Moab’s Pride and the Mercy of Zion in Isaiah 16.

Isaiah 16 continues the burden concerning Moab, showing a nation seeking refuge yet still marked by pride. The chapter calls Moab to send tribute and seek shelter under the line of David, pointing toward Zion as the place where mercy, truth, judgment, and righteousness are established. Yet Moab’s arrogance remains exposed, and its religious cries cannot save it when its foundations are broken. The prophet grieves over Moab’s devastation, showing that God’s judgment is not cold or careless, but righteous and deeply serious. The chapter warns that pride can keep a people from true refuge, even when mercy is near.

Isaiah 16:1 – 16:14

  1 Send ye the lamb to the ruler of the land from Sela to the wilderness, unto the mount of the daughter of Zion.
  2 For 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.
  3 Take counsel, execute judgment; make thy shadow as the night in the midst of the noonday; hide the outcasts; bewray not him that wandereth.
  4 Let mine outcasts dwell with thee, Moab; be thou a covert to them from the face of the spoiler: for the extortioner is at an end, the spoiler ceaseth, the oppressors are consumed out of the land.
  5 And 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.
  6 We 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.
  7 Therefore shall Moab howl for Moab, every one shall howl: for the foundations of Kir–hareseth shall ye mourn; surely [they are] stricken.
  8 For 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.
  9 Therefore 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.
  10 And 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.
  11 Wherefore my bowels shall sound like an harp for Moab, and mine inward parts for Kir–haresh.
  12 And it shall come to pass, when it is seen that Moab is weary on the high place, that he shall come to his sanctuary to pray; but he shall not prevail.
  13 This [is] the word that the Lord hath spoken concerning Moab since that time.
  14 But 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.