“‘A sword,^(B) a sword,
    drawn for the slaughter,
polished to consume
    and to flash like lightning!

“Has Israel no sons?
    Has Israel no heir?
Why then has Molek^[a](B) taken possession of Gad?^(C)
    Why do his people live in its towns?
² But the days are coming,”
    declares the Lord,
“when I will sound the battle cry^(D)
    against Rabbah^(E) of the Ammonites;
it will become a mound of ruins,^(F)
    and its surrounding villages will be set on fire.
Then Israel will drive out
    those who drove her out,^(G)”
says the Lord.
³ “Wail, Heshbon,^(H) for Ai^(I) is destroyed!
    Cry out, you inhabitants of Rabbah!
Put on sackcloth^(J) and mourn;
    rush here and there inside the walls,
for Molek^(K) will go into exile,^(L)
    together with his priests and officials.
⁴ Why do you boast of your valleys,
    boast of your valleys so fruitful?
Unfaithful Daughter Ammon,^(M)
    you trust in your riches^(N) and say,
    ‘Who will attack me?’^(O)
5 I will bring terror on you
    from all those around you,”
declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty.
“Every one of you will be driven away,
    and no one will gather the fugitives.^(P)

⁶ “Yet afterward, I will restore^(Q) the fortunes of the Ammonites,”
declares the Lord.