< Isaiah 21 >
1 [the] oracle of [the] wilderness of [the] sea Like storm-winds in the south to sweep on from [the] wilderness [someone is] coming from a land to be feared.
The burden of the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the South sweep through, it comes from the wilderness, from a terrible land.
2 A vision severe it has been told to me the traitor - [is] acting treacherously and the destroyer - [is] destroying go up O Elam lay siege O Media all groaning its I will cause to cease.
A grievous vision is declared to me. The treacherous man deals treacherously, and the destroyer destroys. Go up, O Elam. Besiege, O Media, all the sighing of it I have made to cease.
3 There-fore they are full loins my anguish pangs they have seized me like [the] pangs of [a woman who] gives birth I am bent over from hearing I am terrified from seeing.
Therefore my loins are 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.
4 It has wandered heart my shuddering it has overwhelmed me [the] twilight of desire my it has made for me trembling.
My heart flutters. Horror has frightened me. The twilight that I desired has been turned into trembling to me.
5 They are arranging the table they are spreading out the rug eating drinking arise O officials smear a shield.
They prepare the table, they set the watch, they eat, they drink. Rise up, ye rulers, anoint the shield.
6 For thus he has said to me [the] Lord go station the watchman [that] which he will see let him tell.
For thus has the Lord said to me, Go, set a watchman. Let him declare what he sees.
7 And he will see a rider a pair of horses a rider of a donkey a rider of a camel and he will pay attention attentiveness greatness of attentiveness.
and when he sees a troop, horsemen in pairs, a troop of donkeys, a troop of camels, he shall hearken diligently with much heed.
8 And he called out a lion on a watchtower - O Lord I [am] standing continually by day and at post my I [am] stationed all the nights.
And he cried out as a lion, O Lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and am set in my ward whole nights,
9 And there! this [is] coming a rider a man a pair of horses and he answered and he said it has fallen it has fallen Babylon and all [the] images of gods its someone has broken to the ground.
and, behold, here comes a troop of men, horsemen in pairs. And he answered and said, Fallen, fallen is Babylon. And all the graven images of her gods are broken to the ground.
10 O threshed one my and [the] son of threshing floor my [that] which I have heard from with Yahweh of hosts [the] God of Israel I have told to you.
O my threshing, and the grain of my floor! That which I have heard from Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, I have declared to you.
11 [the] oracle of Dumah to me [someone is] calling from Seir O watchman what? [is] from [the] night O watchman what? [is] from [the] night.
The burden of Dumah. He calls to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?
12 He says [the] watchman it will come morning and also night if you will enquire! enquire return come.
The watchman said, The morning comes, and also the night. If ye will inquire, inquire ye; turn ye back, come.
13 [the] oracle On Arabia in the thicket[s] in Arabia you will lodge O caravans of Dedanites.
The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia ye shall lodge, O ye caravans of Dedanites.
14 To meet [the] thirsty bring water O inhabitants of [the] land of Tema with bread his they met fugitive[s].
To him who was thirsty they brought water. The inhabitants of the land of Tema met the fugitives with their bread.
15 For from before swords they have fled from before - a sword drawn and from before a bow bent and from before [the] weight of battle.
For they fled away from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.
16 For thus he has said [the] Lord to me in yet a year like [the] years of a hired laborer and it will be finished all [the] splendor of Kedar.
For thus the Lord has said to me, Within a year, according to the years of a hireling, all the glory of Kedar shall fail.
17 And [the] remnant of a number of bowmen [the] warriors of [the] people of Kedar they will be few for Yahweh [the] God of Israel he has spoken.
And the residue of the number of the archers, the mighty men of the sons of Kedar, shall be few. For Jehovah, the God of Israel, has spoken it.