Jesaja 21 | King James Version

1 The burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds in the south pass through; so it cometh from the desert, from a terrible land.

2 A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. Go up, O Elam: besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease.

3 Therefore are my loins filled with pain: pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman that travaileth: I was bowed down at the hearing of it ; I was dismayed at the seeing of it .

4 My heart panted, fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me.

5 Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield.

6 For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth.

7 And he saw a chariot with a couple of horsemen, a chariot of asses, and a chariot of camels; and he hearkened diligently with much heed:

8 And he cried, A lion: My lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward whole nights:

9 And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground.

10 O my threshing, and the corn of my floor: that which I have heard of the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto you.

11 The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?

12 The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, come.

13 The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye travelling companies of Dedanim.

14 The inhabitants of the land of Tema brought water to him that was thirsty, they prevented with their bread him that fled.

15 For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.

16 For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Within a year, according to the years of an hireling, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail:

17 And the residue of the number of archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be diminished: for the LORD God of Israel hath spoken it .

King James Bible (1769). Public Domain. Please note the following exceptions for use and publication in the United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press

New International Reader’s Version

A prophecy against Babylon

1 Here is a prophecy against Babylon that the LORD gave me. Babylon is known as the Desert by the Sea. An attack is coming through the desert. It is coming from a land of terror. It’s sweeping along like a violent storm blowing across the Negev Desert.

2 I have seen a vision about something terrible that will happen. People are turning against Babylon. Robbers are taking its goods. Elamites, attack the city! Medes, surround it! The LORD will put an end to all the suffering Babylon has caused.

3 The vision fills my body with pain. Pains take hold of me. They are like the pains of a woman having a baby. I am shaken by what I hear. I’m terrified by what I see.

4 My heart grows weak. Fear makes me tremble. I longed for evening to come. But it brought me horror instead of rest.

5 In my vision the Babylonians set the tables. They spread out the rugs. They eat and drink. Get up, you officers! Rub your shields with oil!

6 The Lord said to me, ‘Go. Put a guard on duty on Jerusalem’s walls. Have him report what he sees.

7 Tell him to watch for chariots that are pulled by teams of horses. Tell him to watch for men riding on donkeys or camels. Make sure he stays awake. Make sure he stays wide awake.’

8 ‘My master!’ the guard shouts back. ‘Day after day I stand here on the lookout tower. Every night I stay here on duty.

9 Look! Here comes a man in a chariot! It’s being pulled by a team of horses. He’s calling out the news, “Babylon has fallen! It has fallen! All the statues of its gods lie broken in pieces on the ground!” ’

10 My people, you have been crushed like corn on a threshing-floor. But now I’m telling you the good news I’ve heard. It comes from the LORD who rules over all. He is the God of Israel.

A prophecy against Edom

11 Here is a prophecy against Edom that the LORD gave me. Someone is calling out to me from the land of Seir. He says, ‘Guard, when will the night be over? Guard, how soon will it end?’

12 The guard answers, ‘Morning is coming, but the night will return. If you want to ask again, come back and ask.’

A prophecy against Arabia

13 Here is a prophecy against Arabia that the LORD gave me. He told me to give orders to traders from Dedan. They were camping in the bushes of Arabia.

14 I told them to bring water for those who are thirsty. I also gave orders to those who live in Tema. I told them to bring food for those who are running away.

15 They are running away from where the fighting is heaviest. That’s where the swords are ready to strike. That’s where the bows are ready to shoot.

16 The Lord spoke to me. He said, ‘In exactly one year, Kedar’s splendour will come to an end.

17 Only a few of Kedar’s soldiers who shoot arrows will be left alive.’ The LORD has spoken. He is the God of Israel.

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