Isaiah 21
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1This message came to me concerning Babylon—the desert by the sea : Disaster is roaring down on you from the desert, like a whirlwind sweeping in from the Negev.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.
2I see a terrifying vision: I see the betrayer betraying, the destroyer destroying. Go ahead, you Elamites and Medes, attack and lay siege. I will make an end to all the groaning Babylon caused.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!"
3My stomach aches and burns with pain. Sharp pangs of anguish are upon me, like those of a woman in labor. I grow faint when I hear what God is planning; I am too afraid to look.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.
4My mind reels and my heart races. I longed for evening to come, but now I am terrified of the dark.4My heart palpitates, I shake in fear; the twilight I desired has brought me terror.
5Look! They are preparing a great feast. They are spreading rugs for people to sit on. Everyone is eating and drinking. But quick! Grab your shields and prepare for battle. You are being attacked!5Arrange the table, lay out the carpet, eat and drink! Get up, you officers, smear oil on the shields!
6Meanwhile, the Lord said to me, “Put a watchman on the city wall. Let him shout out what he sees.6For this is what the sovereign master has told me: "Go, post a guard! He must report what he sees.
7He should look for chariots drawn by pairs of horses, and for riders on donkeys and camels. Let the watchman be fully alert.”7When he sees chariots, teams of horses, riders on donkeys, riders on camels, he must be alert, very alert."
8Then the watchman called out, “Day after day I have stood on the watchtower, my lord. Night after night I have remained at my post.8Then the guard cries out: "On the watchtower, O sovereign master, I stand all day long; at my post I am stationed every night.
9Now at last—look! Here comes a man in a chariot with a pair of horses!” Then the watchman said, “Babylon is fallen, fallen! All the idols of Babylon lie broken on the ground!”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!"
10O my people, threshed and winnowed, I have told you everything the LORD of Heaven’s Armies has said, everything the God of Israel has told me. A Message about Edom10O 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.
11This message came to me concerning Edom : Someone from Edom keeps calling to me, “Watchman, how much longer until morning? When will the night be over?”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?"
12The watchman replies, “Morning is coming, but night will soon return. If you wish to ask again, then come back and ask.” A Message about Arabia12The watchman replies, "Morning is coming, but then night. If you want to ask, ask; come back again."
13This message came to me concerning Arabia: O caravans from Dedan, hide in the deserts of Arabia.13Here is a message about Arabia: In the thicket of Arabia you spend the night, you Dedanite caravans.
14O people of Tema, bring water to these thirsty people, food to these weary refugees.14Bring out some water for the thirsty. You who live in the land of Tema, bring some food for the fugitives.
15They have fled from the sword, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow and the terrors of battle.15For they flee from the swords--from the drawn sword and from the battle-ready bow and from the severity of the battle.
16The Lord said to me, “Within a year, counting each day, all the glory of Kedar will come to an end.16For this is what the sovereign master has told me: "Within exactly one year all the splendor of Kedar will come to an end.
17Only a few of its courageous archers will survive. I, the LORD, the God of Israel, have spoken!”17Just a handful of archers, the warriors of Kedar, will be left." Indeed, the LORD God of Israel has spoken.
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Isaiah 20
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