Isaiah 16

1 Send [dispatch, send forth] the tribute lambs [as a gift, for the ruler] to the ruler [one who has power, governor] of the land [earth, territory], from Sela [the rock, Petra] in the desert [wilderness, barren land] to the mount [hill, mountain] of Daughter [female child, figurative] Zion [the city of God, heavenly Jerusalem]. word study 2 Like [wandering] fluttering birds [as a bird fleeing away] pushed out of the nest [a nest forsaken, a place from which the young birds have gone in flight], so are the daughters [female children, women] of Moab [the land and descendants of the son of Lot] at the fords [crossing places, passages] of the Arnon [a river east of the Jordan, also referring to its surrounding territory]: word study 3 “Give us [wise and discerning] counsel; render a [just and fair] decision. Shelter us at noonday [midday, when the sun is highest] with shade as dark as [the blackness of] night. Hide the [banished and persecuted] refugees; do not [reveal or expose] betray the one who [is wandering or fleeing] flees. word study 4 Let my fugitives [outcasts, banished ones] stay with you; be a refuge [shelter, hiding place] for Moab [the land and descendants of Lot] from the destroyer [one who ruins, devastates].” When the oppressor [extortioner, one who uses force] has gone, destruction [violence, ruin] has ceased, and the oppressors [those who trample, tread down] have vanished [come to an end, been consumed] from the land [the earth, the territory], word study 5 in loving devotion [kindness, mercy, or pity] a throne [a seat or stool] will be established [set up, appointed] in the tent [tabernacle, dwelling place] of David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel]. A judge [one who governs, vindicates, or punishes] seeking [asking, inquiring] justice [righteous judgment, God’s standard] and hastening [being diligent, quick] righteousness [God’s character, moral integrity] will sit [dwell, remain] on it in faithfulness [truth, stability, trustworthiness]. word study 6 We have heard [been informed, learned] of Moab’s [the land and descendants of Lot] pomposity [exceeding pride, arrogance], his [characterized by] exceeding pride [haughtiness, conceit] and conceit [self-importance, vanity], his overflowing [abundant, excessive] arrogance [pride, boastfulness]. But his boasting [claims, talk] is empty [false, without substance, a lie]. word study 7 Therefore [for this reason, so] let Moab [the land and descendants of Lot’s son] wail [to howl, mourn loudly]; let them wail [lament, cry out] together for Moab [in unity, as one]. Moan [to mourn, lament] for the raisin cakes [sweet bread] of Kir-hareseth [a stronghold in Moab, wall of potsherds], you who are [being] utterly stricken [afflicted, smitten, emotionally or spiritually overwhelmed]. word study 8 For the fields [cultivated lands, desolate areas] of Heshbon have withered [languish, become weak], along with the grapevines [vines, choice branches] of Sibmah. The rulers [lords, masters] of the nations [Gentiles, heathen] have trampled [smitten, broken down] its choicest vines [tendrils, principal plants], which had reached [stretched, extended] as far as Jazer [a city east of the Jordan] and spread [wandered, gone astray] toward the desert [wilderness, empty land]. Their shoots [branches, new growth] had spread out [been extended, left] and passed [crossed, gone over] over the sea [a large body of water, the west]. word study 9 So I weep [with deep sorrow, mourn] with Jazer [a city east of the Jordan] for the vines [grapevines] of Sibmah; I drench [water, quench] Heshbon [a city east of the Jordan] and Elealeh [a village of the Reubenites] with my tears [drops of liquid, expression of grief]. Triumphant shouts [loud cheers, joyful acclaim] have fallen silent [ceased, stopped] over your summer fruit [harvest season, ripe produce] and your harvest [time of gathering, crop]. word study 10 Joy [gladness, happiness] and gladness [rejoicing, festive delight] are removed from the orchard [plantation, fertile field]; no one sings [makes a joyful noise, shouts for joy] or shouts [cries out, makes a loud noise] in the vineyards [gardens, plots of land for growing vines]. No one tramples [treads, crushes] the grapes in the winepresses [troughs, presses for crushing grapes]; I have put an end [caused to cease, stopped] to the cheering [shouting, joyful sound]. word study 11 Therefore my heart [inmost being, emotions] laments [sounds like a mournful cry, to roar] for Moab [the land and descendants of Lot] like a harp [lyre, musical instrument], my [innermost] inmost being [belly, entrails, seat of emotions] for Kir-heres [Kir-haresh, wall of potsherds, a place in Moab]. word study 12 When Moab [the land and descendants of Lot] appears on the high place [a cultic platform or mountain], when he wearies [becomes exhausted, disgusted] himself and enters his sanctuary [a holy place, temple] to pray [intercede, make petition], it will do him no good [he shall not prevail, be unable]. word study 13 This [the message previously given] is the message [word, thing, or matter] that the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] spoke [communicated, uttered] earlier [in time past, from that time] concerning [regarding, towards] Moab [the land and descendants of Lot]. word study 14 And now [at this present time, currently] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] says, “In three [a period of testing, a short time] years, as a hired worker [a laborer, someone paid by the day or year] counts the years, Moab’s [the land and descendants of Lot’s son] splendor [glory, great honor] will become an object of contempt [dishonored, treated with contempt], with all [every single one, the entire multitude] her many people [a large crowd, a great multitude]. And those who are left [the remnant, the remaining ones] will be few [small in number, little] and feeble [weak, not mighty].” word study