15 Here is a message for Moav (Moab):[ref]

So, in a night Ar in Moav will be laid waste, destroyed.

≈ So, in a night Kir in Moav will be laid waste, destroyed.

2 They’ve gone up to the temple, and Divon up to the hills to weep.

≈ Moav wails about Nevo and Meydeva.

All their heads are bald.

≈ All their beards are cut off.

3 In their streets they wear sackcloth.

≈ On their (flat) roofs and in the square, everyone wails,

→ coming down in tears.

4 Heshbon and El’aleh cry out—their voice is heard as far as Yahats.

≈ So too, the soldiers from Moav call out as their spirit trembles inside them.

5 My heart cries out for Moav, those who flee to Tsoar and to Eglat-Shelishiyah,

because they weep as they climb the Luhit ascent,

≈ yes, on the road to Horonayim, they cry loudly from their suffering.

6 The Nimrim spring has dried up so the grass has withered.

≈ The vegetation has disappeared so there’s no more greenery.

7 Because of that, they take the wealth they’ve made and their savings,

→ and they carry it away across the stream with the willows.

8 Yes, the cry has surrounded the Moav (Moab) region,

and her wailing has carried as far as Eglayim and Be’er-Elim,

9 because the Dimon stream is full of blood,

→ However, I’ll bring more on Dimon.

I’ll send a lion for Moav’s survivors,

≈ and for the remnant of the land.

16 Send a ram to Yehudah’s (Judah’s) ruler

from Sela in the wilderness to the mountain of the daughter of Tsiyon (Zion).

2 Then just like birds flutter away from a nest that’s disturbed,

so too the Moav (Moab) women will head to the fords at the Arnon river.

3 Bring some advice. Make a decision.

Make some shade that’s dark in the middle of the day.

Hide the fugitives.

≈ Don’t expose the refugees.

4 Let Moav’s refugees live among you.

Be a shelter for them from the destroyer,

because the oppressor will give up.

Destruction will cease.

The oppressors will disappear from the land.

5 A king will be established based on loyal commitment.

A descendant of David who will rule with faithfulness—

one who judges fairly and strives for justice,

and who quickly does what is right.

6 We’ve heard about Moav’s (Moab’s) excessive pride,

and their haughtiness and arrogance,

but their boasting is empty.

7 So Moav mourns for itself—all of them.

They long for the raisin-cakes from Kir-Hareset.

They’re completely overcome

8 because Heshbon’s fields have dried up

as have Sivmah’s grapevines.

The rulers of nations have trampled down its best grapevines.

They reached Yazer—wandering through the wilderness.

Its shoots spread out—passing over the ocean.

9 So I’ll weep along with those weeping in Yazer for Sivmah’s grapevines.

I’ll water you with my tears, Heshbon and El’aleh,

because they’re shouting about your summer fruits and your harvest.

10 People will no longer be happy in their orchards,

≈ and celebrations will disappear from the vineyards.

There won’t be any singing or shouting in the wine-pressing pits,

≈ and the shouting of those treading the grapes will cease.

11 My stomach tightens like a harp string when I think about Moav.

≈ My insides groan about Kir-Hareset.

12 The people of Moav wear themselves out praying at their hilltop shrines.

≈ They go to their temple to pray, but it doesn’t help them.

13 That’s what Yahweh already said about Moav (Moab), 14 and now he says that within three years like a hired labourer, Moav’s honour will disappear, because out of their large population, only a small and insignificant group will remain.

10 Yahweh’s hand rests on this mountain to secure it.

Moav (Moab) will be trampled down like a heap of straw in a dung pile.[ref]

11 Yahweh will spread out his hands in the middle of it,

like a swimmer spreading his arms to swim,

and he’ll cancel their pride with the skill of his hands.

12 He’ll knock down your high fortress walls,

and Moav’s cities will be broken right down low.

8 The master Yahweh says this, ‘Because Moav (Moab)[ref] and Se’ir say that the kingdom of Yehudah (Judah) is just like every other nation, 9 well listen, I’ll destroy the border cities protecting Moav, starting with the splendour of Beyt-Hayeshimot, Ba’al-Me’on, and Kiryatayim. 10 I’ll hand them over to the people in the east who’ve already been against the Amonim—I’ll give them up as a possession so that the Amonim won’t be remembered among the nations. 11 Yes, I’ll execute judgements against Moav, then they’ll know that I am Yahweh.’