At that time the Book of Moses was read out loud. All the people heard it. It was written there that no Ammonite or Moabite could ever become a member of God’s community.

当日，人念摩西的律法书给百姓听，遇见书上写着说，亚扪人和摩押人永不可入神的会；

在那日，百姓听到人朗读摩西的律法书，发现书上写着，亚扪人和摩押人永不可入上帝的会；

在那日，百姓听到人朗读摩西的律法书，发现书上写着，亚扪人和摩押人永不可入神的会；

那天，有人给民众宣读摩西律法书时，发现书上说亚扪人和摩押人永不可加入上帝的会众。

那时，他们宣读摩西的书给众民听，见书上写着说：亚扪人和摩押人永远不可进入神的会，

當日，人念摩西的律法書給百姓聽，遇見書上寫着說，亞捫人和摩押人永不可入神的會；

在那日，百姓聽到人朗讀摩西的律法書，發現書上寫着，亞捫人和摩押人永不可入上帝的會；

在那日，百姓聽到人朗讀摩西的律法書，發現書上寫着，亞捫人和摩押人永不可入神的會；

那天，有人給民眾宣讀摩西律法書時，發現書上說亞捫人和摩押人永不可加入上帝的會眾。

那時，他們宣讀摩西的書給眾民聽，見書上寫著說：亞捫人和摩押人永遠不可進入神的會，

那時候我們將摩西書誦讀給人民聽，見書上寫着說：亞捫人或摩押人永不可進上帝的公會；

是日誦摩西書、俾民聽聞、見書載云、亞捫摩押二族、永不得入上帝會、

斯時人誦摩西書、俾民僉聞、書云、摩押、亞捫二族、世不得入上帝會。

當日、人誦摩西書、俾民俱聞、遇書中所載云、亞捫人、摩押人、永不得入天主之會、

On that day the Book of Moses was read aloud in the hearing of the people and there it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever be admitted into the assembly of God,

On that day they read from the Book of Moses in the hearing of the people. And in it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God,

On that same day, as the Book of Moses was being read to the people, the passage was found that said no Ammonite or Moabite should ever be permitted to enter the assembly of God.

At that time the book of Moses was read publicly to the people. The command was found written in it that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God,

On that day the Book of Moses was read aloud as the people listened; and there was found written in it that no Ammonite or Moabite was ever to enter the assembly of God,

On that day they read from the Book of Moses in the hearing of the people, and in it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever come into the assembly of God,

On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that an Ammonite and a Moabite should not enter into the assembly of God for ever,

At that time the book of Moses was read publicly to the people. The command was found written in it that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God,

On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever;

On that day the book of Moses was read aloud in the hearing of the people. They found written in it that no Ammonite or Moabite may ever enter the assembly of God,

On that day they read in the book of Moses in the hearing of the people; and it was found written in it that an Ammonite and a Moabite should not enter into the assembly of God forever,

The people of Ammon and Moab can’t join in worship with the Lord’ s people. That also applies to their children after them for all time to come.The Ammonites and Moabites didn’t come to meet you with food and water on your way out of Egypt. They even hired Balaam from Pethor in Aram Naharaim to put a curse on you. Balaam was the son of Beor.The Lord your God wouldn’t listen to Balaam. Instead, he turned the curse into a blessing for you. He did it because he loves you.

They stood where they were. They listened while the Levites read parts of the Book of the Law of the Lord their God. They listened for a fourth of the day. They spent another fourth of the day admitting their sins. They also worshiped the Lord their God.

In those days I also saw that some men of Judah had married women from Ashdod. Others had married women from Ammon or Moab.

That’s when all the Israelites come to appear in front of the Lord your God at the holy tent. It will be at the place he will choose. You must read this law to them.Gather the people together. Gather the men, women and children. Also bring together the outsiders living in your towns. Then they can listen and learn to have respect for the Lord your God. And they’ll be careful to obey all the words of this law.

He went up to the Lord’ s temple. The people of Judah and Jerusalem went with him. So did the priests and prophets. All of them went, from the least important of them to the most important. The king had all the words of the Book of the Covenant read to them. The book had been found in the Lord’ s temple.

