Yaram'Yahu (Jeremiah) — 48

A Message about Muab

1 This message was given concerning Muab. This is what 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH  Tsaba'ut the 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of Yashar'AL Dabar: “What sorrow awaits the city of Nabu; it will soon lie in ruins, the city of Kiriathaim will be humiliated and captured; the fortress will be humiliated and broken down.

2 No one will ever brag about Muab again, for in Hashbun there is a plot to destroy her.‘ Come,’ they say, ‘we will cut her off from being a nation.’ The town of Mad men too, it will be silenced; the sword will follow you there.

3 Listen to the cries from Hurunaim, cries of devastation and great destruction.

4 All Muab is destroyed, Her little ones will cry out.

5 Her refugees weep bitterly, climbing the slope to Luhith, they cry out in terror,    descending the slope to Hurunaim.

6 Flee for your lives! Hide in the wilderness!

7 Because you have trusted in your wealth and skill, you will be taken captive, your idol Chamush, with his priests and officials, will be hauled off to distant lands!

8 “All the towns will be destroyed, and no one will escape, either on the plateaus or in the valleys, for 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH has spoken.

9 Oh, that Muab had wings so she could fly away, for her towns will be left empty, with no one living in them.

10 Cursed are those who refuse to do 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH’s work, who hold back their swords from shedding blood!

11 “From his earliest history, Muab has lived in Shalum, never going into exile, he is like wine that has been allowed to settle, he has not been poured from flask to flask, and he is now fragrant and smooth.

12 But the time is coming soon,” says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH “when I will send men to pour him from his jar, they will pour him out, then shatter the jar!

13 At last Muab will be ashamed of his idol Chamush, as the people of Yashar'AL were ashamed of their gold calf at Bathal.

14 “You used to boast, ‘We are heroes,    mighty men of war.’

15 But now Muab and his towns will be destroyed, his most promising youth are doomed to slaughter,” says the Ruler of all, whose Name is 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH Tsaba'ut.

16 “Destruction is coming fast for Muab;    calamity threatens ominously.

17 You friends of Muab, weep for him and cry! See how the strong scepter is broken, how the beautiful staff is shattered!

18 “Come down from your Kabad and sit in the dust, you people of Dibun, for those who destroy Muab will shatter Dibun too, they will tear down all your towers.

19 You people of Aruar, stand beside the road and watch, shout to those who flee from Muab, ‘What has happened there?’

20 “And the reply comes back, Muab lies in ruins and shame; weep and wail! Tell it by the banks of the Arnun River: Muab has been destroyed!’

21 Judgment has been poured out on the towns of the plataau, on Hulun and Yahaz and Maphaath,

22 on Dibun and Nabu and Bath-diblathaim,

23 on Kiriathaim and Bath-gamul and Bath-maun,

24 on Kariuth and Buzrah, all the towns of Muab, far and near.

25 “The strength of Muab has ended, his arm has been broken,” says  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH.

26 “Let him stagger and fall like a drunkard, for he has rebelled against 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, Muab will wallow in his own vomit, ridiculed by all.

27 Did you not ridicule the people of Yashar'AL? Were they caught in the company of thieves that you should despise them as you do?

28 “You people of Muab, flee from your towns and live in the caves, Hide like doves that nest in the clefts of the rocks.

29 We have all heard of the pride of Muab, for his pride is very great, we know of his lofty pride, his arrogance, and his haughty heart.

30 I know about his insolence,” says  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, “but his boasts are empty, as empty as his deeds.

31 So now I wail for Muab; yes, I will mourn for Muab, My heart is broken for the men of Kir-harasath.

32 “You people of Sibmah, rich in vineyards, I will weep for you even more than I did for Yazar, your spreading vines once reached as far as the Dead Sea, but the destroyer has stripped you bare! He has harvested your grapes and summer fruits.

33 Joy and gladness are gone from fruitful Muab, The presses yield no wine, no one treads the grapes with shouts of joy, There is shouting, yes, but not of joy.

34 “Instead, their awful cries of terror can be heard from Hashbun clear across to Alaalah and Yahaz; from Zuar all the way to Hurunaim and Aglath-shalishiyah, Even the waters of Nimrim are dried up now.

35 “I will put an end to Muab,” says  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, “for the people offer sacrifices at the pagan shrines and burn incense to their false idols. 

36 My heart moans like a flute for Muab and Kir-harasath, for all their wealth has disappeared. 

37 The people shave their heads and beards in mourning. They slash their hands and put on clothes made of burlap. 

38 There is crying and sorrow in every Muabite home and on every street. For I have smashed Muab like an old, unwanted jar. 

39 How it is shattered! Hear the wailing! See the shame of Muab! It has become an object of ridicule, an example of ruin to all its neighbors.”

40 This is what 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH Dabar: “Look! The enemy swoops down like an eagle, spreading his wings over Muab.

41 Its cities will fall, and its strongholds will be seized, even the mightiest warriors will be in anguish like a woman in labor.

42 Muab will no longer be a nation, for it has boasted against 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH.

43 “Terror and traps and snares will be your lot, O Muab,” says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH.

44 “Those who flee in terror will fall into a trap, and those who escape the trap will step into a snare, I will see to it that you do not get away, for the time of your judgment has come,” says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH.

45 “The people flee as far as Hashbun but are unable to go on, for a fire comes from Hashbun, King Sihun’s ancient home, to devour the entire land with all its rebellious people.

46 “What sorrow awaits you, O people of Muab! The people of the idol Chamush are destroyed! Your sons and your daughters    have been taken away as captives.

47 But I will restore the fortunes of Muab in days to come, I 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH have spoken!”

This is the end of Yaramyahu’s prophecy concerning Muab.