction.
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"Flee, save your lives! And be like the juniper in the wilderness.
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For because you have trusted in your works and your treasures, You also shall be taken. And Chemosh shall go forth into captivity, His priests and his princes together.
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And the plunderer shall come against every city; No one shall escape. The valley also shall perish, And the plain shall be destroyed, As the Lord has spoken.
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"Give wings to Moab, That she may flee and get away; For her cities shall be desolate, Without any to dwell in them.
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Cursed is he who does the work of the Lord deceitfully, And cursed is he who keeps back his sword from blood.
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"Moab has been at ease from his youth; He has settled on his dregs, And has not been emptied from vessel to vessel, Nor has he gone into captivity. Therefore his taste remained in him, And his scent has not changed.
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"Therefore behold, the days are coming," says the Lord, "That I shall send him wine-workers Who will tip him over And empty his vessels And break the bottles.
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Moab shall be ashamed of Chemosh, As the house of Israel was ashamed of Bethel, their confidence.
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"How can you say, 'We are mighty And strong men for the war'?
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Moab is plundered and gone up from her cities; Her chosen young men have gone down to the slaughter," says the King, Whose name is the Lord of hosts.
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"The calamity of Moab is near at hand, And his affliction comes quickly.
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Bemoan him, all you who are around him; And all you who know his name, Say, 'How the strong staff is broken, The beautiful rod!'
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"O daughter inhabiting Dibon, Come down from your glory, And sit in thirst; For the plunderer of Moab has come against you, He has destroyed your strongholds.
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O inhabitant of Aroer, Stand by the way and watch; Ask him who flees And her who escapes; Say, 'What has happened?'