A message from the Lord came to me. The Lord said,“ Son of man, turn your attention to the Ammonites. Prophesy against them.Tell them,‘ Listen to the message of the Lord and King. He says,“ You laughed when my temple was made‘ unclean.’ You also laughed when the land of Israel was completely destroyed. You mocked the people of Judah when they were taken away as prisoners.So I am going to hand you over to the people of the east. They will set up their tents in your land. They will camp among you. They will eat your fruit. They will drink your milk.I will turn the city of Rabbah into grasslands for camels. Ammon will become a resting place for sheep. Then you will know that I am the Lord.” ’ ”The Lord and King says,“ You clapped your hands. You stamped your feet. Deep down inside, you hated the land of Israel. You were glad because of what happened to it.So I will reach out my powerful hand against you. I will give you and everything you have to the nations. I will bring you to an end among the nations. I will destroy you. Then you will know that I am the Lord.”The Lord and King says,“ Moab and Edom said,‘ Look! Judah has become like all the other nations.’So I will let Moab’s enemies attack its lower hills. They will begin at the border towns. Those towns include Beth Jeshimoth, Baal Meon and Kiriathaim. They are the glory of that land.I will hand Moab over to the people of the east. I will also give the Ammonites to them. And the Ammonites will no longer be remembered among the nations.I will punish Moab. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”

He read the Law to them from sunrise until noon. He did it as he faced the open area in front of the Water Gate. He read it to the men, the women, and the children old enough to understand. And all the people paid careful attention as Ezra was reading the Book of the Law.Ezra, the teacher of the Law, stood on a high wooden stage. It had been built for the occasion. Mattithiah, Shema and Anaiah stood at his right side. So did Uriah, Hilkiah and Maaseiah. Pedaiah, Mishael and Malkijah stood at his left side. So did Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam.Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him. That’s because he was standing above them. As he opened the book, the people stood up.Ezra praised the Lord. He is the great God. All the people lifted up their hands and said,“ Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down. They turned their faces toward the ground and worshiped the Lord.The Levites taught the Law to the people. They remained standing while the Levites taught them. The Levites who were there included Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai and Hodiah. They also included Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah.All these Levites read to the people parts of the Book of the Law of God. They made it clear to them. They told them what it meant. So the people understood what was being read.

“ What is written in the Law?” Jesus replied.“ How do you understand it?”

The Lord says,“ The people of Ammon have sinned again and again. So I will judge them. They ripped open the pregnant women in Gilead. They wanted to add land to their territory.So I will set fire to destroy the walls of Rabbah. It will burn up its forts. War cries will be heard on that day of battle. Strong winds will blow on that stormy day.Ammon’s king will be carried away. So will his officials,” says the Lord.The Lord says,“ The people of Moab have sinned again and again. So I will judge them. They burned the bones of Edom’s king to ashes.So I will send fire to destroy Moab. It will burn up Kerioth’s forts. Moab will come crashing down with a loud noise. War cries will be heard. So will the blast of trumpets.I will kill Moab’s ruler. I will also kill all its officials,” says the Lord.

Sanballat and Tobiah heard about what was happening. Sanballat was a Horonite. Tobiah was an official from Ammon. They were very upset that someone had come to help the Israelites.

These laws of Moses have been preached in every city from the earliest times. They are read out loud in the synagogues every Sabbath day.”

Here is a prophecy against Moab that the Lord gave me. The city of Ar in Moab is destroyed. It happened in a single night. Kir in Moab is also destroyed. It happened in a single night.The people of Dibon go up to their temple to worship. They go to their high places to weep. The people of Moab cry over the cities of Nebo and Medeba. All their heads are shaved. All their beards have been cut off.In the streets they wear the rough clothing people wear when they’re sad. On their roofs and in the market places all of them are crying. They fall down flat with their faces toward the ground. And they weep.The people of Heshbon and Elealeh cry out. Their voices are heard all the way to Jahaz. So the fighting men of Moab cry out. Their hearts are weak.My heart cries out over Moab. Some who run away get as far as Zoar. Others run all the way to Eglath Shelishiyah. Others go up the hill to Luhith. They are weeping as they go. Still others travel the road to Horonaim. They sing a song of sadness because their town is being destroyed.The waters at Nimrim are dried up. And so is the grass. The plants have died. Nothing green is left.The people are trying to escape through the Valley of the Poplar Trees. They are carrying with them the wealth they have collected and stored up.Their loud cries echo along the border of Moab. They reach as far as Eglaim. Their songs of sadness reach all the way to Beer Elim.The waters of the city of Dimon are full of blood. But the Lord will bring even more trouble on Dimon. He will bring lions against those who run away from Moab. They will also attack those who remain in the land.

