1 Send lambs as giftsto the ruler of the land.Send them across the desertfrom Sela to Mount Zion.
2 The women of Moabcrossing the Arnon Riverare like a flock of birdsscattered from their nests.
3 Moab's messengers sayto the people of Judah,“Be kind and help us!Shade us from the heatof the noonday sun.Hide our refugees!Don't turn them away.
4 Let our people livein your countryand find safety here.”Moab, your cruel enemieswill disappear;they will no longer attackand destroy your land.
5 Then a kingdom of lovewill be set up,and someone from David's familywill rule with fairness.He will do what is rightand quickly bring justice.
6 We have heard of Moab's pride.Its people strut and boast,but without reason.
7 Tell everyone in Moabto mourn for their nation.Tell them to cry and weepfor those fancy raisinsof Kir-Hareseth.
8 Vineyards near Heshbonand Sibmahhave turned brown.The rulers of nationsused to get drunkon wine from those vineyardsthat spread to Jazer,then across the desertand beyond the sea.
9 Now I mourn like Jazerfor the vineyardsof Sibmah.I shed tears for Heshbonand for Elealeh.There will be no moreharvest celebrations
10 or joyful and happy times,while bringing in the crops.Singing and shouting are gonefrom the vineyards.There are no joyful shoutswhere grapes were pressed.God has silenced them all.
11 Deep in my heart I hurtfor Moab and Kir-Heres.
12 It's useless for Moab's peopleto wear themselves outby going to their altarsto worship and pray.
13 The Lord has already said all of this about Moab.
14 Now he says, “The contract of a hired worker is good for three years, but Moab's glory and greatness won't last any longer than that. Only a few of its people will survive, and they will be left helpless.”