Isaiah — Chapter 21

1This is the burden against the Desert by the Sea: Like whirlwinds sweeping through the Negev, an invader comes from the desert, from a land of terror.

2A dire vision is declared to me: “The traitor still betrays, and the destroyer still destroys. Go up, O Elam! Lay siege, O Media! I will put an end to all her groaning.”

3Therefore my body is filled with anguish. Pain grips me, like the pains of a woman in labor. I am bewildered to hear, I am dismayed to see.

4My heart falters; fear makes me tremble. The twilight I desired has turned to horror.

5They prepare a table, they lay out a carpet, they eat, they drink! Rise up, O princes, oil the shields!

6For this is what the Lord says to me: “Go, post a lookout and have him report what he sees.

7When he sees chariots with teams of horsemen, riders on donkeys, riders on camels, he must be alert, fully alert.”

8Then the lookout shouted: “Day after day, my lord, I stand on the watchtower; night after night I stay at my post.

9Look, here come the riders, horsemen in pairs.” And one answered, saying: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon! All the images of her gods lie shattered on the ground!”

10O my people, crushed on the threshing floor, I tell you what I have heard from the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel.

11This is the burden against Dumah: One calls to me from Seir, “Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left of the night?”

12The watchman replies, “Morning has come, but also the night. If you would inquire, then inquire. Come back yet again.”

13This is the burden against Arabia: In the thickets of Arabia you must lodge, O caravans of Dedanites.

14Bring water for the thirsty, O dwellers of Tema; meet the refugees with food.

15For they flee from the sword—the sword that is drawn—from the bow that is bent, and from the stress of battle.

16For this is what the Lord says to me: “Within one year, as a hired worker would count it, all the glory of Kedar will be gone.

17The remaining archers, the warriors of Kedar, will be few.” For the LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken.

1The burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds in the south pass through; so it cometh from the desert, from a terrible land.

2A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. Go up, O Elam: besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease.

3Therefore are my loins filled with pain: pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman that travaileth: I was bowed down at the hearing of it; I was dismayed at the seeing of it.

4My heart panted, fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me.

5Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield.

6For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth.

7And he saw a chariot with a couple of horsemen, a chariot of asses, and a chariot of camels; and he hearkened diligently with much heed:

8And he cried, A lion: My lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward whole nights:

9And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground.

10O my threshing, and the corn of my floor: that which I have heard of the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto you.

11The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?

12The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, come.

13The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye travelling companies of Dedanim.

14The inhabitants of the land of Tema brought water to him that was thirsty, they prevented with their bread him that fled.

15For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.

16For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Within a year, according to the years of an hireling, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail:

17And the residue of the number of archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be diminished: for the LORD God of Israel hath spoken it.

1The burden of the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the South sweep through, it cometh from the wilderness, from a terrible land.

2A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous man dealeth treacherously, and the destroyer destroyeth. Go up, O Elam; besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease.

3Therefore are my loins filled with anguish; pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman in travail: I am pained so that I cannot hear; I am dismayed so that I cannot see.

4My heart fluttereth, horror hath affrighted me; the twilight that I desired hath been turned into trembling unto me.

5They prepare the table, they set the watch, they eat, they drink: rise up, ye princes, anoint the shield.

6For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman: let him declare what he seeth:

7and when he seeth a troop, horsemen in pairs, a troop of asses, a troop of camels, he shall hearken diligently with much heed.

8And he cried as a lion: O Lord, I stand continually upon the watch-tower in the day-time, and am set in my ward whole nights;

9and, behold, here cometh a troop of men, horsemen in pairs. And he answered and said, Fallen, fallen is Babylon; and all the graven images of her gods are broken unto the ground.

10O thou my threshing, and the grain of my floor! that which I have heard from Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto you.

11The burden of Dumah. One calleth unto me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?

12The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will inquire, inquire ye: turn ye, come.

13The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye caravans of Dedanites.

