The Burden of Moab
Isaiah 15
Isaiah pronounces a lament over Moab, naming city after city, Dibon, Nebo, Heshbon, Elealeh, Zoar and others, crying out in mourning as the land is destroyed by night and its people flee in grief. Rivers and wells run with blood and desolation as the land loses even its grass, and the chapter ends with the threat of further slaughter by the Arabians upon what remains of Moab.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonIN the night Moab is destroyed; for by night is destroyed the bulwark of Moab. Be in bitterness for yourselves; for Debon also is destroyed.
BrentonThe Word against the Land of Moab. By night the land of Moab shall be destroyed; for by night the wall of the land of Moab shall be destroyed.
GreekΝυκτὸς ἀπολεῖται ἡ Μωαβῖτις, νυκτὸς γὰρ ἀπολεῖται τὸ τεῖχος τῆς Μωαβίτιδος.
KJV—
JPS—
2
ThomsonWhere your altar is, thither you will go up to weep for Nabau of Moab, Raise the mournful cry. On every head be baldness; let all your arms be gashed with wounds.
BrentonGrieve for yourselves; for even Debon, where your altar is, shall be destroyed: thither shall ye go up to weep, over Nabau of the land of Moab: howl ye: baldness shall be on every head, and all arms shall be wounded.
GreekΛυπεῖσθε ἐφʼ ἑαυτοὺς, ἀπολεῖται γὰρ καὶ Δηβὼν, οὗ ὁ βωμὸς ὑμῶν· ἐκεῖ ἀναβήσεσθε κλαίειν, ἐπὶ Ναβαῦ τῆς Μωαβίτιδος· ὀλολύξατε, ἐπὶ πάσης κεφαλῆς φαλάκρωμα, πάντες βραχίονες κατατετμημένοι.
KJVHe is gone up to Bajith, and to Dibon, the high places, to weep: Moab shall howl over Nebo, and over Medeba: on all their heads shall be baldness, and every beard cut off.
JPS—
3
ThomsonIn the streets thereof, gird on sackcloth, and on its house tops make lamentation; and in the streets thereof and in its lanes, raise ye all the mournful cry with weeping;
BrentonGird yourselves with sackcloth in her streets: and lament upon her roofs, and in her streets, and in her ways; howl all of you with weeping.
GreekἘν ταῖς πλατείαις αὐτῆς περιζώσασθε σάκκους, καὶ κόπτεσθε ἐπὶ τῶν δωμάτων αὐτῆς, καὶ ἐν ταῖς ῥύμαις αὐτῆς, πάντες ὀλολύζετε μετὰ κλαυθμοῦ.
KJVIn their streets they shall gird themselves with sackcloth: on the tops of their houses, and in their streets, every one shall howl, weeping abundantly.
JPSIn their streets they gird themselves with sackcloth; On their housetops, and in their broad places, Every one howleth, weeping profusely.
4
Thomsonbecause Esebon and Eleale have screamed—even to Jassa their voice hath been heard; therefore the lungs of Moab utter lowings; her soul will be afflicted.
BrentonFor Esebon and Eleale have cried: their voice was heard to Jassa: therefore the loins of the region of Moab cry aloud; her soul shall know.
GreekὍτι κέκραγεν Ἐσεβὼν καὶ Ἐλεαλὴ, ἕως Ἰασσὰ ἠκούσθη ἡ φωνὴ αὐτῶν· διατοῦτο ἡ ὀσφὺς τῆς Μωαβίτιδος βοᾷ, ἡ ψυχὴ αὐτῆς γνώσεται.
KJVAnd Heshbon shall cry, and Elealeh: their voice shall be heard even unto Jahaz: therefore the armed soldiers of Moab shall cry out; his life shall be grievous unto him.
JPSAnd Heshbon crieth out, and Elealeh; their voice is heard even unto Jahaz; therefore the armed men of Moab cry aloud; his soul is faint within him.
5
ThomsonThe heart of Moab within her uttereth lowings, which reach Segor: for she is a three-headed heifer. At the ascent of Louith weepers will come up to thee; by the way of Aroniim destruction and dismay are roaring.
