The Daily Audio Bible

Moab Is Destroyed

48 About Moab, the Lord of All, the God of Israel, says, “It is bad for Nebo, for it has been destroyed. Kiriathaim has been put to shame and taken. The high, strong-place has been put to shame and crushed. ² The praise for Moab has come to an end. In Heshbon they have planned trouble against her, saying, ‘Come, let us destroy her from being a nation!’ You, O Madmen, will be made quiet also. The sword will follow you. ³ Listen, the sound of a cry from Horonaim, saying, ‘Laid waste and all destroyed!’ ⁴ Moab is destroyed. The cry of her little ones is heard. ⁵ They go up the hill of Luhith crying all the time. For at the hill of Horonaim they have heard the troubled cry of those who are being destroyed. ⁶ Run fast! Run for your lives! You will be like a bush in the desert. ⁷ Because you have trusted in your own works and riches, you also will be taken. And Chemosh will go away to a strange land together with his religious leaders and important men. ⁸ The destroyer will come to every city. No city will be free from him. The valley and the plain will be destroyed also, as the Lord has said. ⁹ Give wings to Moab, for she will fly away. Her cities will become a waste, with no people living in them. ¹⁰ The one who does the Lord’s work without care is cursed. Cursed is the one who keeps his sword from blood.

¹¹ “Moab has been at rest since he was young. He has been like wine which sits a long time, not being poured from jar to jar. He has not gone away to a strange land. So he keeps his taste, and his smell is not changed. ¹² The days are coming,” says the Lord, “when I will send to him those who turn over jars, and they will turn him over. They will empty his jars and break them in pieces. ¹³ Then Moab will be ashamed of Chemosh, as the house of Israel was ashamed of Bethel that they trusted. ¹⁴ How can you say, ‘We are strong soldiers and powerful men of war’? ¹⁵ Moab has been destroyed, and men have gone up to his cities. His best young men have gone down to be killed,” says the King, Whose name is the Lord of All. ¹⁶ The trouble of Moab will soon come. His suffering comes in a hurry. ¹⁷ Have sorrow for him, all you who live around him, and all who know his name. Say, ‘How his power has been broken, the greatness of his power!’ ¹⁸ Come down from your greatness and sit on the hot ground, O you who live in Dibon. For the destroyer of Moab has come up against you. He has destroyed your strong-places built for battle. ¹⁹ Stand by the road and keep watch, O you who live in Aroer. Ask the man or woman who runs away, ‘What has happened?’ ²⁰ Moab has been put to shame, for it is broken down. Cry out. Let it be known by the Arnon that Moab has been destroyed. ²¹ Punishment has come upon the plain, against Holon, Jahzah, Mephaath, ²² Dibon, Nebo, Beth-diblathaim, ²³ Kiriathaim, Beth-gamul, Beth-meon, ²⁴ Kerioth, Bozrah, and all the cities of the land of Moab, far and near. ²⁵ Moab’s strength has been cut off, and his arm broken,” says the Lord. ²⁶ “Make him drunk, for he has become proud before the Lord. So Moab will roll in the food he has thrown up, and be laughed at. ²⁷ Did you not laugh at Israel? Or was he found among robbers? For each time you speak about him you laugh and shake your head. ²⁸ Leave the cities and live among the rocks, O people of Moab. Be like a dove that has its nest in a hole in the side of the rock. ²⁹ We have heard of the pride of Moab. He is very proud. We have heard of all his pride and how he honors himself. ³⁰ I know his anger,” says the Lord, “but it is of no use. His proud words have done nothing. ³¹ So I will cry in a loud voice for Moab. I will cry out for all Moab. I will have sorrow for the men of Kir-heres. ³² I will cry for you more than for Jazer, O vine of Sibmah! Your branches have gone over the sea, even to the sea of Jazer. The destroyer has fallen upon your summer fruits and your grapes. ³³ Happiness and joy have been taken away from the land of Moab with all its fruit. I have stopped the crushing of the grapes to make wine. No one crushes them under foot. The noise they make is not the sound of joy. ³⁴ They cry out from Heshbon even to Elealeh, even to Jahaz, and from Zoar even to Horonaim and to Eglath-shelishiyah. Even the waters of Nimrim have become a waste. ³⁵ And I will make an end of Moab,” says the Lord. “I will destroy the one who gives gifts of worship on the high place and burns special perfume to his gods.

