A reading from the book of Jeremiah.

Concerning Moab, thus says the Lord of hosts the God of Israel.

Woe to Nebo, for it is laid waste.

Kariathiam is put to shame, it is taken.

The fortress is put to shame and broken down.

The renown of Moab is no more. In Hesbun they planned

disaster against her. Come, let us cut her off from being a nation. You also, O Madman, shall be

brought to silence. The sword shall pursue you. A voice, a cry from Horonayim, desolation and great destruction. Moab is destroyed. Her little

ones have made a cry, for at the ascent of Luhith they go up weeping, for at the descent of

Horoniam they have heard the distressed cry of destruction.

Flee, save yourselves, you will be like a juniper in the desert. For because you trusted

in your works and your treasures, you also shall be taken. And Kammish shall go into exile

with his priests and his officials.

The destroyer shall come upon every city, and no city shall escape.

The valley shall perish, and the plain shall be destroyed, as the Lord has spoken.

Give wings to Moab, for she would fly away.

Her cities shall become a desolation with no inhabitant in them.

Cursed is he who does the work of the Lord with slackness, and curse it is he who keeps back his

sword from bloodshed. Moab has been at ease from his youth, and has settled on his dregs.

He has not been emptied from vessel to vessel, nor has he gone into exile.

So his taste remains in him, and his scent is not changed.

Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord,

...