Isaiah 21
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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.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.
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 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.
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.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 staggers; horror terrifies me. He has turned my last glimmer of hope into sheer terror.4My heart falters, fear makes me tremble; the twilight I longed for has become a horror to me.
5Prepare a table, and spread out a carpet! Eat and drink! Rise up, you princes, and oil the shields!5They set the tables, they spread the rugs, they eat, they drink! Get up, you officers, oil the shields!
6For the Lord has said to me, "Go, post a lookout; let him 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 riders--pairs of horsemen, riders on donkeys, riders on camels--he must pay close attention."7When he sees chariots with teams of horses, riders on donkeys or riders on camels, let him be alert, fully alert."
8Then the lookout reported, "Lord, I stand on the watchtower all day, and I stay at my post all night.8And the lookout shouted, "Day after day, my lord, I stand on the watchtower; every night I stay at my post.
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."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!'"
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.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.
11A pronouncement concerning Dumah: One 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 said, "Morning has come, and also 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."
13A pronouncement concerning Arabia: In the desert brush you will camp for the night, you caravans of Dedanites.13A prophecy against Arabia: You caravans of Dedanites, who camp in the thickets of Arabia,
14Bring water for the thirsty. The inhabitants of the land of Tema meet the refugees with food.14bring water for the thirsty; you who live in Tema, bring food for the fugitives.
15For they have fled from swords, from the drawn sword, from the bow that is strung, and from the stress of battle.15They flee from the sword, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow and from the heat 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.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.
17The remaining Kedarite archers will be few in number." For the LORD, the 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.
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.New International Version (NIV)

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Isaiah 20
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