Isaiah 16:4-5

There was always a close relation between the people from Judah and the people from Moab, especially during times of trouble (see Ruth 1:1).

The end of Moab’s pride

v6 It is common knowledge that the people in Moab are so very proud. We all know about their silly excess of pride. That pride has no *foundation whatever. v7 The people in Moab will soon be weeping. The whole nation will cry bitterly because of the fate of Kir-hareseth. Enemies have completely ruined the splendid fields of *vines in that district. v8 Enemies have destroyed the farms and the fields in Heshbon and the *vines in Sibmah. Alcohol in the famous red *wine of these places was very powerful. It caused the rulers of nations to become drunks. The *vines once reached as far as Jazer and the Dead Sea. v9 Therefore I shall weep for the people in Sibmah and in Jazer. I shall cry bitterly for the inhabitants of Heshbon and Elealeh. There is no harvest to make the people glad. v10 There will be no more joy and happiness in the fields. They will never again make *wine from *grapes. Nobody will hear the songs and the cheerful shouts of the workers as they collect the harvest. v11 I am so very sorry for the people in Moab and the people in Kir-hareseth. v12 When the people in Moab go to pray at their special place, they are wasting their time and effort. They will receive no answer from their gods.

v13 All these events are what the *Lord said about Moab long ago. v14 And now the *Lord declares that in *exactly three years from now, other nations will joke about Moab’s splendid past. Very few people will remain in Moab. And they will be weak. Other nations will consider them to be of little value.