Moab's Downfall
Isaiah 16
Isaiah continues the lament over Moab, calling its fugitives to seek refuge and describing a throne established in mercy and truth in the tabernacle of David, even as Moab's pride is condemned and judged. He mourns the ruin of Moab's vineyards and harvest with the sorrow of one weeping alongside them, and closes by declaring that within three years Moab's glory and great wealth will be brought to almost nothing.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
Thomson—
BrentonI will send as it were reptiles on the land: is not the mount of the daughter of Sion a desolate rock?
GreekἈποστέλω ὡς ἑρπετὰ ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν· μὴ πέτρα ἔρημός ἐστι τὸ ὄρος θυγατρὸς Σιών;
KJVSend ye the lamb to the ruler of the land from Sela to the wilderness, unto the mount of the daughter of Zion.
JPSSend ye the lambs for the ruler of the land From the crags that are toward the wilderness, Unto the mount of the daughter of Zion.
2
Thomsonfor thou shalt be—(like the young of a flown bird carried away) thou, daughter of Moab, shalt be so; and then do thou, O Arnon.
BrentonFor thou shalt be as a young bird taken away from a bird that has flown: even thou shalt be so, daughter of Moab: and then do thou, O Arnon,
GreekἜσῃ γὰρ ὡς πετεινοῦ ἀνιπταμένου νοσσὸς ἀφῃρημένος, ἔσῃ θυγάτηρ Μωὰβ, ἔπειτα δέ Ἀρνῶν πλείονα
KJVFor it shall be, that, as a wandering bird cast out of the nest, so the daughters of Moab shall be at the fords of Arnon.
JPS—
3
ThomsonTake further counsel and make for her everywhere a shelter from grief. In midnight darkness they will flee. They are confounded. Be not thou incensed.
Brentontake farther counsel, and continually make thou a shelter from grief: they flee in darkness at mid-day; they are amazed; be not thou led captive.
Greekβουλεύου, ποίει τε σκέπην πένθους αὕτη διαπαντὸς, ἐν μεσημβρινῇ σκοτίᾳ φεύγουσιν, ἐξέστησαν· μὴ ἀχθῇς,
KJV—
JPS—
4
ThomsonLet the fugitives of Moab sojourn with thee. They will be a shelter to thee from the face of a pursuer. Because thy share in the war is taken away; and the chief who trampled down is destroyed from this land;
BrentonThe fugitives of Moab shall sojourn with thee; they shall be to you a shelter from the face of the pursuer: for thine alliance has been taken away, and the oppressing ruler has perished from off the earth.
Greekπαροικήσουσί σοι οἱ φυγάδες Μωάβ· ἔσονται σκέπη ὑμῖν ἀπὸ προσώπου διώκοντος, ὅτι ἤρθη ἡ συμμαχία σου, καὶ ὁ ἄρχων ἀπώλετο ὁ καταπατῶν ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς.
KJV—
JPS—
5
Thomsontherefore a throne shall be established with mercy, and on it One shall be seated with truth; in the tabernacle of David, executing justice, and searching out judgment and promoting righteousness.
BrentonAnd a throne shall be established with mercy; and one shall sit upon it with truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and earnestly seeking judgments, and hasting righteousness.
GreekΚαὶ διορθωθήσεται μετʼ ἐλέους θρόνος, καὶ καθιεῖται ἐπʼ αὐτοῦ μετὰ ἀληθείας ἐν σκηνῇ Δαυὶδ, κρίνων καὶ ἐκζητῶν κρίμα καὶ σπεύδων δικαιοσύνην.
KJVAnd in mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness.
JPSAnd a throne is established through mercy, And there sitteth thereon in truth, in the tent of David, One that judgeth, and seeketh justice, and is ready in righteousness.
6
Thomson(s) We have heard of the haughtiness of Moab—he is very insolent. This haughtiness I have totally removed, [saith the Lord]. Is not this, is not this the oracle concerning Thee?
BrentonWe have heard of the pride of Moab; he is very proud. I have cut off his pride: thy prophecy shall not be thus, no not thus.
