TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 15

Listen to this chapter in Hebrew:

1The “Moab” Pronouncement. Ah, in the night Ar was sacked, Moab was ruined; Ah, in the night Kir was sacked, Moab was ruined.

אמַשָּׂא מוֹאָב כִּי בְּלֵיל שֻׁדַּד עָר מוֹאָב נִדְמָה כִּי בְּלֵיל שֻׁדַּד קִיר־מוֹאָב נִדְמָה׃

2He went up to the temple to weep, Dibon [went] to the outdoor shrines. Over Nebo and Medeba Moab is wailing; On every head is baldness, Every beard is shorn.

בעָלָה הַבַּיִת וְדִיבֹן הַבָּמוֹת לְבֶכִי עַל־נְבוֹ וְעַל מֵידְבָא מוֹאָב יְיֵלִיל בְּכָל־רֹאשָׁיו קָרְחָה כָּל־זָקָן גְּרוּעָה׃

3In its streets, they are girt with sackcloth; On its roofs, in its squares, Everyone is wailing, Streaming with tears.

גבְּחוּצֹתָיו חָגְרוּ שָׂק עַל גַּגּוֹתֶיהָ וּבִרְחֹבֹתֶיהָ כֻּלֹּה יְיֵלִיל יֹרֵד בַּבֶּכִי׃

4Heshbon and Elealeh cry out, Their voice carries to Jahaz. Therefore, The shock troops of Moab shout, His body is convulsed.

דוַתִּזְעַק חֶשְׁבּוֹן וְאֶלְעָלֵה עַד־יַהַץ נִשְׁמַע קוֹלָם עַל־כֵּן חֲלֻצֵי מוֹאָב יָרִיעוּ נַפְשׁוֹ יָרְעָה לּוֹ׃

5My heart cries out for Moab— His fugitives flee down to Zoar, To Eglath-shelishiyah. For the ascent of Luhith They ascend with weeping; On the road to Horonaim They raise a cry of anguish.

li-BEE l'-mo-AV yiz-AK b'-ree-KHE-ha ad TZO-ar eg-LAT sh'-li-shi-YAH KEE ma-a-LAY ha-lu-KHEET biv-KHEE ya-a-leh BO KEE DE-rekh kho-ro-NA-yim za-a-kat SHE-ver y'-o-AY-ru

הלִבִּי לְמוֹאָב יִזְעָק בְּרִיחֶהָ עַד־צֹעַר עֶגְלַת שְׁלִשִׁיָּה כִּי מַעֲלֵה הַלּוּחִית בִּבְכִי יַעֲלֶה־בּוֹ כִּי דֶּרֶךְ חוֹרֹנַיִם זַעֲקַת־שֶׁבֶר יְעֹעֵרוּ׃

15:5   My heart cries out for Moab

Having taunted Babylon, Assyria, and the Philistines, Yeshayahu now turns to Yehuda’s southeastern neighbor, Moab. As the previous prophecies describe, the upcoming destruction and desolation of Moab will be total. What is noteworthy, however, is the prophet’s refusal to rejoice over Moab’s downfall. Though Moab is one of Israel’s ancient enemies, Yeshayahu cannot restrain himself from sympathizing over their plight. This is reminiscent of the verse in Proverbs (24:17) “If your enemy falls, do not exult; If he trips, let your heart not rejoice.”

6Ah, the waters of Nimrim Are become a desolation; The grass is sear, The herbage is gone, Vegetation is vanished.

וכִּי־מֵי נִמְרִים מְשַׁמּוֹת יִהְיוּ כִּי־יָבֵשׁ חָצִיר כָּלָה דֶשֶׁא יֶרֶק לֹא הָיָה׃

7Therefore, The gains they have made, and their stores, They carry to the Wadi of Willows.

זעַל־כֵּן יִתְרָה עָשָׂה וּפְקֻדָּתָם עַל נַחַל הָעֲרָבִים יִשָּׂאוּם׃

8Ah, the cry has compassed The country of Moab: All the way to Eglaim her wailing, Even at Beer-elim her wailing!

חכִּי־הִקִּיפָה הַזְּעָקָה אֶת־גְּבוּל מוֹאָב עַד־אֶגְלַיִם יִלְלָתָהּ וּבְאֵר אֵילִים יִלְלָתָהּ׃

9Ah, the waters of Dimon are full of blood For I pour added [water] on Dimon; I drench it—for Moab's refugees— With soil for its remnant.

טכִּי מֵי דִימוֹן מָלְאוּ דָם כִּי־אָשִׁית עַל־דִּימוֹן נוֹסָפוֹת לִפְלֵיטַת מוֹאָב אַרְיֵה וְלִשְׁאֵרִית אֲדָמָה׃