Isaiah 21

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 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 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 has appalled me; the twilight I longed for has been turned for me into trembling .

⁵They prepare the table , they spread the rugs , they eat , they drink . Arise , O princes ; oil the shield !

⁶For thus the Lord said to me: Go , set a watchman ; let him announce what he sees .

⁷When he sees riders , horsemen in pairs , riders on donkeys , riders on camels , let him listen diligently , very diligently .

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 .

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 .

¹⁰O my threshed and winnowed one , what I have heard from the Lord of hosts , the God of Israel , I announce to you.

¹¹The oracle Dumah . One is calling to me from Seir , Watchman , what time of the night ? Watchman , what time of the night ?

¹²The watchman says : Morning comes , and also the night . If you will inquire , inquire ; come back again .

¹³The oracle concerning Arabia . In the thickets in Arabia you will lodge , O caravans of Dedanites .

¹⁴To the thirsty bring water ; meet the fugitive with bread , O inhabitants of the land of Tema .

¹⁵For they have fled from the swords , from the drawn sword , from the bent bow , and from the press of battle .

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 .

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 .