GreekἨκούσαμεν τὴν ὕβριν Μωὰβ, ὑβριστὴς σφόδρα τὴν ὑπερηφανίαν ἐξῇρα· οὐχ οὕτως ἡ μαντεία σου, οὐχ οὕτως.
KJVWe have heard of the pride of Moab; he is very proud: even of his haughtiness, and his pride, and his wrath: but his lies shall not be so.
JPSWe have heard of the pride of Moab; He is very proud; Even of his haughtiness, and his pride, and his arrogancy, His ill-founded boastings.
7
ThomsonMoab shall raise the mournful cry, for in the country of Moab they shall all utter the cry of woe, but to them who dwell in the habitations of Seth Thou shalt extend care and shalt not be ashamed.
BrentonMoab shall howl; for all shall howl in the land of Moab: but thou shalt care for them that dwell in Seth, and thou shalt not be ashamed.
GreekὈλολύξει Μωὰβ, ἐν γὰρ τῇ Μωαβίτιδι πάντες ὀλολύξουσι τοῖς κατοικοῦσι δέ Σεθ μελετήσεις, καὶ οὐκ ἐντραπήσῃ.
KJV—
JPS—
8
ThomsonThe plains of Esebon shall mourn—the vineyard Sebama. Ye who drink up the nations, trample down her vineyards to Jazer. You need not march in close array: roam through the wilderness. They who were dispatched were wholly given up, for they passed through quite to the sea.
BrentonThe plains of Esebon shall mourn, the vine of Sebama: swallowing up the nations, trample ye her vines, even to Jazer: ye shall not come together; wander ye in the desert: they that were sent are deserted, for they have gone over to the sea.
GreekΤὰ πεδία Ἑσεβὼν πενθήσει, ἄμπελος Σεβαμά· καταπίνοντες τὰ ἔθνη, καταπατήστε τὰς ἀμπέλους αὐτῆς, ἕως Ἰαζήρ· οὐ μὴ συνάψητε, πλανήθητε τὴν ἔρημον, οἱ ἀπεσταλμένοι ἐνκατελείφθησαν, διέβησαν γὰρ πρὸς τὴν θάλασσαν.
KJVFor the fields of Heshbon languish, and the vine of Sibmah: the lords of the heathen have broken down the principal plants thereof, they are come even unto Jazer, they wandered through the wilderness: her branches are stretched out, they are gone over the sea.
JPSFor the fields of Heshbon languish, And the vine of Sibmah, Whose choice plants did overcome The lords of nations; They reached even unto Jazer, They wandered into the wilderness; Her branches were spread abroad, They passed over the sea.
9
Thomson(p) Let me therefore weep, as with the weeping of Jazer, for the vineyards of Sebama. He hath cut down thy trees, O Esebon and Eleale. [Saith the Lord]: Because in harvest and at thy vintage I will trample down and all shall be laid prostrate;
BrentonTherefore will I weep as with the weeping of Jazer for the vine of Sebama; Esebon and Eleale have cast down thy trees; for I will trample on thy harvest and on thy vintages, and all thy plants shall fall.
GreekΔιατοῦτο κλαύσομαι ὡς τὸν κλαυθμὸν Ἰαζὴρ ἄμπελον Σεβαμά· τὰ δένδρα σου κατέβαλεν Ἐσεβὼν καὶ Ἐλεαλὴ, ὅτι ἐπὶ τῷ θερισμῷ καὶ ἐπὶ τῷ τρυγητῷ σου καταπατήσω, καὶ πάντα πεσοῦνται.
KJVTherefore I will bewail with the weeping of Jazer the vine of Sibmah: I will water thee with my tears, O Heshbon, and Elealeh: for the shouting for thy summer fruits and for thy harvest is fallen.
JPSTherefore I will weep with the weeping of Jazer For the vine of Sibmah; I will water thee with my tears, O Heshbon, and Elealeh; For upon thy summer fruits and upon thy harvest The battle shout is fallen.
10
Thomsontherefore gladness and the shout of joy shall be taken from the vineyards. And in thy vineyards they shall not rejoice, nor tread out wine in thy cisterns, for a stop is put to the shout of joy.
BrentonAnd gladness and rejoicing shall be taken away from the vineyards; and they shall not rejoice at all in thy vineyards; and they shall not at all tread wine into the vats; for the vintage has ceased.