³⁶ “So My heart cries out for Moab like a horn. My heart cries like a horn also for the men of Kir-heres. The riches they had for themselves have been lost. ³⁷ The hair has been cut from every head, and the hair has been cut short on every face. There are cuts on all the hands, and they wear clothes made from hair. ³⁸ On all the roofs of Moab and in its streets there are cries of sorrow everywhere. For I have broken Moab like a pot that is not wanted,” says the Lord. ³⁹ “How broken it is! How they cry! How Moab has turned his back in shame! So Moab has become something to laugh at and hate to all those around him.” ⁴⁰ For the Lord says, “One will fly fast like an eagle, and spread out his wings against Moab. ⁴¹ Kerieth has been taken, and the strong-places built for battle have been taken. In that day the hearts of the strong men of Moab will be like the heart of a woman giving birth. ⁴² Moab will be destroyed and will no longer be a nation, because he was proud before the Lord. ⁴³ Fear, traps and nets are coming upon you, O you who live in Moab,” says the Lord. ⁴⁴ “The one who runs from trouble will fall into the trap. And the one who comes up out of the trap will be caught in the net. For I will bring these things upon Moab in the year of their punishment,” says the Lord.

⁴⁵ “In the shadow of Heshbon, those who have run for their lives stand without strength. For a fire has gone out from Heshbon and from Sihon. It has destroyed the forehead of Moab and the top of the heads of the trouble-makers. ⁴⁶ It is bad for you, Moab! The people of Chemosh have been destroyed. Your sons and daughters have been taken away in chains. ⁴⁷ Yet I will return the people of Moab to their land in the last days,” says the Lord. This is the punishment of Moab.

God Speaks through Jeremiah about Ammon

49 About the sons of Ammon, the Lord says, “Does Israel have no sons? Does she have no one to receive what she leaves? Why then has Malcam taken Gad as his own? Why do his people live in its cities? ² But the days are coming,” says the Lord, “when I will blow a horn giving the sound of war against Rabbah of the sons of Ammon. And it will become a waste. Its towns will be set on fire. Then Israel will take the land from those who had taken it from her,” says the Lord.

³ “Cry out, O Heshbon, for Ai has been destroyed! Cry out, O people of Rabbah. Put on clothes made from hair and cry in sorrow. And run this way and that way inside the walls. For Malcam will go to a strange land, together with his religious leaders and his important men. ⁴ How you speak in pride about the valleys! Your valley is flowing away, O daughter without faith who trusts in her riches, saying, ‘Who will come against me?’ ⁵ I will bring much trouble upon you,” says the Lord God of All. “It will come from all around you, and each of you will be driven away. There will be no one to gather together those who run for their lives. ⁶ But after this I will return the sons of Ammon to their land,” says the Lord.

God Speaks through Jeremiah about Edom

⁷ About Edom, the Lord of All says, “Is there no longer any wisdom in Teman? Have wise words been lost from the wise? Is their wisdom all gone? ⁸ Run away! Turn back and live in the deep places, O people of Dedan. For I will bring the trouble of Esau upon him when I punish him. ⁹ If those who gather grapes came to you, would they not leave some grapes behind? If robbers came during the night, would they not take only what was enough for them? ¹⁰ But I have taken all that Esau has. I have taken the covering from his hiding places so that he will not be able to hide himself. His children, his brothers, and his neighbors are destroyed. And he is no more. ¹¹ Leave your children behind, who have lost their parents, and I will keep them alive. And let your women whose husbands have died trust in Me.” ¹² For the Lord says, “If those who were not to drink the cup must drink it, will you go without being punished? You will not go without being punished, but you must drink it. ¹³ For I have promised by Myself,” says the Lord, “that Bozrah will become an object of trouble, a shame, a waste, and a curse. All its cities will be destroyed forever.”

¹⁴ I have heard word from the Lord. A man with news is sent among the nations, saying, “Gather together and come against her! Rise up for battle! ¹⁵ For I have made you small among the nations, hated among men. ¹⁶ As for the fear you have caused, the pride of your heart has fooled you, O you who live in the holes of rocks, who live on the top of the hill. Even if you make your nest as high as an eagle’s, I will bring you down from there,” says the Lord. ¹⁷ ‘Edom will become an object of trouble. Everyone who passes by will be surprised and will make fun of all its suffering. ¹⁸ As when Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighbors were destroyed, no one will live there,” says the Lord. “No man will live there. ¹⁹ One will come up like a lion from the trees by the Jordan to rich grass fields. All at once I will make him run away from Edom. And I will make whoever I choose rule over it. For who is like Me? Who will call Me into court? What shepherd can stand against Me?”

²⁰ So hear the plan the Lord has made against Edom. Listen to His plans which He has made against the people of Teman. Even the little ones of the flock will be pulled away. For sure He will make their fields an empty waste because of them. ²¹ The earth will shake at the sound of their fall. The sound of their cry will be heard at the Red Sea. ²² See, one will come and fly down in a hurry like an eagle. He will spread out his wings against Bozrah. In that day the hearts of the strong men of Edom will be like the heart of a woman giving birth.

