< 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 prophecy concerning the desert of the sea. As storms which rush along through the south, So it cometh from the desert, From the terrible 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 was revealed to me; The plunderer plundereth, and the destroyer destroyeth. “Go up, O Elam! Besiege, O Media! All sighing do I make to cease.”
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 are my loins full of pain; Pangs have seized me, as the pangs of a woman in travail; For convulsions I cannot hear; For anguish I cannot see.
4 Mine heart failed: fearefulnesse troubled me: the night of my pleasures hath he turned into feare vnto me.
My heart panteth, Terror hath seized upon me; The evening of my desire is changed into horror.
5 Prepare thou the table: watch in the watch towre: eate, drinke: arise, ye princes, anoynt the shielde.
The table is prepared; the watch is set; They eat; they drink; “Arise, ye princes! Anoint the shield!”
6 For thus hath the Lord said vnto me, Go, set a watchman, to tell what he seeth.
For thus said the Lord unto me: “Go, set a watchman, Who shall declare what he seeth.”
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.
And he saw a troop, horsemen in pairs, Riders on asses, and riders on camels, And he watched with the utmost heed.
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 he cried like a lion: “My Lord, I stand continually upon the watch-tower in the daytime, And keep my post all the night;
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.
And behold, there cometh a troop, Horsemen in pairs.” Again also he lifted up his voice, and said: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon, And all the graven images of her gods are cast 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.
O my threshing, and the corn of my floor! What I have heard from Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, That have I 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 prophecy concerning Dumah. A voice came to me from 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 saith: “Morning cometh, and also night. If ye will inquire, inquire! Return, come!”
13 The burden against Arabia. In the forest of Arabia shall yee tarie all night, euen in the waies of Dedanim.
The prophecy against the Arabians. In the thickets of Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye caravans of Dedan!
14 O inhabitants of the lande of Tema, bring foorth water to meete the thirstie, and preuent him that fleeth with his bread.
The inhabitants of the land of Tema Bring water to the thirsty; They come to meet the fugitive with 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 flee from swords, From the drawn sword, And from the bent bow, And from the fury of war.
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 thus saith the Lord to me: Within one year, according to the years of a hireling, Shall all the glory of Kedar be consumed.
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.
The remainder of the mighty bowmen of the sons of Kedar shall be diminished; For Jehovah, the God of Israel, hath said it.