A prophecy of the desolation of Moab for their pride: but their captivity shall at last be released. 48:1. Against Moab thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: Woe to Nabo, for it is laid waste, and confounded: Cariathaim is taken: the strong city is confounded and hath trembled. 48:2. There is no more rejoicing in Moab over Hesebon: they have devised evil. Come, and let us cut it off from being a nation. Therefore shalt thou in silence hold thy peace, and the sword shall follow thee. 48:3. A voice of crying from Oronaim: waste, and great destruction. 48:4. Moab is destroyed: proclaim a cry for her little ones. 48:5. For by the ascent of Luith shall the mourner go up with weeping: for in the descent of Oronaim the enemies have heard a howling of destruction. 48:6. Flee, save your lives: and be as heath in the wilderness. 48:7. For because thou hast trusted in thy bulwarks, and in thy treasures, thou also shalt be taken: and Chamos shall go into captivity, his priests, and his princes together. Chamos... The idol of the Moabites. 48:8. And the spoiler shall come upon every city, and no city shall escape: and the valleys shall perish, and the plains shall be destroyed, for the Lord hath spoken: 48:9. Give a flower to Moab, for in its flower it shall go out: and the cities thereof shall be desolate, and uninhabited. 48:10. Cursed be he that doth the work of the Lord deceitfully: and cursed be he that withholdeth his sword from blood. Deceitfully... In the Greek, negligently. The work of God here spoken of, is the punishment of the Moabites. 48:11. Moab hath been fruitful from his youth, and hath rested upon his lees: and hath not been poured out from vessel to vessel, nor hath gone into captivity: therefore his taste hath remained in him, and his scent is not changed. Moab hath been fruitful... That is, rich and flourishing. And hath rested upon his lees... That is, remained in its bad morals; as wine not decanted has its lees mixed and remains muddy. 48:12. Therefore behold the days come, saith the Lord, and I will send him men that shall order and overturn his bottles, and they shall cast him down, and shall empty his vessels, and break their bottles one against another. 48:13. And Moab shall be ashamed of Chamos, as the house of Israel was ashamed of Bethel, in which they trusted. Of Bethel... That is, of their golden calf which they worshipped in Bethel. 48:14. How do you say: We are valiant and stout men in battle? 48:15. Moab is laid waste, and they have cast down her cities: and her choice young men are gone down to the slaughter: saith the king, whose name is the Lord of hosts. 48:16. The destruction of Moab is near to come: the calamity thereof shall come on exceeding swiftly. 48:17. Comfort him, all you that are round about him, and all you that know his name, say: How is the strong staff broken, the beautiful rod?