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.
And I built Baal-meon, and made a reservoir in it, and buil[t] 10Qiryathan (Kiriathaim). Now the men of Gad had dwelt in the land of Ataroth from of old, and the king of I11srael had built Ataroth for them, but I fought against the city, took it, and smote all the people 12of the city as an intoxication for Kemosh and for Moab. And I brought back from there Orel, its commander (?), dr[ag]13ging him before Kemosh in Kerioth, and I settled there the men of Sharon and the m[en] of 14Maharath.
And Kemosh said to me, “Go, take Nebo from Israel,” and I 15went by night, and fought against it from the break of dawn until noon, and to16ok it and smote all of them, 7,000 men, [boys], women, [girl]s, 17and maidservants, for I had devoted them to Ashtar-Kemosh. And I took from there th[e ves]18sels of Yahweh and dragged them before Kemosh. And the king of Israel had built 19Yahaz, and dwelt therein while he fought against me. But Kemosh drove him out from before me, [and] 20I took from Moab 200 men, all chiefs, and placed them against Yahaz, and I took it 21in order to attach it to Dibon.
I built Qorchah, the wall of the woods, and the wall 22of the citadel; I also built its gates and built its towers, and 23built the palace, and made both reservoirs for water insi[de] 24the city. And there was no cistern inside the city of Qorchah. And I said to all the people, “Make for 25yourselves each one a cistern in his house.” And I cut timber for Qorchah with prisoner26s of Israel.
I built Aroer and made the highway in the Arnon. 27I built Beth-bamoth, for it had been destroyed. I built Beser, for (it lay in) ruins, 28[with] 50 [me]n of Dibon, for all Dibon was obedient. And I reigned 29[over] 100 towns which I had added to the land. And I built 30 [Mehed]eba (Medeba) and Beth-diblathen, and Beth-baalmeon, and I set there the [folds] 31[for the] sheep of the land. And as for Hauronen, there dwelt in it [ … ]. 32But Kemosh said to me, “go down, fight against Hauronen.” And I went down [and] 33[took it] and Kemosh [dwelt] in it in my days [ … ].