GreekΚαὶ ἀρθήσεται εὐφροσύνη καὶ ἀγαλλίαμα ἐκ τῶν ἀμπελώνων, καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἀμπελῶσί σου οὐ μὴ εὐφρανθήσονται, καὶ οὐ μὴ πατήσουσιν οἶνον εἰς τὰ ὑπολήνια, πέπαυται γάρ.
KJVAnd gladness is taken away, and joy out of the plentiful field; and in the vineyards there shall be no singing, neither shall there be shouting: the treaders shall tread out no wine in their presses; I have made their vintage shouting to cease.
JPSAnd gladness and joy are taken away Out of the fruitful field; And in the vineyards there shall be no singing, Neither shall there be shouting; No treader shall tread out wine in the presses; I have made the vintage shout to cease.
11
Thomson(p) For Moab therefore will my bowels sound like a kithara, and my entrails, as when thou didst consecrate a wall;
BrentonTherefore my belly shall sound as a harp for Moab, and thou hast repaired my inward parts as a wall.
GreekΔιατοῦτο ἡ κοιλία μου ἐπὶ Μωὰβ ὡς κιθάρα ἠχήσει, καὶ τὰ ἐντός μου ὡς τεῖχος ἐνεκαίνισας.
KJVWherefore my bowels shall sound like an harp for Moab, and mine inward parts for Kirharesh.
JPSWherefore my heart moaneth like a harp for Moab, And mine inward parts for Kir-heres.
12
Thomsonbut it will be for the purpose of making thee ashamed. Because Moab had tired himself at the altars, therefore he will turn to the works of his [own] hands, that they may intercede. But they shall not be able to deliver him.
BrentonAnd it shall be to thy shame, (for Moab is wearied at the altars,) that he shall go in to the idols thereof to pray, but they shall not be at all able to deliver him.
GreekΚαὶ ἔσται εἰς τὸ ἐντραπῆναί σε, ὅτι ἐκοπίασε Μωὰβ ἐπὶ τοῖς βωμοῖς, καὶ εἰσελεύσεται εἰς τὰ χειροποίητα αὐτῆς, ὥστε προσεύξασθαι, καὶ οὐ μὴ δύνηται ἐξελέσθαι αὐτόν.
KJV—
JPSAnd it shall come to pass, when it is seen that Moab hath wearied himself upon the high place, that he shall come to his sanctuary to pray; but he shall not prevail
13
ThomsonThis is the decree which the Lord pronounced against Moab, when He spoke.
BrentonThis is the word which the Lord spoke against Moab, when he spoke.
GreekΤοῦτο τὸ ῥῆμα ὃ ἐλάλησε Κύριος ἐπὶ Μωὰβ, ὁπότε ἐλάλησε.
KJVThis is the word that the LORD hath spoken concerning Moab since that time.
JPSThis is the word that the LORD spoke concerning Moab in time past.
14
ThomsonAnd now I say, within three years of the years of an hireling, the glory of Moab shall be debased with all his abundant wealth; and he shall be left few in number and of no estimation.
BrentonAnd now I say, In three years, of the years of an hireling, the glory of Moab shall be dishonoured with all his great wealth; and he shall be left few in number, and not honoured.
GreekΚαὶ νῦν λέγῳ, ἐν τρισὶν ἔτεσιν ἐτῶν μισθωτοῦ ἀτιμασθήσεται ἡ δόξα Μωὰβ παντὶ τῷ πλούτῳ τῷ πολλῷ, καὶ καταλειφθήσεται ὀλιγοστὸς, καὶ οὐκ ἔντιμος. ΤΟ ῬΗΜΑ ΤΟ ΚΑΤΑ ΔΑΜΑΣΚΟΥ.
KJVBut now the LORD hath spoken, saying, Within three years, as the years of an hireling, and the glory of Moab shall be contemned, with all that great multitude; and the remnant shall be very small and feeble.
JPSBut now the LORD hath spoken, saying: ‘Within three years, as the years of a hireling, and the glory of Moab shall wax contemptible for all his great multitude; and the remnant shall be very small and without strength.’