<p class="poetry">Wild donkeys stand on the hilltopsp> <p class="poetry">and pant for breath like jackals.p> <p class="poetry">Their eyes are strained looking for food,p> <p class="poetry">because there is none to be found.&#8221;<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">But if they had stood in my inner circle,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">they would have proclaimed my message to my people.p> <p class="poetry">They would have caused my people to turn from their wicked waysp> <p class="poetry">and stop doing the evil things they are doing.p>

<p class="poetry">In the shadows of the walls of Heshbonp> <p class="poetry">those trying to escape will stand helpless.p> <p class="poetry">For a fire will burst forth from Heshbon.p> <p class="poetry">Flames will shoot out from the former territory of Sihon.p> <p class="poetry">They will burn the foreheads of the people of Moab,p> <p class="poetry">the skulls of those war-loving people.<n id="1" />p>

<p class="bodytext">The <sc>Lordsc> said to his people:<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;You are standing at the crossroads. So consider your path.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">Ask where the old, reliable paths<n id="3" /> are.p> <p class="poetry">Ask where the path is that leads to blessing<n id="4" /> and follow it.p> <p class="poetry">If you do, you will find rest for your souls.&#8221;p> <p class="poetry">But they said, &#8220;We will not follow it!&#8221;p>

<p class="poetry">Even her mercenaries<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">will prove to be like pampered,<n id="2" /> well-fed calves.p> <p class="poetry">For they too will turn and run away.p> <p class="poetry">They will not stand their groundp> <p class="poetry">when<n id="3" /> the time for them to be destroyed comes,p> <p class="poetry">the time for them to be punished.p>