The Text of the Moabite Stone

The following translation is an attempt to reproduce the Moabite text as closely as possible. Paragraph divisions are not in the original inscription, but are added in the translation for convenience. The small superior numbers designate the lines, many of which begin in the middle of a word. They are inserted here because sections of the Moabite Stone are referred to by line in this article. Brackets indicate places where the text was broken; and words enclosed in brackets have been supplied. Wherever such a break cannot be reconstructed with certainty, dots appear between the brackets. Words enclosed in parentheses are inserted to clarify the meaning of the text, but they are not part of the actual inscription. Line 34 is too poorly preserved to allow a sensible translation.

¹I am Mesha, son of Kemosh-[ … ], king of Moab, the D²ibonite. My father reigned over Moab 30 years, and I reig³ned after my father. And I made this high place for Kemosh in Qorchah [ … ,] ⁴for he saved me from all kings and caused me to triumph over all my enemies. Omr⁵i, king of Israel, had oppressed Moab for many days, for Kemosh was angry with his la⁶nd. And his son succeeded him, and he also said, “I will oppress Moab.” In my days he spoke [thus], ⁷but I have triumphed over him and his house, and Israel has perished forever. And Omri had occupied the [lan]⁸d of Mehedeba (Medeba), and (Israel) dwelt therein his days and half the days of his son, 40 years, but ⁹Kemosh dwelt there in my time.