Isaiah

The book of the prophet Isaiah, chapter 21, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 21 New English Translation

The LORD Will Judge Babylon

   1 Here 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.
   2 I 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!"
   3 For 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.
   4 My heart palpitates, I shake in fear; the twilight I desired has brought me terror.
   5 Arrange the table, lay out the carpet, eat and drink! Get up, you officers, smear oil on the shields!
   6 For this is what the sovereign master has told me: "Go, post a guard! He must report what he sees.
   7 When he sees chariots, teams of horses, riders on donkeys, riders on camels, he must be alert, very alert."
   8 Then the guard cries out: "On the watchtower, O sovereign master, I stand all day long; at my post I am stationed every night.
   9 Look 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!"
   10 O 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.

Bad News for Seir

   11 Here 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?"
   12 The watchman replies, "Morning is coming, but then night. If you want to ask, ask; come back again."

The LORD Will Judge Arabia

   13 Here is a message about Arabia: In the thicket of Arabia you spend the night, you Dedanite caravans.
   14 Bring out some water for the thirsty. You who live in the land of Tema, bring some food for the fugitives.
   15 For they flee from the swords - from the drawn sword and from the battle-ready bow and from the severity of the battle.
   16 For this is what the sovereign master has told me: "Within exactly one year all the splendor of Kedar will come to an end.
   17 Just a handful of archers, the warriors of Kedar, will be left." Indeed, the LORD God of Israel has spoken.

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.