[1] O Lord, I will honor and praise your name, for you are my God; you do such wonderful things! You planned them long ago, and now you have accomplished them, just as you said! [2] You turn mighty cities into heaps of ruins. The strongest forts are turned to rubble. Beautiful palaces in distant lands disappear and will never be rebuilt. [3] Therefore strong nations will shake with fear before you; ruthless nations will obey and glorify your name. [4] But to the poor, O Lord, you are a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, a shelter from merciless men who are like a driving rain that melts down an earthen wall. [5] As a hot, dry land is cooled by clouds, you will cool the pride of ruthless nations. [6] Here on Mount Zion in Jerusalem, the Lord Almighty will spread a wondrous feast for everyone around the world-a delicious feast of good food, with clear, well-aged wine and choice beef. [7] At that time he will remove the cloud of gloom, the pall of death that hangs over the earth; [8] he will swallow up death forever. The Lord God will wipe away all tears and take away forever all insults and mockery against his land and people. The Lord has spoken-he will surely do it! [9] In that day the people will proclaim, "This is our God in whom we trust, for whom we waited. Now at last he is here." What a day of rejoicing! [10] For the Lord's good hand will rest upon Jerusalem, and Moab will be crushed as straw beneath his feet and left to rot. [11] God will push them down just as a swimmer pushes down the water with his hands. He will end their pride and all their evil works. [12] The high walls of Moab will be demolished and brought to dust.
