Isaiah 21
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Christian Standard BibleEnglish Standard Version
1A pronouncement concerning the desert by the sea: Like storms that pass over the Negev, it comes from the desert, from the land of terror.1The oracle concerning the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the Negeb sweep on, it comes from the wilderness, from a terrible land.
2A troubling vision is declared to me: "The treacherous one acts treacherously, and the destroyer destroys. Advance, Elam! Lay siege, you Medes! I will put an end to all the groaning."2A stern vision is told to me; the traitor betrays, and the destroyer destroys. Go up, O Elam; lay siege, O Media; all the sighing she has caused I bring to an end.
3Therefore I am filled with anguish. Pain grips me, like the pain of a woman in labor. I am too perplexed to hear, too dismayed to see.3Therefore my loins are filled with anguish; pangs have seized me, like the pangs of a woman in labor; I am bowed down so that I cannot hear; I am dismayed so that I cannot see.
4My heart staggers; horror terrifies me. He has turned my last glimmer of hope into sheer terror.4My heart staggers; horror has appalled me; the twilight I longed for has been turned for me into trembling.
5Prepare a table, and spread out a carpet! Eat and drink! Rise up, you princes, and oil the shields!5They prepare the table, they spread the rugs, they eat, they drink. Arise, O princes; oil the shield!
6For the Lord has said to me, "Go, post a lookout; let him report what he sees.6For thus the Lord said to me: “Go, set a watchman; let him announce what he sees.
7When he sees riders--pairs of horsemen, riders on donkeys, riders on camels--he must pay close attention."7When he sees riders, horsemen in pairs, riders on donkeys, riders on camels, let him listen diligently, very diligently.”
8Then the lookout reported, "Lord, I stand on the watchtower all day, and I stay at my post all night.8Then he who saw cried out: “Upon a watchtower I stand, O Lord, continually by day, and at my post I am stationed whole nights.
9Look, riders come--horsemen in pairs." And he answered, saying, "Babylon has fallen, has fallen. All the images of her gods have been shattered on the ground."9And behold, here come riders, horsemen in pairs!” And he answered, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon; and all the carved images of her gods he has shattered to the ground.”
10My people who have been crushed on the threshing floor, I have declared to you what I have heard from the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel.10O my threshed and winnowed one, what I have heard from the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, I announce to you.
11A pronouncement concerning Dumah: One calls to me from Seir, "Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left of the night?"11The oracle concerning Dumah. One is calling to me from Seir, “Watchman, what time of the night? Watchman, what time of the night?”
12The watchman said, "Morning has come, and also night. If you want to ask, ask! Come back again."12The watchman says: “Morning comes, and also the night. If you will inquire, inquire; come back again.”
13A pronouncement concerning Arabia: In the desert brush you will camp for the night, you caravans of Dedanites.13The oracle concerning Arabia. In the thickets in Arabia you will lodge, O caravans of Dedanites.
14Bring water for the thirsty. The inhabitants of the land of Tema meet the refugees with food.14To the thirsty bring water; meet the fugitive with bread, O inhabitants of the land of Tema.
15For they have fled from swords, from the drawn sword, from the bow that is strung, and from the stress of battle.15For they have fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow, and from the press of battle.
16For the Lord said this to me: "Within one year, as a hired worker counts years, all the glory of Kedar will be gone.16For thus the Lord said to me, “Within a year, according to the years of a hired worker, all the glory of Kedar will come to an end.
17The remaining Kedarite archers will be few in number." For the LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken.17And the remainder of the archers of the mighty men of the sons of Kedar will be few, for the LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken.”
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.
Isaiah 20
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