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.
A message about the desert by the sea. Like storm winds passing through the Negev, something is coming 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 horrifying vision that has been explained to me. The betrayer still betrays; the destroyer still destroys. Elamites and Medes, go ahead, attack and lay siege to Babylon, for I'm putting a stop to all the pain it has caused.
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.
As a result my body is filled with agony. I'm overwhelmed with pain, like the pain of a woman giving birth. I am confused by what I hear; I am distressed by what I see.
4 My mind is wandering, fear has overcome me: the evening of my desire has been turned into shaking for me.
My mind falters; I shake in panic. The night I looked forward to has become terrifying.
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 set the table, they spread out the rugs, they eat and drink… “Get up, officers! Prepare your shields for battle!”
6 For so has the Lord said to me, Go, let a watchman be placed; let him give word of what he sees:
This is what the Lord told me: “Go! Have a lookout keep watch, and make sure he reports 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 coming pulled by pairs of horses, riders on donkeys and on camels, he should watch very carefully, paying close attention.”
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 “Sir, I've stood here on the watchtower day after day; night after night I've remained 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.
Now look! A man in a chariot with a pair of horses is coming.” Then he said, “Babylon has fallen, has fallen! All the idols of its gods lie smashed 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.
My poor downtrodden people, so badly mistreated, I have told you what I have heard from the Lord Almighty, 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?
A message about Edom. A voice is calling to me from Seir, asking, “Watchman, what time of night is it? Watchman, what time of night is it?”
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 is coming, but the night is coming again soon. If you want to ask again, then come back and ask.”
13 The word about Arabia. In the thick woods of Arabia will be your night's resting-place, O travelling bands of Dedanites!
A message about Arabia. Caravans from Dedan, spend the night in the bushes.
14 Give water to him who is in need of water; give bread, O men of the land of Tema, to those in flight.
People of Tema, take water to the thirsty, 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.
They're running away from a fierce battle, from swords, drawn swords, from bows and arrows.
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:
This is what the Lord told me: “Within one year, just as a contract worker precisely counts years, 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.
There will only be a few left of the archers, the warriors of Kedar.” The Lord, the God of Israel, has spoken.
