Study Desk

"But on that day, the Lord God All-Powerful will win. He will give his enemies the punishment they deserve. His sword will kill until it is finished, until it has satisfied its thirst for blood. Yes, the Lord God All-Powerful will kill them as a sacrifice in the land of the north by the Euphrates River.

"Announce this message in Egypt. Tell it in the city of Migdol. Tell it in Memphis and Tahpanhes. ‘Get ready for war, because people all around you are being killed with swords.'

People of Egypt, pack your things. Get ready for captivity, because Memphis will be a ruined, empty land. Those cities will be destroyed, and no one will live there.

This is what the Lord says. "Jacob, my servant, do not be afraid. I am with you. I sent you away to many different places. But I will not destroy you completely. But I will destroy all those nations. You must be punished for the bad things you did. So I will not let you escape your punishment. I will discipline you, but I will be fair."

This is what the Lord says: "Look, the enemy is gathering in the north like rising water. They will come like a river spilling over its banks. They will cover the whole country like a flood. They will cover the towns and the people living in them. Everyone in the country will cry for help. Everyone will cry out in pain.

This message is about the country of Moab. This is what the Lord All-Powerful, the God of the people of Israel, says: "It will be bad for Mount Nebo. Mount Nebo will be ruined. The town of Kiriathaim will be humbled. It will be captured. The strong place will be humbled. It will be shattered.

Moab will be destroyed. Her little children will cry for help.

Run away! Run for your lives! Run away like a weed blowing through the desert.

All you who live around Moab should cry for that country. You know how famous Moab is. So cry for it. Say, ‘The ruler's power is broken. Moab's power and glory is gone.'

So I cry for Moab. I cry for everyone in Moab. I cry for the men from Kir Hareseth.

I cry with the people of Jazer for Jazer. Sibmah, in the past your vines spread all the way to the sea. They reached as far as the town of Jazer. But the Destroyer has taken your fruit and grapes.

"I am very sad for Moab. My heart cries like the sad sound of a flute playing a funeral song. I am sad for the people from Kir Hareseth. Their money and riches have all been taken away.

People are crying for the dead everywhere in Moab—on every housetop and in every public square. There is sadness because I have broken Moab like an empty jar." This is what the Lord said.

This is what the Lord says: "People of Moab, fear, deep holes, and traps wait for you.

It will be bad for you, Moab. Chemosh's people are being destroyed. Your sons and daughters are being taken away as prisoners and captives.

"People in Heshbon, cry because the town of Ai is destroyed! Women in Rabbah of Ammon, cry! Put on sackcloth and cry. Run to the city for safety, because the enemy will take away the god Milcom, with his priests and officials.

You people living in Dedan, run away and hide, because I will punish Esau for the bad things he did.

No one will be left to care for his children. His wives will have no one to depend on."

The Lord says, "By my own power, I make this promise: I promise that the city of Bozrah will be destroyed. It will become a ruined pile of rocks. People will use it as an example when they ask for bad things to happen to other cities. People will insult that city, and all the towns around Bozrah will become ruins forever."

I heard a message from the Lord : He sent this messenger to the nations. This is the message: "Gather your armies together! Get ready for battle! March against the nation of Edom!