Isaiah 21

1 A declaration about the desert by the sea. Like stormwinds sweeping through the Negev it comes passing through from the wilderness, from a terrible land.

The oracle of the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the Negev sweep through, it comes from the wilderness, from an awesome land.

2 A distressing vision has been given to me: the treacherous man deals treacherously, and the destroyer destroys. Go up and attack, Elam; besiege, Media; I will stop all her groaning.

A grievous vision is declared to me. The treacherous man deals treacherously, and the destroyer destroys. Go up, Elam; attack. I have stopped all of Media's sighing.

3 Therefore my loins are filled with pain; pains like the pains of a woman in labor have taken hold of me; I am bowed down by what I heard; I am disturbed by what I saw.

Therefore my thighs are filled with anguish. Pains have taken hold on me, like the pains of a woman in labor. I am in so much pain that I can't hear. I so am dismayed that I can't see.

4 My heart pounds; I shake with fear. Twilight was my desire, but it brought me terror.

My heart flutters. Horror has frightened me. The twilight that I desired has been turned into trembling for me.

5 They prepare the table, they spread rugs and eat and drink; arise, princes, anoint your shields with oil.

They prepare the table. They set the watch. They eat. They drink. Rise up, you princes, oil the shield.

6 For this is what the Lord said to me, “Go, post a watchman; he must report what he sees.

For the LORD said to me, "Go, set a watchman. Let him declare what he sees.

7 When he sees a chariot, a pair of horsemen, riders on donkeys, and riders on camels, then he must pay attention and be very alert.”

When he sees chariots, horsemen in pairs, riders on donkeys, riders on camels, let him listen diligently, very diligently."

8 The watchman cries out, “Lord, on the watchtower I stand all day, every day, and at my post I stand all night long.”

Then the lookout shouted: "Lord, I stand continually on the watchtower in the daytime, and every night I stay at my post.

9 Here comes a chariot with a man and a pair of horsemen. He calls out, “Babylon has fallen, fallen, and all the carved figures of its gods are broken to the ground.”

Look, here comes a troop of men, horsemen in pairs." He answered, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon; and all the engraved images of her gods are broken to the ground.

10 My threshed and winnowed ones, children of my threshing floor! What I have heard from Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel, I have declared to you.

You are my threshing, and the grain of my floor." That which I have heard from the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, I have declared to you.

11 A declaration about Dumah. One calls to me from Seir, “Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left of the night?”

The burden of Dumah. One calls to me out of Seir, "Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?"

12 The watchman said, “The morning comes and also the night. If you want to ask, then ask; and come back again.”

The watchman said, "The morning comes, and also the night. If you will inquire, inquire. Come back again."

13 A declaration about Arabia. In the wilderness of Arabia you spend the night, you caravans of Dedanites.

The burden on Arabia. In the forest in Arabia you will lodge, you caravans of Dedanites.

14 Bring water for the thirsty; inhabitants of the land of Tema, meet the fugitives with bread.

They brought water to him who was thirsty. The inhabitants of the land of Tema met the fugitives with their bread.

15 For they have fled from the sword, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow, and from the weight of war.

For they fled away from the swords, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow, and from the heat of battle.

16 For this is what the Lord said to me, “Within a year, as a laborer hired for a year would see it, all the glory of Kedar will end.

For the LORD said to me, "Within a year, as a worker bound by contract would count it, the glory of Kedar will fail,

17 Only a few of the archers, the warriors of Kedar will remain,” for Yahweh, the God of Israel, has spoken.

and the residue of the number of the archers, the warriors of the people of Kedar, will be few; for the LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken it."