Here is what the Lord says about Moab. The Lord who rules over all is the God of Israel. He says,“ How terrible it will be for the city of Nebo! It will be destroyed. Kiriathaim will be captured. It will be put to shame. Its fort will be broken down. It will be put to shame.Moab will not be praised anymore. In Heshbon people will plan its fall from power. They will say,‘ Come. Let’s put an end to that nation.’ City of Madmen, you too will be silent. My sword will hunt you down.Cries of sorrow come from Horonaim. The town is being completely destroyed.Moab will be broken. Her little ones will cry out.The people go up the hill to Luhith. They are weeping bitterly as they go. Loud cries are heard on the road down to Horonaim. People cry out because the town is being destroyed.People of Moab, run away! Run for your lives! Become like a lonely bush in the desert.You trust in the things you can do. You trust in your riches. So you too will be taken away as prisoners. Your god named Chemosh will be carried away. So will its priests and officials.The one who is going to destroy you will come against every town. Not even one of them will escape. The valley and the high plain will be destroyed. The Lord has spoken.Sprinkle salt all over Moab. It will be completely destroyed. Its towns will be a dry and empty desert. No one will live in them.“ May anyone who is lazy when they do the Lord’ s work be under my curse! May anyone who keeps their sword from killing be under my curse!“ Moab has been at peace and rest from its earliest days. It is like wine that has not been shaken up. It has not been poured from one jar to another. Moab’s people have not been taken away from their land. They are like wine that tastes as it always did. Its smell has not changed at all.But other days are coming,” announces the Lord.“ At that time I will send people who pour wine from pitchers. They will pour Moab out like wine. They will empty its pitchers. They will smash its jars.Then Moab’s people will be ashamed of their god named Chemosh. They will be ashamed just as the people of Israel were when they trusted in their false god at Bethel.“ How can you say,‘ We are soldiers. We are men who are brave in battle’?Moab will be destroyed. Its enemies will march into its towns. Its finest young men will die in battle,” announces the King. His name is the Lord Who Rules Over All.“ The fall of Moab is near. Its time of trouble will come quickly.All you who live around it, mourn for its people. Be sad, you who know how famous Moab is. Say,‘ Its powerful ruler’s scepter is broken! His glorious scepter is smashed.’“ Come down from your glorious city, you who live in Dibon. Come and sit on the thirsty ground. The one who destroys Moab will come up and attack you. Your enemies will destroy your cities that have high walls around them.Stand by the road and watch, you who live in Aroer. Ask the men who are running away. Ask the women who are escaping. Ask them,‘ What has happened?’Moab has been put to shame. It has been destroyed. Weep and cry out! Tell everyone Moab has been destroyed. Announce it by the Arnon River.The high plain has been judged. So have Holon, Jahzah and Mephaath.Dibon, Nebo and Beth Diblathaim have been judged.So have Kiriathaim, Beth Gamul and Beth Meon.Kerioth and Bozrah have also been judged. And so have all the towns of Moab, far and near alike.Moab’s power is gone. Its strength is broken,” announces the Lord.“ Moab’s people think they are better than I am. So let their enemies make them drunk. Let the people get sick and throw up. Let them roll around in the mess they have made. Let people laugh at them.Moab, you laughed at Israel, didn’t you? Were Israel’s people caught among robbers? Is that why you shake your head at them? Is that why you make fun of them every time you talk about them?Leave your towns, you who live in Moab. Go and live among the rocks. Be like a dove that makes its nest at the entrance of a cave.“ We have heard all about Moab’s pride. We have heard how very proud they are. They think they are so much better than others. Their pride reaches deep down inside their hearts.I know how rude they are. But it will not get them anywhere,” announces the Lord.“ Their bragging does not accomplish anything.So I weep over Moab. I cry for all Moab’s people. I groan for the people of Kir Hareseth.I weep for you as Jazer weeps, you vines of Sibmah. Your branches used to spread out. They went all the way down to the Dead Sea. They reached as far as the sea of Jazer. The one who destroys your country has taken away your grapes and ripe fruit.Joy has left your orchards. Gladness is gone from your fields. I have stopped the flow of juice from your winepresses. No one stomps on your grapes with shouts of joy. There are shouts. But they are not shouts of joy.“ The sound of their cry rises from Heshbon. It rises as far as Elealeh and Jahaz. It rises from Zoar. It goes all the way to Horonaim and Eglath Shelishiyah. Even the waters at Nimrim are dried up.In Moab people sacrifice offerings on the high places. They burn incense to their gods. But I will put an end to those people,” announces the Lord.“ Like a flute my heart sings a song of sadness for Moab. It sings like a flute for the people of Kir Hareseth. The wealth they had acquired is gone.Every head is shaved. Every beard is cut off. Every hand is cut. And every waist is covered with the clothes of sadness.Weeping is the only sound in Moab. It is heard on all its roofs. It is heard in the market. I have broken Moab like a jar that no one wants,” announces the Lord.“ How broken Moab is! How the people weep! They turn away from others because they are so ashamed. All those around them laugh at them. They are shocked at them.”The Lord says,“ Look! Nebuchadnezzar is like an eagle diving down. He is spreading his wings over Moab.Kerioth will be captured. Its forts will be taken. At that time the hearts of Moab’s soldiers will tremble in fear. They will be like the heart of a woman having a baby.Moab will be destroyed as a nation. That is because its people thought they were better than the Lord.You people of Moab,” announces the Lord,“ terror, a pit and a trap are waiting for you.Anyone who runs away from the terror will fall into the pit. Anyone who climbs out of the pit will be caught in the trap. The time is coming when I will punish Moab,” announces the Lord.“ In the shadow of Heshbon those who are trying to escape stand helpless. A fire has blazed out from Heshbon. Flames have come out from Sihon’s city. It burns the foreheads of Moab’s people. It burns the skulls of those who brag loudly.How terrible it will be for you, Moab! Those who worship Chemosh are destroyed. Your sons are being taken to another country. Your daughters are taken away as prisoners.“ But in days to come I will bless Moab with great success again,” announces the Lord. This ends the report about how the Lord would judge Moab.Here is what the Lord says about the people of Ammon. He says,“ Doesn’t Israel have any sons? Doesn’t Israel have anyone to take over the family property? Then why has the god named Molek taken over Gad? Why do those who worship him live in its towns?But a new day is coming,” announces the Lord.“ At that time I will sound the battle cry. I will sound it against Rabbah in the land of Ammon. It will become a pile of broken- down buildings. The villages around it will be set on fire. Then Israel will drive out those who drove her out,” says the Lord.“ Heshbon, weep for Ai! It is destroyed! Cry out, you who live in Rabbah! Put on the clothes of sadness and mourn. Run here and there inside the walls. Your god named Molek will be carried away. So will its priests and officials.Why do you brag about your valleys? You brag that they produce so many crops. Ammon, you are an unfaithful country. You trust in your riches. You say,‘ Who will attack me?’I will bring terror on you. It will come from all those around you,” announces the Lord. He is the Lord who rules over all.“ Every one of you will be driven away. No one will bring back those who escape.“ But after that, I will bless the people of Ammon with great success again,” announces the Lord.

