Isaiah 21

1 [I received] this message [from Yahweh about Babylonia], [a land that is] near the [Persian] Gulf [but which will soon be] a desert. [An army] will soon come from the desert to invade that land; it is an army that causes its enemies to be terrified, an army that will come like a whirlwind from the south.

[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.

2 Yahweh showed me a terrifying vision. [In the vision I saw an army] that will betray/deceive people and steal their possessions [after they conquer them]. [Yahweh said], “You armies from Elam and Media, surround [Babylon] and prepare to attack it! I will cause the groaning [and suffering] that Babylon caused to cease!”

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.

3 Because of that, my body is full of pain; my pain is like the pain that women who are giving birth experience. When I hear about and see [what God is planning to do], I am shocked.

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.

4 I cannot think straight/correctly, and I tremble. I was eager for it to be nighttime, but now it is night, and I am horrified.

It has wandered heart my shuddering it has overwhelmed me [the] twilight of desire my it has made for me trembling.

5 [In the vision I saw that the leaders of Babylonia] were preparing a great feast. They had spread rugs [for people to sit on]; everyone was eating and drinking. [But] they should get up and prepare their shields, [because they are about to be attacked]!

They are arranging the table they are spreading out the rug eating drinking arise O officials smear a shield.

6 Then Yahweh said to me, “Put a watchman [on the wall of Jerusalem], and tell him to shout/proclaim what he sees.

For thus he has said to me [the] Lord go station the watchman [that] which he will see let him tell.

7 Tell him to watch for chariots pulled by pairs of horses, and [men riding] camels and donkeys, [coming from Babylon]. Tell the watchman to watch and listen carefully!”

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.

8 [So I did that], and one day the watchman called out, “Day after day I have stood on this watchtower, and I have continued to watch during the day and during the night.

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.

9 Now, I saw a man riding in a chariot pulled by two horses. [I called out to him], and he answered/shouted, ‘Babylon has been destroyed! All the idols in Babylon lie in pieces on the ground!’”

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.

10 My people [in Judah], [the army of Babylon has caused] you to suffer greatly [as though] [MET] you were grain that was threshed and (winnowed/thrown up into the air for the wind to blow away the chaff). [But now] I have told you what the Commander of the armies of angels the God whom we Israelis [worship], told me [about Babylon].

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.

11 [I received] this message [from Yahweh] about Edom: Someone from Edom has been calling/shouting to me saying, “Watchman, how long will it be before the night is ended? [DOU]”

[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.

12 [I], the watchman, replied, “It will [soon] be morning, but after that, it will [soon] be night again. If you want to inquire [again about what will happen in our country], come back and inquire again.”

He says [the] watchman it will come morning and also night if you will enquire! enquire return come.

13 [I received] this message about Arabia: Give this message to people traveling in caravans from Dedan [town in northwest Arabia], who camp in the scrub there. Tell them to bring water for those who are thirsty.

[the] oracle On Arabia in the thicket[s] in Arabia you will lodge O caravans of Dedanites.

14 And you people who live in Tema [city in northwest Arabia], must bring food for the (refugees/people who are fleeing from their enemies).

To meet [the] thirsty bring water O inhabitants of [the] land of Tema with bread his they met fugitive[s].

15 They are fleeing in order not to be killed by [their enemies’] swords and not to be shot in battles by arrows.

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.

16 Yahweh said to me, “Exactly one year from now, all the greatness of the Kedar [area in Arabia] will end.

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.

17 Only a few of their soldiers who know well how to shoot arrows will remain alive. [That will surely happen] because [I], Yahweh, have said it.”

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.