But nowthe LORDspeaks,saying,"Within threeyears,as a hiredmanwould countthem, the gloryof Moabwill be degradedalong with all[his] greatpopulation,and [his] remnantwill be verysmall[and] impotent."
Now Jacob heardthe wordsof Laban'ssons,saying,"Jacobhas takenaway allthat was our father's,and from whatbelonged to our fatherhe has madeallthiswealth."
Then Hamanrecountedto them the gloryof his riches,and the numberof his sons,and every[instance] wherethe kinghad magnifiedhim and howhe had promotedhim abovethe princesand servantsof the king.
"TurnYour gazefrom him that he may rest,Untilhe fulfillshis daylike a hiredman.
"Is not manforcedto laboron earth,And [are not] his dayslike the daysof a hiredman?
They will swoopdownon the slopesof the Philistineson the west;Togetherthey will plunderthe sonsof the east;They will possessEdomand Moab,And the sonsof Ammonwill be subjectto them.
My heartcriesout for Moab;His fugitivesare as faras Zoar[and] Eglath-shelishiyah,For they goup the ascentof Luhithweeping;Surelyon the roadto Horonaimthey raisea cryof distressover [their] ruin.
Thisis the wordwhichthe LORDspokeearlierconcerningMoab.
Now in that daythe gloryof Jacobwill fade,And the fatnessof his fleshwill becomelean.
For thusthe Lordsaidto me, "In a year,as a hiredmanwould countit, allthe splendorof Kedarwill terminate;
The LORDof hostshas plannedit, to defilethe prideof allbeauty,To despiseallthe honoredof the earth.
For the handof the LORDwill reston thismountain,And Moabwill be troddendownin his placeAs strawis troddendownin the waterof a manurepile.
And he will spreadout his handsin the middleof it As a swimmerspreadsout [his hands] to swim,But [the Lord] will laylowhis pridetogetherwith the trickeryof his hands.
"For beforethe boywill know[enough] to refuseeviland choosegood,the landwhosetwokingsyou dreadwill be forsaken.
"Moabwill be destroyedfrom [being] a peopleBecausehe has becomearroganttowardthe LORD.
Thussaysthe LORD,"Let not a wisemanboastof his wisdom,and let not the mightymanboastof his might,let not a richmanboastof his riches;
but you shall freelyopenyour handto him, and shall generouslylendhim sufficientfor his need[in] whateverhe lacks.