BrentonThe heart of the region of Moab cries within her to Segor; for it is as a heifer of three years old: and on the ascent of Luith they shall go up to thee weeping by the way of Aroniim: she cries, Destruction, and trembling.
GreekἩ καρδία τῆς Μωαβείτιδος βοᾷ ἐν αὐτῇ ἕως Σηγώρ· δάμαλις γάρ ἐστι τριετής· ἐπὶ δὲ τῆς ἀναβάσεως Λουεὶθ, πρὸς σὲ κλαίοντες ἀναβήσονται τῇ ὁδῷ Ἀρωνιείμ· βοᾷ, σύντριμμα καὶ σεισμός.
KJVMy heart shall cry out for Moab; his fugitives shall flee unto Zoar, an heifer of three years old: for by the mounting up of Luhith with weeping shall they go it up; for in the way of Horonaim they shall raise up a cry of destruction.
JPSMy heart crieth out for Moab; her fugitives reach unto Zoar, a heifer of three years old; for by the ascent of Luhith With weeping they go up; for in the way of Horonaim they raise up a cry of destruction.
6
ThomsonThe water of Nemereim will be dried up; and its grass will fail; there will be no green grass.
BrentonThe water of Nemerim shall be desolate, and the grass thereof shall fail: for there shall be no green grass.
GreekΤὸ ὕδωρ τῆς Νεμηρεὶμ ἔρημον ἔσται, καὶ ὁ χόρτος αὐτῆς ἐκλείψει· χόρτος γὰρ χλωρὸς οὐκ ἔσται.
KJVFor the waters of Nimrim shall be desolate: for the hay is withered away, the grass faileth, there is no green thing.
JPSFor the Waters of Nimrim shall be desolate; For the grass is withered away, the herbage faileth, There is no green thing.
7
ThomsonBut even thus it shall not be saved; for I will bring the Arabs against that valley; and they shall take it.
BrentonShall Moab even thus be delivered? for I will bring the Arabians upon the valley, and they shall take it.
GreekΜὴ καὶ οὕτως μέλλει σωθῇναι; ἐπάξω γὰρ ἐπὶ τὴν φάραγγα Ἄραβας, καὶ λήψονται αὐτήν.
KJV—
JPS—
8
ThomsonFor the cry of war touched the border of Moab at Agaleim, and the scream thereof reacheth even to the well of Aileim.
BrentonFor the cry has reached the border of the region of Moab, even of Agalim; and her howling has gone as far as the well of Ælim.
GreekΣυνῆψε γὰρ ἡ βοὴ τὸ ὅριον τῆς Μωαβίτιδος τῆς Ἀγαλεὶμ, καὶ ὀλολυγμὸς αὐτῆς ἕως τοῦ φρέατος τοῦ Αἰλείμ.
KJVFor the cry is gone round about the borders of Moab; the howling thereof unto Eglaim, and the howling thereof unto Beerelim.
JPSFor the cry is gone round about The borders of Moab; The howling thereof unto Eglaim, And the howling thereof unto Beer-elim.
9
ThomsonAs for the water of Deimon, it shall be full of blood; for I will bring the Arabians against Deimon, and carry off the seed of Moab and Ariel; and the remnant of Adama I will send away as reptiles on the earth.
BrentonAnd the water of Dimon shall be filled with blood: for I will bring Arabians upon Dimon, and I will take away the seed of Moab, and Ariel, and the remnant of Adama.
GreekΤὸ δὲ ὕδωρ τὸ Δειμὼν πλησθήσεται αἵματος, ἐπάξω γὰρ ἐπὶ Δειμὼν Ἄραβας, καὶ ἀρῶ τὸ σπέρμα Μωὰβ, καὶ Ἀριὴλ, καὶ τὸ κατάλοιπον Ἄδαμὰ.
KJVFor the waters of Dimon shall be full of blood: for I will bring more upon Dimon, lions upon him that escapeth of Moab, and upon the remnant of the land.
JPSFor the waters of Dimon are full of blood; For I will bring yet more upon Dimon, A lion upon him that escapeth of Moab, And upon the remnant of the land.