They also include the people of Byblos, Ammon, Amalek, Philistia and Tyre.Even Assyria has joined them to give strength to the people of Moab and Ammon.Do to them what you did to the people of Midian. Do to them what you did to Sisera and Jabin at the Kishon River.

Look in the book of the Lord. Here is what you will read there. None of those animals will be missing. Male and female alike will be there. The Lord himself has commanded it. And his Spirit will gather them together.

But Sanballat, the Horonite, heard about it. So did Tobiah, the official from Ammon. Geshem, the Arab, heard about it too. All of them laughed at us. They made fun of us.“ What do you think you are doing?” they asked.“ Are you turning against the king?”

The Law and the Prophets were read aloud. Then the leaders of the synagogue sent word to Paul and his companions. They said,“ Brothers, do you have any words of instruction for the people? If you do, please speak.”

Tobiah from Ammon was at Sanballat’s side. He said,“ What are they building? They’re putting up a stone wall. But suppose a fox climbs on top of it. Even that will break it down!”

Jesus went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. On the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue as he usually did. He stood up to read.And the scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. Jesus unrolled it and found the right place. There it is written,“ The Spirit of the Lord is on me. He has anointed me to announce the good news to poor people. He has sent me to announce freedom for prisoners. He has sent me so that the blind will see again. He wants me to set free those who are treated badly.And he has sent me to announce the year when he will set his people free.”( Isaiah 61:1, 2)