14Unto him that was thirsty they brought water; the inhabitants of the land of Tema did meet the fugitives with their bread.

15For they fled away from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.

16For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Within a year, according to the years of a hireling, all the glory of Kedar shall fail;

17and the residue of the number of the archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be few; for Jehovah, the God of Israel, hath spoken it.

1This is an oracle about the wilderness by the Sea: Like strong winds blowing in the south, one invades from the wilderness, from a land that is feared.

2I have received a distressing message: “The deceiver deceives, the destroyer destroys. Attack, you Elamites! Lay siege, you Medes! I will put an end to all the groaning.”

3For this reason my stomach churns; cramps overwhelm me like the contractions of a woman in labor. I am disturbed by what I hear, horrified by what I see.

4My heart palpitates, I shake in fear; the twilight I desired has brought me terror.

5Arrange the table, lay out the carpet, eat and drink! Get up, you officers, smear oil on the shields!

6For this is what the Lord has told me: “Go, post a guard! He must report what he sees.

7When he sees chariots, teams of horses, riders on donkeys, riders on camels, he must be alert, very alert.”

8Then the guard cries out: “On the watchtower, O Lord, I stand all day long; at my post I am stationed every night.

9Look what’s coming! A charioteer, a team of horses.” When questioned, he replies, “Babylon has fallen, fallen! All the idols of her gods lie shattered on the ground!”

10O my downtrodden people, crushed like stalks on the threshing floor, what I have heard from the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, I have reported to you.

11This is an oracle about Dumah: Someone calls to me from Seir, “Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left of the night?”

12The watchman replies, “Morning is coming, but then night. If you want to ask, ask; come back again.”

13This is an oracle about Arabia: In the thicket of Arabia you spend the night, you Dedanite caravans.

14Bring out some water for the thirsty. You who live in the land of Tema, bring some food for the fugitives.

15For they flee from the swords— from the drawn sword, and from the battle-ready bow, and from the severity of the battle.

16For this is what the Lord has told me: “Within exactly one year all the splendor of Kedar will come to an end.

17Just a handful of archers, the warriors of Kedar, will be left.” Indeed, the Lord God of Israel has spoken.

1The burden of the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the South sweep through, it comes from the wilderness, from an awesome land.

2A grievous vision is declared to me. The treacherous man deals treacherously, and the destroyer destroys. Go up, Elam; attack! I have stopped all of Media’s sighing.

3Therefore my thighs are filled with anguish. Pains have taken hold on me, like the pains of a woman in labor. I am in so much pain that I can’t hear. I so am dismayed that I can’t see.

4My heart flutters. Horror has frightened me. The twilight that I desired has been turned into trembling for me.

5They prepare the table. They set the watch. They eat. They drink. Rise up, you princes, oil the shield!

6For the Lord said to me, “Go, set a watchman. Let him declare what he sees.

7When he sees a troop, horsemen in pairs, a troop of donkeys, a troop of camels, he shall listen diligently with great attentiveness.”

8He cried like a lion: “Lord, I stand continually on the watchtower in the daytime, and every night I stay at my post.

9Behold, here comes a troop of men, horsemen in pairs.” He answered, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon; and all the engraved images of her gods are broken to the ground.

10You are my threshing, and the grain of my floor!” That which I have heard from Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, I have declared to you.

11The burden of Dumah. One calls to me out of Seir, “Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?”

12The watchman said, “The morning comes, and also the night. If you will inquire, inquire. Come back again.”

13The burden on Arabia. In the forest in Arabia you will lodge, you caravans of Dedanites.

14They brought water to him who was thirsty. The inhabitants of the land of Tema met the fugitives with their bread.

15For they fled away from the swords, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow, and from the heat of battle.

16For the Lord said to me, “Within a year, as a worker bound by contract would count it, all the glory of Kedar will fail,

17and the residue of the number of the archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, will be few; for Yahweh, the God of Israel, has spoken it.”