Isaiah 21

1 The burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds come from the south, it cometh from the desert from a terrible land.

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 grievous vision is told me: he that is unfaithful dealeth unfaithfully: and he that is a spoiler, spoileth. Go up, O Elam, besiege, O Mede: I have made all the mourning thereof to cease.

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 Therefore are my loins filled with pain, anguish hath taken hold of me, as the anguish of a woman in labour: I fell down at the hearing of it, I was troubled at the seeing of it.

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 heart failed, darkness amazed me: Babylon my beloved is become a wonder to me.

My mind falters; I shake in panic. The night I looked forward to has become terrifying.

5 Prepare the table, behold in the watchtower them that eat and drink: arise, ye princes, take up the shield.

They set the table, they spread out the rugs, they eat and drink… “Get up, officers! Prepare your shields for battle!”

6 For thus hath the Lord said to me: Go, and set a watchman: and whatsoever he shall see, let him tell.

This is what the Lord told me: “Go! Have a lookout keep watch, and make sure he reports what he sees.

7 And he saw a chariot with two horsemen, a rider upon an ass, and a rider upon a camel: and he beheld them diligently with much heed.

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 a lion cried out: I am upon the watchtower of the Lord, standing continually by day: and I am upon my ward, standing whole nights.

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 Behold this man cometh, the rider upon the chariot with two horsemen, and he answered, and said: Babylon is fallen, she is fallen, and all the graven gods thereof are broken unto the ground.

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 thrashing and the children of my door, that which I have heard of the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, I have declared unto you.

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 burden of Duma calleth to me out of Seir: Watchman, what of the eight? watchman, what of 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 said: The morning cometh, also the night: if you seek, seek: return, come.

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 burden in Arabia. In the forest at evening you shall sleep, in the paths of Dedanim.

A message about Arabia. Caravans from Dedan, spend the night in the bushes.

14 Meeting the thirsty bring him water, you that inhabit the land of the south, meet with bread him that fleeth.

People of Tema, take water to the thirsty, meet the refugees with food.

15 For they are fled from before the swords, from the sword that hung over them, from the bent bow, from the face of a grievous battle.

They're running away from a fierce battle, from swords, drawn swords, from bows and arrows.

16 For thus saith the Lord to me: Within a year, according to the years of a hireling, all the glory of Cedar shall be taken away.

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 residue of the number of strong archers of the children of Cedar shall be diminished: for the Lord the God of Israel hath spoken it.

There will only be a few left of the archers, the warriors of Kedar.” The Lord, the God of Israel, has spoken.