Isaiah 21

1 The burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds in the south pass through; so it comes 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 declared to me; the treacherous dealer deals treacherously, and the spoiler spoils. Go up, O Elam: besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made 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: pangs have taken hold on me, as the pangs of a woman that travails: I was bowed down at the hearing of it; I was dismayed 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 panted, fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure has he turned into fear to me.

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

5 Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, you princes, and anoint 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 has the LORD said to me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare 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 he saw a chariot with a couple of horsemen, a chariot of asses, and a chariot of camels; and he listened 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 he cried, A lion: My lord, I stand continually on the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward 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 And, behold, here comes a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he has broken to 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 threshing, and the corn of my floor: that which I have heard of the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared to 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 Dumah. He calls to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? 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 comes, and also the night: if you will inquire, inquire you: 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 on Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall you lodge, O you traveling companies of Dedanim.

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

14 The inhabitants of the land of Tema brought water to him that was thirsty, they prevented with their bread him that fled.

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

15 For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.

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

16 For thus has the LORD said to me, Within a year, according to the years of an hireling, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail:

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 archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be diminished: for the LORD God of Israel has spoken it.

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