Isaiah 21

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

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 grievous vision is declared unto me: the treacherous dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. Go up, Elam! besiege, Media! All the sighing thereof have I made to cease.

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 Therefore are my loins filled with pain; anguish hath taken hold upon me, as the anguish of a woman in travail: I am bowed down so as not to hear, I am dismayed so as not to 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 heart panteth, horror affrighteth me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into trembling unto me.

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

5 Prepare the table, appoint the watch; eat, drink: arise, ye princes, anoint the shield.

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

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

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

7 And he saw chariots, horsemen by pairs, a chariot with asses, a chariot with camels; and he hearkened diligently with much heed.

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

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

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

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

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 threshing, and the corn of my floor! What I have heard of Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto you.

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 burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of 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 said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will inquire, inquire; return, come.

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

13 The burden against Arabia. In the forest of Arabia shall ye lodge, [ye] caravans of Dedanites.

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

14 Bring ye water to meet the thirsty! The inhabitants of the land of Tema come forth with their bread for him that fleeth.

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

15 For they flee from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness 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 thus hath the Lord said unto me: Within a year, according to the years of a hired servant, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail;

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 residue of the number of the archers, the mighty men of the sons of Kedar, shall be diminished: for Jehovah, the God of Israel, hath spoken.

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