Isaiah 21

1 The burden of the desert Sea. As the whirlewindes in the South vse to passe from the wildernesse, so shall it come from the horrible 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 grieuous vision was shewed vnto me, The transgressour against a transgressour, and the destroyer against a destroyer. Goe vp Elam, besiege Media: I haue caused all the mourning thereof 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 are my loynes filled with sorow: sorowes haue taken me as the sorowes of a woman that trauayleth: I was bowed downe when I heard it, and I was amased when I sawe it.

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 Mine heart failed: fearefulnesse troubled me: the night of my pleasures hath he turned into feare vnto me.

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

5 Prepare thou the table: watch in the watch towre: eate, drinke: arise, ye princes, anoynt the shielde.

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

6 For thus hath the Lord said vnto me, Go, set a watchman, to tell what he seeth.

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

7 And he sawe a charet with two horsemen: a charet of an asse, and a charet of a camel: and he hearkened and tooke diligent heede.

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

8 And he cryed, A lyon: my lorde, I stand continually vpon ye watche towre in the day time, and I am set in my watche euery night:

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

9 And beholde, this mans charet commeth with two horsemen. And he answered and said, Babel is fallen: it is fallen, and all the images of her gods hath he broken vnto 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 corne of my floore. That which I haue heard of the Lord of hostes, the God of Israel, haue I shewed vnto you.

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

11 The burden of Dumah. He calleth vnto me out of Seir, Watchman, what was in ye night? Watchman, what was in 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 saide, The morning commeth, and also the night. If yee will aske, enquire: returne and come.

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

13 The burden against Arabia. In the forest of Arabia shall yee tarie all night, euen in the waies of Dedanim.

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

14 O inhabitants of the lande of Tema, bring foorth water to meete the thirstie, and preuent him that fleeth with his 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 flee from the drawen swords, euen from the drawen sword, and from the bent bowe, and from the grieuousnesse of warre.

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

16 For thus hath the Lord sayd vnto me, Yet a yeere according to the yeeres of an hireling, and all the glorie of Kedar shall faile.

For the LORD 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 nomber of ye strong archers of the sonnes of Kedar shall be fewe: for the Lord God of Israel hath spoken it.

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