Isaiah 21
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1Here is a message about the Desert by the Sea: Like strong winds blowing in the south, one invades from the desert, from a land that is feared. 1A prophecy against the Desert by the Sea: Like whirlwinds sweeping through the southland, an invader comes from the desert, from a land of terror.
2I have received a distressing message: "The deceiver deceives, the destroyer destroys. Attack, you Elamites! Lay siege, you Medes! I will put an end to all the groaning!" 2A dire vision has been shown to me: The traitor betrays, the looter takes loot. Elam, attack! Media, lay siege! I will bring to an end all the groaning she caused.
3For this reason my stomach churns; cramps overwhelm me like the contractions of a woman in labor. I am disturbed by what I hear, horrified by what I see. 3At this my body is racked with pain, pangs seize me, like those of a woman in labor; I am staggered by what I hear, I am bewildered by what I see.
4My heart palpitates, I shake in fear; the twilight I desired has brought me terror. 4My heart falters, fear makes me tremble; the twilight I longed for has become a horror to me.
5Arrange the table, lay out the carpet, eat and drink! Get up, you officers, smear oil on the shields! 5They set the tables, they spread the rugs, they eat, they drink! Get up, you officers, oil the shields!
6For this is what the sovereign master has told me: "Go, post a guard! He must report what he sees. 6This is what the Lord says to me: "Go, post a lookout and have him report what he sees.
7When he sees chariots, teams of horses, riders on donkeys, riders on camels, he must be alert, very alert." 7When he sees chariots with teams of horses, riders on donkeys or riders on camels, let him be alert, fully alert."
8Then the guard cries out: "On the watchtower, O sovereign master, I stand all day long; at my post I am stationed every night. 8And the lookout shouted, "Day after day, my lord, I stand on the watchtower; every night I stay at my post.
9Look what's coming! A charioteer, a team of horses." When questioned, he replies, "Babylon has fallen, fallen! All the idols of her gods lie shattered on the ground!" 9Look, here comes a man in a chariot with a team of horses. And he gives back the answer: 'Babylon has fallen, has fallen! All the images of its gods lie shattered on the ground!'"
10O my downtrodden people, crushed like stalks on the threshing floor, what I have heard from the LORD who commands armies, the God of Israel, I have reported to you. 10My people who are crushed on the threshing floor, I tell you what I have heard from the LORD Almighty, from the God of Israel.
11Here is a message about Dumah: Someone calls to me from Seir, "Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left of the night?" 11A prophecy against Dumah: Someone calls to me from Seir, "Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left of the night?"
12The watchman replies, "Morning is coming, but then night. If you want to ask, ask; come back again." 12The watchman replies, "Morning is coming, but also the night. If you would ask, then ask; and come back yet again."
13Here is a message about Arabia: In the thicket of Arabia you spend the night, you Dedanite caravans. 13A prophecy against Arabia: You caravans of Dedanites, who camp in the thickets of Arabia,
14Bring out some water for the thirsty. You who live in the land of Tema, bring some food for the fugitives. 14bring water for the thirsty; you who live in Tema, bring food for the fugitives.
15For they flee from the swords--from the drawn sword and from the battle-ready bow and from the severity of the battle. 15They flee from the sword, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow and from the heat of battle.
16For this is what the sovereign master has told me: "Within exactly one year all the splendor of Kedar will come to an end.16This is what the Lord says to me: "Within one year, as a servant bound by contract would count it, all the splendor of Kedar will come to an end.
17Just a handful of archers, the warriors of Kedar, will be left." Indeed, the LORD God of Israel has spoken. 17The survivors of the archers, the warriors of Kedar, will be few." The LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken.
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Isaiah 20
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