Isaiah 21

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

The oracle of the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the Negev sweep through, it comes from the wilderness, from an awesome land.

2 A grievous vision is declared to me. The treacherous man deals treacherously, and the destroyer destroys. Go up, O Elam. Besiege, O Media, all the sighing of it I have made to cease.

A 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.

3 Therefore my loins are 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.

Therefore 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.

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

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

5 They prepare the table, they set the watch, they eat, they drink. Rise up, ye rulers, anoint the shield.

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

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

For YHWH said to me, "Go, set a watchman. Let him declare what he sees.

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

When he sees chariots, horsemen in pairs, riders on donkeys, riders on camels, let him listen diligently, very diligently."

8 And he cried out as a lion, O Lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and am set in my ward whole nights,

Then the lookout shouted: "Lord, I stand continually on the watchtower in the daytime, and every night I stay at my post.

9 and, behold, here comes 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 to the ground.

Look, 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.

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

You are my threshing, and the grain of my floor." That which I have heard from YHWH of hosts, the God of Israel, I have declared to you.

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

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

12 The watchman said, The morning comes, and also the night. If ye will inquire, inquire ye; turn ye back, come.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For YHWH said to me, "Within a year, as a worker bound by contract would count it, the glory of Kedar will fail,

17 And the residue of the number of the archers, the mighty men of the sons of Kedar, shall be few. For Jehovah, the God of Israel, has spoken it.

and the residue of the number of the archers, the warriors of the people of Kedar, will be few; for YHWH, the God of Israel, has spoken it."