Isaiah 21
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New International VersionNew American Standard Bible 1995
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.1The oracle concerning the wilderness of the sea. As windstorms in the Negev sweep on, It comes from the wilderness, from a terrifying land.
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.2A harsh vision has been shown to me; The treacherous one still deals treacherously, and the destroyer still destroys. Go up, Elam, lay siege, Media; I have made an end of all the groaning she has caused.
3At this my body is racked with pain, pangs seize me, like those of a woman in labor; I am staggered by what I hear, I am bewildered by what I see.3For this reason my loins are full of anguish; Pains have seized me like the pains of a woman in labor. I am so bewildered I cannot hear, so terrified I cannot see.
4My heart falters, fear makes me tremble; the twilight I longed for has become a horror to me.4My mind reels, horror overwhelms me; The twilight I longed for has been turned for me into trembling.
5They set the tables, they spread the rugs, they eat, they drink! Get up, you officers, oil the shields!5They set the table, they spread out the cloth, they eat, they drink; "Rise up, captains, oil the shields,"
6This is what the Lord says to me: "Go, post a lookout and have him report what he sees.6For thus the Lord says to me, "Go, station the lookout, 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."7"When he sees riders, horsemen in pairs, A train of donkeys, a train of camels, Let him pay close attention, very close attention."
8And the lookout shouted, "Day after day, my lord, I stand on the watchtower; every night I stay at my post.8Then the lookout called, "O Lord, I stand continually by day on the watchtower, And I am stationed every night at my guard 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!'"9"Now behold, here comes a troop of riders, horsemen in pairs." And one said, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon; And all the images of her gods are 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.10O my threshed people, and my afflicted of the threshing floor! What I have heard from the LORD of hosts, The God of Israel, I make known to you.
11A prophecy against Dumah: Someone calls to me from Seir, "Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left of the night?"11The oracle concerning Edom. One keeps calling to me from Seir, "Watchman, how far gone is the night? Watchman, how far gone is the night?"
12The watchman replies, "Morning is coming, but also the night. If you would ask, then ask; and come back yet again."12The watchman says, "Morning comes but also night. If you would inquire, inquire; Come back again."
13A prophecy against Arabia: You caravans of Dedanites, who camp in the thickets of Arabia,13The oracle about Arabia. In the thickets of Arabia you must spend the night, O caravans of Dedanites.
14bring water for the thirsty; you who live in Tema, bring food for the fugitives.14Bring water for the thirsty, O inhabitants of the land of Tema, Meet the fugitive with bread.
15They flee from the sword, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow and from the heat of battle.15For they have fled from the swords, From the drawn sword, and from the bent bow And from the press of battle.
16This is what the Lord says to me: "Within one year, as a servant bound by contract would count it, all the splendor of Kedar will come to an end.16For thus the Lord said to me, "In a year, as a hired man would count it, all the splendor of Kedar will terminate;
17The survivors of the archers, the warriors of Kedar, will be few." The LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken.17and the remainder of the number of bowmen, the mighty men of the sons of Kedar, will be few; for the LORD God of Israel has spoken."
New International Version (NIV)

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Isaiah 20
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