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 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.3At this my body is racked with pain, pangs seize me, like those of a woman in labour; I am staggered by what I hear, I am bewildered by what I see.4My heart falters, fear makes me tremble; the twilight I longed for has become a horror to me.5They set the tables, they spread the rugs, they eat, they drink! Get up, you officers, oil the shields!6This is what the Lord says to me: ‘Go, post a lookout and let him report what he sees.7When he sees chariots with teams of horses, riders on donkeys or riders on camels, let him be alert, fully alert.’8And the lookout[1] shouted, ‘Day after day, my lord, I stand on the watchtower; every night I stay at my post.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 are crushed on the threshing-floor, I tell you what I have heard from the Lord Almighty, from the God of Israel.
A prophecy against Edom
11A prophecy against Dumah[2]: 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 also the night. If you would ask, then ask; and come back yet again.’
A prophecy against Arabia
13A prophecy against Arabia: You caravans of Dedanites, who camp in the thickets of Arabia,14bring water for the thirsty; you who live in Tema, bring food for the fugitives.15They flee from the sword, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow and from the heat of battle.16This is what the Lord says to me: ‘Within one year, as a servant bound by contract would count it, all the splendour of Kedar will come to an end.17The survivors of the archers, the warriors of Kedar, will be few.’ The Lord, the God of Israel, has spoken.
1The oracle concerning the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the Negeb sweep on, it comes from the wilderness, from a terrible land. (Isa 13:1; Jer 51:1; Jer 51:36; Jer 51:42)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. (Isa 11:11; Isa 13:17; Isa 24:16; Isa 33:1; Eze 9:4)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. (Isa 13:8)4My heart staggers; horror has appalled me; the twilight I longed for has been turned for me into trembling. (De 28:67)5They prepare the table, they spread the rugs,[1] they eat, they drink. Arise, O princes; oil the shield! (2Sa 1:21; Jer 51:39; Jer 51:57)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:[2] “Upon a watchtower I stand, O Lord, continually by day, and at my post I am stationed whole nights. (Hab 2:1)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.” (Isa 46:1; Jer 51:8; Hab 2:2; Re 14:8; Re 18:2)10O my threshed and winnowed one, what I have heard from the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, I announce to you. (Jer 51:33; Am 1:3; Mic 4:13)11The oracle concerning Dumah. One is calling to me from Seir, “Watchman, what time of the night? Watchman, what time of the night?” (Ge 25:14; De 2:8; 1Ch 1:30; Isa 13:1; Eze 35:2)12The watchman says: “Morning comes, and also the night. If you will inquire, inquire; come back again.” (Job 36:20; Ps 37:36; Am 5:8)13The oracle concerning Arabia. In the thickets in Arabia you will lodge, O caravans of Dedanites. (Ge 25:3; Ge 37:25; Isa 13:1; Jer 25:23)14To the thirsty bring water; meet the fugitive with bread, O inhabitants of the land of Tema. (Job 6:19)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. (Ge 25:13; Ps 120:5; So 1:5; Isa 16:14; Isa 60:7; Jer 2:10; Jer 49:28; Eze 27:21)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.” (Isa 1:20; Isa 21:16)