Isaiah 21

1 The burden of the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the South sweep through, it comes from the wilderness, from an awesome land.

This is the burden against the Desert by the Sea: Like whirlwinds sweeping through the Negev, an invader comes from the desert, from a land of terror.

2 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.

A dire vision is declared to me: “The traitor still betrays, and the destroyer still destroys. Go up, O Elam! Lay siege, O Media! I will put an end to all her groaning.”

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

Therefore my body is filled with anguish. Pain grips me, like the pains of a woman in labor. I am bewildered to hear, I am dismayed to see.

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

My heart falters; fear makes me tremble. The twilight of my desire has turned to horror.

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

They prepare a table, they lay out a carpet, they eat, they drink! Rise up, O princes, oil the shields!

6 For the Lord said to me, “Go, set a watchman. Let him declare what he sees.

For this is what the Lord says to me: “Go, post a lookout and have him report what he sees.

7 When he sees a troop, horsemen in pairs, a troop of donkeys, a troop of camels, he shall listen diligently with great attentiveness.”

When he sees chariots with teams of horsemen, riders on donkeys, riders on camels, he must be alert, fully alert.”

8 He cried like a lion: “Lord, I stand continually on the watchtower in the daytime, and every night I stay at my post.

Then the lookout shouted: “Day after day, my lord, I stand on the watchtower; night after night I stay at my post.

9 Behold, 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.

Look, here come the riders, horsemen in pairs.” And one answered, saying: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon! All the images of her gods lie shattered on the ground!”

10 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.

O my people, crushed on the threshing floor, I tell you what I have heard from the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel.

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

This is the burden against Dumah: One calls to me from Seir, “Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left of the night?”

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

The watchman replies, “Morning has come, but also the night. If you would inquire, then inquire. Come back yet again.”

13 The burden on Arabia. You will lodge in the thickets in Arabia, you caravans of Dedanites.

This is the burden against Arabia: In the thickets of Arabia you must lodge, O caravans of Dedanites.

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

Bring water for the thirsty, O dwellers of Tema; meet the refugees with food.

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

For they flee from the sword— the sword that is drawn— from the bow that is bent, and from the stress of battle.

16 For the Lord said to me, “Within a year, as a worker bound by contract would count it, all the glory of Kedar will fail,

For this is what the Lord says to me: “Within one year, as a hired worker would count it, all the glory of Kedar will be gone.

17 and the residue of the number of the archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, will be few; for the LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken it.”

The remaining archers, the warriors of Kedar, will be few.” For the LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken.