Isaiah 21
1 The burden of the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the South sweep through, it cometh from the wilderness, 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 unto me; the treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. 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 anguish; pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman in travail: I am pained so that I cannot hear; I am dismayed so that I cannot see.
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 panteth, horror hath affrighted me: the twilight that I desired hath been turned into trembling unto me.
My mind falters; I shake in panic. The night I looked forward to has become terrifying.
5 They prepare the table, they set the watch, they eat, they drink: rise up, ye princes, 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 hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman; let him declare what he seeth:
This is what the Lord told me: “Go! Have a lookout keep watch, and make sure he reports what he sees.
7 and when he seeth a troop, horsemen in pairs, a troop of asses, a troop of camels, he shall hearken 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 as a lion: O Lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the day-time, and 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 cometh a troop of men, horsemen in pairs. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods 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 thou my threshing, and the corn of my floor: that which I have heard from the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have I 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 Dumah. One calleth unto 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 cometh, and also the night: if ye will inquire, inquire ye: turn ye, 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 upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye travelling companies of Dedanites.
A message about Arabia. Caravans from Dedan, spend the night in the bushes.
14 Unto him that was thirsty they brought water; the inhabitants of the land of Tema did meet the fugitives with their bread.
People of Tema, take water to the thirsty, meet the refugees with food.
15 For they fled away 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 hath the Lord said unto 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 the archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be few: 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.
