Isaiah 16

Isaiah continues the burden against Moab. The Moabites are counseled to send tribute to Zion, and a throne will be established in mercy in the tent of David. Moab howls for her destroyed fields and vineyards, and within three years her glory will be brought low.

v	King James Version	Modern English
1	Send ye the lamb to the ruler of the land from Sela to the wilderness, unto the mount of the daughter of Zion.	Send the tribute lamb to the ruler of the land — from Sela, through the wilderness, to the mount of the daughter of Zion.
2	For it shall be, that, as a wandering bird cast out of the nest, so the daughters of Moab shall be at the fords of Arnon.	Like fluttering birds pushed from the nest, so are the daughters of Moab at the fords of the Arnon.
3	Take counsel, execute judgment; make thy shadow as the night in the midst of the noonday; hide the outcasts; bewray not him that wandereth.	"Give counsel; grant justice. Make your shadow like night at noon. Hide the outcasts; do not betray the fugitive.
4	Let mine outcasts dwell with thee, Moab; be thou a covert to them from the face of the spoiler: for the extortioner is at an end, the spoiler ceaseth, the oppressors are consumed out of the land.	Let the outcasts of Moab stay with you; be a shelter to them from the destroyer. When the oppressor is no more and destruction has ceased and the enemy has gone from the land,
5	And in mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness.	then a throne shall be established in mercy, and on it shall sit in faithfulness, in the tent of David, one who judges and seeks justice and is swift to do righteousness."
6	We have heard of the pride of Moab; he is very proud: even of his haughtiness, and his pride, and his wrath: but his lies shall not be so.	We have heard of the pride of Moab — how proud he is — of his arrogance, his pride, and his insolence. His boasts are empty.
7	Therefore shall Moab howl for Moab, every one shall howl: for the foundations of Kirhareseth shall ye mourn; surely they are stricken.	Therefore Moab wails for Moab — everyone wails. For the raisin cakes of Kir-hareseth you shall mourn — utterly stricken.
8	For the fields of Heshbon languish, and the vine of Sibmah: the lords of the heathen have broken down the principal plants thereof, they are come even unto Jazer, they wandered through the wilderness: her branches are stretched out, they are gone over the sea.	For the fields of Heshbon wither, the vine of Sibmah. The lords of the nations have struck down its choice branches, which reached to Jazer and wandered into the wilderness. Its shoots spread out and crossed over the sea.
9	Therefore I will bewail with the weeping of Jazer the vine of Sibmah: I will water thee with my tears, O Heshbon, and Elealeh: for the shouting for thy summer fruits and for thy harvest is fallen.	Therefore I weep with the weeping of Jazer for the vine of Sibmah. I drench you with my tears, O Heshbon and Elealeh, for over your summer fruit and your harvest the shout has fallen away.
10	And gladness is taken away, and joy out of the plentiful field; and in the vineyards there shall be no singing, neither shall there be shouting: the treaders shall tread out no wine in their presses; I have made their vintage shouting to cease.	Gladness and joy are taken away from the fruitful field. In the vineyards there is no singing and no shouting. No one treads out wine in the presses; I have put an end to the harvest shout.
11	Wherefore my bowels shall sound like an harp for Moab, and mine inward parts for Kirharesh.	Therefore my heart moans for Moab like a harp, and my inmost being for Kir-hareseth.
12	And it shall come to pass, when it is seen that Moab is weary on the high place, that he shall come to his sanctuary to pray; but he shall not prevail.	When Moab presents himself, when he wearies himself on the high place, when he comes to his sanctuary to pray, he shall not prevail.
13	This is the word that the LORD hath spoken concerning Moab since that time.	This is the word the LORD spoke concerning Moab in the past.
14	But now the LORD hath spoken, saying, Within three years, as the years of an hireling, and the glory of Moab shall be contemned, with all that great multitude; and the remnant shall be very small and feeble.	But now the LORD has spoken: "Within three years, like the years of a hired worker, the glory of Moab will be brought into contempt — despite all His great crowd. What remains will be very small and weak."