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 sweeping on, it cometh from the wilderness, from a dreadful 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 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.'

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 are my loins filled with convulsion; pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman in travail; I am bent so that I cannot hear; I am affrighted 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 is bewildered, terror hath overwhelmed me; the twilight that I longed for hath been turned for me into trembling.

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 light the lamps, they eat, they drink — 'Rise up, ye princes, 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 hath the Lord said unto me: Go, set a watchman; let him declare what he seeth!

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 seeth a troop, horsemen by pairs, a troop of asses, 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 as a lion: 'Upon the watch-tower, O Lord, I stand continually in the daytime, and I am set in my ward all the 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, there came a troop of men, horsemen by pairs. And he spoke and said: 'Fallen, fallen is Babylon; and all the graven images of her gods are broken unto 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 thou my threshing, and the winnowing of my floor, that which I have heard from the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto 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. One calleth unto 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 cometh, and also the night — if ye will inquire, inquire ye; return, 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 thickets in Arabia shall ye 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].

Unto him that is thirsty bring ye water! The inhabitants of the land of Tema did meet the fugitive with his 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 hath the Lord said unto me: 'Within a year, according to the years of a hireling, and 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 children of Kedar, shall be diminished; for the LORD, the God of Israel, hath spoken it.'