Read Isaiah chapter 16 (Contemporary English Version) on maBible, the Bible online. In this chapter: More Troubles for Moab, Moab's Pride Is Destroyed.
More Troubles for Moab
1 Send lambs as gifts
to the ruler of the land.
Send them across the desert
from Sela to Mount Zion.
2 The women of Moab
crossing the Arnon River
are like a flock of birds
scattered from their nests.
3 Moab's messengers say
to the people of Judah,
“Be kind and help us!
Shade us from the heat
of the noonday sun.
Hide our refugees!
Don't turn them away.
4 Let our people live
in your country
and find safety here.”
Moab, your cruel enemies
will disappear;
they will no longer attack
and destroy your land.
5 Then a kingdom of love
will be set up,
and someone from David's family
will rule with fairness.
He will do what is right
and quickly bring justice.
Moab's Pride Is Destroyed
6 We have heard of Moab's pride.
Its people strut and boast,
but without reason.
7 Tell everyone in Moab
to mourn for their nation.
Tell them to cry and weep
for those fancy raisins
of Kir-Hareseth.
8 Vineyards near Heshbon
and Sibmah
have turned brown.
The rulers of nations
used to get drunk
on wine from those vineyards
that spread to Jazer,
then across the desert
and beyond the sea.
9 Now I mourn like Jazer
for the vineyards
of Sibmah.
I shed tears for Heshbon
and for Elealeh.
There will be no more
harvest celebrations
10 or joyful and happy times,
while bringing in the crops.
Singing and shouting are gone
from the vineyards.
There are no joyful shouts
where grapes were pressed.
God has silenced them all.
11 Deep in my heart I hurt
for Moab and Kir-Heres.
12 It's useless for Moab's people
to wear themselves out
by going to their altars
to worship and pray.
13 The Lord has already said all of this about Moab.
14 Now he says, “The contract of a hired worker is good for three years, but Moab's glory and greatness won't last any longer than that. Only a few of its people will survive, and they will be left helpless.”
Chapter themes
Le bélier du tribut — Envoyez un bélier au souverain du pays!
Depuis Séla — De Séla, envoyez-le dans le désert
La montagne de Sion — jusqu'à la montagne de la fille de Sion!
Comme un oiseau fugitif — Pareilles à un oiseau fugitif ou à une couvée effrayée
Le passage de l'Arnon — voilà comment seront les filles de Moab au passage de l'Arnon
Rendre la justice — Tiens conseil, prenez une décision!
Une ombre protectrice — Couvre-nous en plein midi de ton ombre aussi épaisse que la nuit
Cacher les fugitifs — cache les exilés, ne trahis pas le fugitif!
Accueillir les exilés — Laisse les exilés de Moab séjourner chez toi
L'oppression cessera — l'oppression cessera, la dévastation prendra fin
Celui qui piétine — celui qui piétine le pays disparaîtra
Un trône affermi par la bonté — par la bonté
La tente de David — dans la tente de David
Un juge soucieux du droit — un juge soucieux du droit
Zélé pour la justice — zélé pour rendre la justice
L'orgueil de Moab — l'orgueil du très arrogant Moab
Un bavardage sans valeur — Son bavardage ne vaut rien.
Moab se lamente — Moab se lamente sur lui-même
La ville de Kir-Haréseth — les gâteaux de raisin qu'on faisait à Kir-Haréseth
Profondément abattus — profondément abattus
Les campagnes dépérissent — les campagnes de Hesbon dépérissent
La vigne brisée — ont brisé les ceps de la vigne
La ville de Sibma — de Sibma
Les maîtres des nations — Les maîtres des nations
Jusqu'à Jaezer — qui s'étendaient jusqu'à Jaezer
Je pleurerai — je pleurerai sur la vigne de Sibma
Hesbon et Elealé — je vous arroserai de mes larmes, Hesbon et Elealé!
Les cris des vendangeurs — les cris des vendangeurs ont cessé
La récolte ruinée — sur votre récolte et sur votre vendange
La vigne dévastée — la vigne de Sibma
Notes and references
lambs: The main product of Moab.
Sela: A town in Edom.
fancy raisins: The Hebrew text has “raisin-cakes,” which could mean either the rich produce or the prosperous farmers.
The rulers … vineyards: Or “The rulers of nations have destroyed those vineyards.”