Isaiah 21

1 The word about the waste land. As storm-winds in the South go rushing through, it comes from the waste land, from the land greatly to be feared.

This 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.

2 A vision of fear comes before my eyes; the worker of deceit goes on in his false way, and the waster goes on making waste. Up! Elam; to the attack! Media; I have put an end to her sorrow.

A 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.”

3 For this cause I am full of bitter grief; pains like the pains of a woman in childbirth have come on me: I am bent down with sorrow at what comes to my ears; I am shocked by what I see.

Therefore 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.

4 My mind is wandering, fear has overcome me: the evening of my desire has been turned into shaking for me.

My heart falters; fear makes me tremble. The twilight of my desire has turned to horror.

5 They make ready the table, they put down the covers, they take food and drink. Up! you captains; put oil on your breastplates.

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

6 For so has the Lord said to me, Go, let a watchman be placed; let him give word of what he sees:

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

7 And when he sees war-carriages, horsemen by twos, war-carriages with asses, war-carriages with camels, let him give special attention.

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

8 And the watchman gave a loud cry, O my lord, I am on the watchtower all day, and am placed in my watch every night:

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

9 See, here come war-carriages with men, horsemen by twos: and in answer he said, Babylon is made low, is made low, and all her images are broken on the earth.

Look, 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!”

10 O my crushed ones, the grain of my floor! I have given you the word which came to me from the Lord of armies, the God of Israel.

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

11 The word about Edom. A voice comes to me from Seir, Watchman, how far gone is the night? how far gone is the night?

This 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?”

12 The watchman says, The morning has come, but night is still to come: if you have questions to put, put them, and come back again.

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

13 The word about Arabia. In the thick woods of Arabia will be your night's resting-place, O travelling bands of Dedanites!

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

14 Give water to him who is in need of water; give bread, O men of the land of Tema, to those in flight.

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

15 For they are in flight from the sharp sword, and the bent bow, and from the trouble of war.

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

16 For so has the Lord said to me, In a year, by the years of a servant working for payment, all the glory of Kedar will come to an end:

For 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.

17 And the rest of the bowmen, the men of war of the children of Kedar, will be small in number: for the Lord, the God of Israel, has said it.

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