| New International Version | NET Bible |
| 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. | 1Here 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. |
| 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. | 2I 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!" |
| 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 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. |
| 4My heart falters, fear makes me tremble; the twilight I longed for has become a horror to me. | 4My heart palpitates, I shake in fear; the twilight I desired has brought me terror. |
| 5They set the tables, they spread the rugs, they eat, they drink! Get up, you officers, oil the shields! | 5Arrange the table, lay out the carpet, eat and drink! Get up, you officers, smear oil on the shields! |
| 6This is what the Lord says to me: "Go, post a lookout and have him report what he sees. | 6For this is what the sovereign master has told me: "Go, post a guard! He must 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." | 7When he sees chariots, teams of horses, riders on donkeys, riders on camels, he must be alert, very alert." |
| 8And the lookout shouted, "Day after day, my lord, I stand on the watchtower; every night I stay at my post. | 8Then the guard cries out: "On the watchtower, O sovereign master, I stand all day long; at my post I am stationed every night. |
| 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!'" | 9Look 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!" |
| 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 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. |
| 11A prophecy against Dumah: Someone calls to me from Seir, "Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left of the night?" | 11Here 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?" |
| 12The watchman replies, "Morning is coming, but also the night. If you would ask, then ask; and come back yet again." | 12The watchman replies, "Morning is coming, but then night. If you want to ask, ask; come back again." |
| 13A prophecy against Arabia: You caravans of Dedanites, who camp in the thickets of Arabia, | 13Here is a message about Arabia: In the thicket of Arabia you spend the night, you Dedanite caravans. |
| 14bring water for the thirsty; you who live in Tema, bring food for the fugitives. | 14Bring out some water for the thirsty. You who live in the land of Tema, bring some food for the fugitives. |
| 15They flee from the sword, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow and from the heat of battle. | 15For they flee from the swords--from the drawn sword and from the battle-ready bow and from the severity of the 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 this is what the sovereign master has told me: "Within exactly one year all the splendor 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. | 17Just a handful of archers, the warriors of Kedar, will be left." Indeed, the LORD God of Israel has spoken. |
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