Jesaja 21 | 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.

English Standard Version

Fallen, Fallen Is Babylon

1 The oracle concerning the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the Negeb sweep on, it comes from the wilderness, from a terrible land. 2 A 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. 3 Therefore 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. 4 My heart staggers; horror has appalled me; the twilight I longed for has been turned for me into trembling. 5 They prepare the table, they spread the rugs,* they eat, they drink. Arise, O princes; oil the shield! 6 For thus the Lord said to me: “Go, set a watchman; let him announce what he sees. 7 When he sees riders, horsemen in pairs, riders on donkeys, riders on camels, let him listen diligently, very diligently.” 8 Then he who saw cried out:* “Upon a watchtower I stand, O Lord, continually by day, and at my post I am stationed whole nights. 9 And 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.” 10 O my threshed and winnowed one, what I have heard from the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, I announce to you. 11 The oracle concerning Dumah. One is calling to me from Seir, “Watchman, what time of the night? Watchman, what time of the night?” 12 The watchman says: “Morning comes, and also the night. If you will inquire, inquire; come back again.” 13 The oracle concerning Arabia. In the thickets in Arabia you will lodge, O caravans of Dedanites. 14 To the thirsty bring water; meet the fugitive with bread, O inhabitants of the land of Tema. 15 For they have fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow, and from the press of battle. 16 For 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. 17 And 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.”

Jesaja 21 | New International Reader’s Version English Standard Version

A prophecy against Babylon

A prophecy against Edom

A prophecy against Arabia

Fallen, Fallen Is Babylon