Study Desk

The Lord says: I will not relent from punishing Moab^(a) for three crimes, even four, because he burned the bones of the king of Edom to lime.^(b)

Therefore, I will send fire against Moab, and it will consume the citadels of Kerioth.^(c) Moab will die with a tumult,^(d) with shouting and the sound of the ram's horn.

I will cut off the judge^(e) from the land and kill all its officials^(f) with him. The Lord has spoken.

The Lord says: I will not relent from punishing Judah^(g) for three crimes, even four, because they have rejected the instruction of the Lord ^(h) and have not kept His statutes.⁽ⁱ⁾ The lies^(j) that their ancestors followed^(k) have led them astray.

Therefore, I will send fire^(l) against Judah, and it will consume the citadels of Jerusalem.

The Lord says: I will not relent from punishing Israel^(m) for three crimes, even four, because they sell a righteous person for silver and a needy person for a pair of sandals.⁽ⁿ⁾

They trample the heads of the poor^(o) on the dust of the ground and block the path of the needy.^(p) A man and his father have sexual relations with the same girl,^(q) profaning My holy name.^(r)

They stretch out beside every altar^(s) on garments taken as collateral,^(t) and in the house of their God, they drink wine obtained through fines.^(u)

Yet I destroyed the Amorite^(v) as Israel advanced; his height^(w) was like the cedars, and he was as sturdy as the oaks; I destroyed his fruit^(x) above and his roots beneath.

And I brought you from the land of Egypt^(y) and led you 40 years in the wilderness^(z) in order to possess the land of the Amorite.^(aa)

I raised up some of your sons as prophets^(ab) and some of your young men as Nazirites.^(ac) Is this not the case, Israelites? This is the Lord 's declaration.

But you made the Nazirites drink wine and commanded the prophets, "Do not prophesy."^(ad)

Look, I am about to crush^[a] you in your place^(ae) as a wagon full of sheaves crushes grain.

Escape will fail the swift,^(af) the strong one will not prevail by his strength,^(ag) and the brave will not save his life.

The archer will not stand his ground,^(ah) the one who is swift of foot will not save himself, and the one riding a horse will not save his life.^(ai)

Even the most courageous of the warriors will flee naked on that day^(aj)— this is the Lord 's declaration.

Listen to this message that the Lord has spoken against you, Israelites, against the entire clan that I brought from the land of Egypt:^(a)

I have known only you^(b) out of all the clans of the earth; therefore, I will punish you for all your iniquities.^(c)