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Isaiah 16
New International Version

16 Send lambs(A) as tribute(B)
to the ruler of the land,
from Sela,(C) across the desert,
to the mount of Daughter Zion.(D)
2 Like fluttering birds
pushed from the nest,(E)
so are the women of Moab(F)
at the fords(G) of the Arnon.(H)

3 “Make up your mind,” Moab says.
“Render a decision.
Make your shadow like night—
at high noon.
Hide the fugitives,(I)
do not betray the refugees.
4 Let the Moabite fugitives stay with you;
be their shelter(J) from the destroyer.”

The oppressor(K) will come to an end,
and destruction will cease;(L)
the aggressor will vanish from the land.
5 In love a throne(M) will be established;(N)
in faithfulness a man will sit on it—
one from the house[a] of David(O)—
one who in judging seeks justice(P)
and speeds the cause of righteousness.

6 We have heard of Moab’s(Q) pride(R)—
how great is her arrogance!—
of her conceit, her pride and her insolence;
but her boasts are empty.
7 Therefore the Moabites wail,(S)
they wail together for Moab.
Lament and grieve
for the raisin cakes(T) of Kir Hareseth.(U)
8 The fields of Heshbon(V) wither,(W)
the vines of Sibmah(X) also.
The rulers of the nations
have trampled down the choicest vines,(Y)
which once reached Jazer(Z)
and spread toward the desert.
Their shoots spread out(AA)
and went as far as the sea.[b](AB)
9 So I weep,(AC) as Jazer weeps,
for the vines of Sibmah.
Heshbon and Elealeh,(AD)
I drench you with tears!(AE)
The shouts of joy(AF) over your ripened fruit
and over your harvests(AG) have been stilled.
10 Joy and gladness are taken away from the orchards;(AH)
no one sings or shouts(AI) in the vineyards;
no one treads(AJ) out wine at the presses,(AK)
for I have put an end to the shouting.
11 My heart laments for Moab(AL) like a harp,(AM)
my inmost being(AN) for Kir Hareseth.
12 When Moab appears at her high place,(AO)
she only wears herself out;
when she goes to her shrine(AP) to pray,
it is to no avail.(AQ)

13 This is the word the Lord has already spoken concerning Moab. 14 But now the Lord says: “Within three years,(AR) as a servant bound by contract(AS) would count them,(AT) Moab’s splendor and all her many people will be despised,(AU) and her survivors will be very few and feeble.”(AV)

#### Footnotes

1. Isaiah 16:5 Hebrew tent
2. Isaiah 16:8 Probably the Dead Sea

#### Cross references

1. Isaiah 16:1 : S 2Ki 3:4
2. Isaiah 16:1 : S 2Ch 32:23
3. Isaiah 16:1 : S Jdg 1:36; Ob 3 fn
4. Isaiah 16:1 : S Isa 10:32
5. Isaiah 16:2 : Pr 27:8
6. Isaiah 16:2 : Nu 21:29
7. Isaiah 16:2 : Jdg 12:5
8. Isaiah 16:2 : Nu 21:13-14; Jer 48:20
9. Isaiah 16:3 : S 1Ki 18:4
10. Isaiah 16:4 : Isa 58:7
11. Isaiah 16:4 : S Isa 9:4
12. Isaiah 16:4 : Isa 2:2-4
13. Isaiah 16:5 : S 1Sa 13:14; Da 7:14; Mic 4:7
14. Isaiah 16:5 : S Pr 20:28
15. Isaiah 16:5 : S Isa 7:2; Lk 1:32
16. Isaiah 16:5 : S Isa 9:7
17. Isaiah 16:6 : Jer 25:21; Eze 25:8; Am 2:1; Zep 2:8
18. Isaiah 16:6 : S Lev 26:19; S Job 20:6; Jer 49:16; Ob 1:3; Zep 2:10
19. Isaiah 16:7 : S Isa 13:6; Jer 48:20; 49:3
20. Isaiah 16:7 : S 1Ch 16:3
21. Isaiah 16:7 : S 2Ki 3:25
22. Isaiah 16:8 : S Nu 21:25
23. Isaiah 16:8 : S Isa 15:6
24. Isaiah 16:8 : S Nu 32:3
25. Isaiah 16:8 : S Isa 5:2
26. Isaiah 16:8 : S Nu 21:32
27. Isaiah 16:8 : S Job 8:16
28. Isaiah 16:8 : Ps 80:11
29. Isaiah 16:9 : S Isa 15:3; Eze 27:31
30. Isaiah 16:9 : S Nu 32:3
31. Isaiah 16:9 : S Job 7:3
32. Isaiah 16:9 : S Ezr 3:13
33. Isaiah 16:9 : Jer 40:12
34. Isaiah 16:10 : Isa 24:7-8
35. Isaiah 16:10 : Jer 25:30
36. Isaiah 16:10 : S Jdg 9:27
37. Isaiah 16:10 : S Job 24:11; S Isa 5:2
38. Isaiah 16:11 : S Isa 15:5
39. Isaiah 16:11 : S Job 30:31
40. Isaiah 16:11 : Isa 63:15; Hos 11:8; Php 2:1
41. Isaiah 16:12 : 1Ki 11:7
42. Isaiah 16:12 : S Isa 15:2
43. Isaiah 16:12 : S 1Ki 18:29; Ps 115:4-7; Isa 44:17-18; 1Co 8:4
44. Isaiah 16:14 : Isa 20:3; 37:30
45. Isaiah 16:14 : S Lev 25:50
46. Isaiah 16:14 : S Lev 19:13
47. Isaiah 16:14 : Isa 25:10; Jer 48:42
48. Isaiah 16:14 : Isa 21:17

New International Version (NIV)

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