Paul’s Work Is Finished—Timothy Must Carry On

4 These words are from my heart to you. I say this before God and Jesus Christ. Some day He will judge those who are living and those who are dead. It will be when Christ comes to bring His holy nation. ² Preach the Word of God. Preach it when it is easy and people want to listen and when it is hard and people do not want to listen. Preach it all the time. Use the Word of God to show people they are wrong. Use the Word of God to help them do right. You must be willing to wait for people to understand what you teach as you teach them.

³ The time will come when people will not listen to the truth. They will look for teachers who will tell them only what they want to hear. ⁴ They will not listen to the truth. Instead, they will listen to stories made up by men. ⁵ You must watch for all these things. Do not be afraid to suffer for our Lord. Preach the Good News from place to place. Do all the work you are to do.

⁶ It will soon be time for me to leave this life. ⁷ I have fought a good fight. I have finished the work I was to do. I have kept the faith. ⁸ There is a crown which comes from being right with God. The Lord, the One Who will judge, will give it to me on that great day when He comes again. I will not be the only one to receive a crown. All those who love to think of His coming and are looking for Him will receive one also.

Paul Sends Word to Timothy About Some Friends

⁹ Come to me here as soon as you can. ¹⁰ Demas left me. He loved the things of this world and has gone to the city of Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to the city of Galatia. Titus has gone to the city of Dalmatia. ¹¹ Luke is the only one with me here. Bring Mark when you come. He is a help to me in this work. ¹² I sent Tychicus to the city of Ephesus. ¹³ When you come, bring the coat I left with Carpus in the city of Troas. Bring the books and for sure do not forget the writings written on sheepskin. ¹⁴ Alexander, the man who makes things out of copper, has worked hard against me. The Lord will give him the pay that is coming to him. ¹⁵ Watch him! He fought against every word we preached.

¹⁶ At my first trial no one helped me. Everyone left me. I hope this will not be held against them. ¹⁷ But the Lord was with me. He gave me power to preach the Good News so all the people who do not know God might hear. I was taken from the mouth of the lion. ¹⁸ The Lord will look after me and will keep me from every sinful plan they have. He will bring me safe into His holy nation of heaven. May He have all the shining-greatness forever. Let it be so.

¹⁹ Greet Priscilla and Aquila for me and to all the family of Onesiphorus. ²⁰ Erastus stayed in the city of Corinth. I left Trophimus sick in the city of Miletus. ²¹ Try to come before winter. Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the Christian brothers greet you. ²² May the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. May you have God’s loving-favor.

A Song of Praise

95 Come, let us sing with joy to the Lord. Let us sing loud with joy to the rock Who saves us. ² Let us come before Him giving thanks. Let us make a sound of joy to Him with songs. ³ For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. ⁴ The deep places of the earth are in His hand. And the tops of the mountains belong to Him. ⁵ The sea is His, for He made it. And His hands made the dry land.

⁶ Come, let us bow down in worship. Let us get down on our knees before the Lord Who made us. ⁷ For He is our God. And we are the people of His field, and the sheep of His hand. If you hear His voice today, ⁸ do not let your hearts become hard as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in the desert. ⁹ Your early fathers put Me to the test and tried Me. But they had seen the work I did. ¹⁰ I was angry with the people of that day for forty years. I said, “They always think wrong thoughts. And they do not know My ways.” ¹¹ I was angry with them and said, “They will never go into My rest.”

A Call to Worship the Lord

96 Sing to the Lord a new song. Let all the earth sing to the Lord. ² Sing to the Lord. Honor His name. Make His saving power known from day to day. ³ Tell of His shining-greatness among the nations. Tell of His wonderful works among all the people. ⁴ For the Lord is great and should be given much praise. He is to be honored with fear above all gods. ⁵ For all the gods of the nations are false gods. But the Lord made the heavens. ⁶ Honor and great power are with Him. Strength and beauty are in His holy place.

⁷ Give to the Lord, O families of the nations, give to the Lord the honor and strength that He should have. ⁸ Give to the Lord the honor of His name. Bring a gift and come into His holy place. ⁹ Worship the Lord in holy clothing. May all the earth shake in fear before Him. ¹⁰ Say among the nations that the Lord rules. The world is built to last. It will not be moved. He will be right when He says who is guilty or not.

¹¹ Let the heavens be glad. And let the earth be full of joy. Let the sea and all that is in it make a loud noise. ¹² Let the fields and all that is in them be full of joy. Then all the trees of the land will sing for joy ¹³ before the Lord. For He is coming. He is coming to say who is guilty or not on the earth. He will be right in what He decides about the world. And He will be faithful to the people.

⁹ A wise saying in the mouth of fools is like a thorn that goes into the hand of a man who drinks too much.

¹⁰ He who hires a fool or hires those who pass by is like a man who uses a bow to hurt everyone.

¹¹ A fool who does his foolish act again is like a dog that turns back to what he has thrown up.

¹² Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.