Isaiah 21

1 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—

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.

2 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.

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.

3 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.

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.

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

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

5 They set the table, they spread out the rugs, they eat and drink… “Get up, officers! Prepare your shields for battle!”

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

6 This is what the Lord told me: “Go! Have a lookout keep watch, and make sure he reports what he sees.

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

7 When he sees chariots coming pulled by pairs of horses, riders on donkeys and on camels, he should watch very carefully, paying close attention.”

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.”

8 Then the lookout shouted “Sir, I've stood here on the watchtower day after day; night after night I've remained at my post.

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

9 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!”

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.”

10 My poor downtrodden people, so badly mistreated, I have told you what I have heard from the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel.

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.

11 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?”

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

12 The watchman replies, “Morning is coming, but the night is coming again soon. If you want to ask again, then come back and ask.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

16 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.

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.

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

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