| Holman Christian Standard Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1An oracle against the desert by the sea: Like storms that pass over the Negev, it comes from the desert, from the land of terror. | 1A message concerning the pasture by the Sea. "Like whirlwinds in the Negev sweep on, it comes from the desert, from a distant 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 her groaning." | 2A dire vision has been announced to me: the traitor betrays, and the plunderer takes loot. Get up, Elam! Attack, Media! I am putting a stop to all the groaning she has 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. | 3Therefore my body is racked with pain; pangs have seized me, like the pangs of a woman in labor; I am so upset that I cannot hear; I am so frightened that I cannot see while I'm reeling around. |
| 4My heart staggers; horror terrifies me. He has turned my last glimmer of hope into sheer terror. | 4And as for my heart, horror has terrified me; the twilight I longed for has started to make me tremble. |
| 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 carpets; 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. | 6For this is what the LORD told me: "Go post a lookout. 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, each man with a pair of horses, riders on donkeys or riders on camels, let him pay attention, full attention." |
| 8Then the lookout reported," Lord, I stand on the watchtower all day, and I stay at my post all night. | 8Then the lookout shouted: "Upon a watchtower I stand, O Lord, continually by day, and I am stationed at my post throughout the night. |
| 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 come riders, each man with a pair of horses!" They're shouting out the answer: "Babylon has fallen, has fallen, and they have shattered all the images of her gods 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 Hosts, the God of Israel. | 10O my downtrodden people, my wall! I'll tell you what I have heard from the LORD of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel." |
| 11An oracle against Dumah: One calls to me from Seir," Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left of the night?" | 11A message concerning Dumah. "Someone is calling 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 want to ask, then ask; come back again.'" |
| 13An oracle against Arabia: In the desert brush you will camp for the night, you caravans of Dedanites. | 13A message concerning Arabia. "You will camp in the thickets in Arabia, you caravans of the Dedanites. |
| 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 the land of Tema. Meet the fugitive with bread, |
| 15For they have fled from swords, from the drawn sword, from the bow that is strung, and from the stress of battle. | 15For he has fled from swords, 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. | 16For this is what the LORD is saying to me: "Within three years, according to the years of a contract worker, the pomp 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 there will be few archers, those who are descendants of Kedar, who survive, because the LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken." |
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