Isaiah 21

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.

A solemn message against the desert by the sea. Like southern whirlwinds that sweep through, it comes from the desert, from a fearsome land.

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.

A painful prophecy has been revealed to me; the deceitful one acts with betrayal, and the destroyer wreaks havoc. Rise, O Elam: surround, O Media; I have put an end to all its sorrow.

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.

My heart aches with unbearable pain, as intense as a woman in labor. The mere sound of it crushes me; the sight of it leaves me in utter shock.

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

My heart raced, consumed by terror. The joyous night has been transformed into a night of fear for me.

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

Set the table, keep a keen eye from the tower, enjoy your meal and drink. Rise up, leaders, and ready your defenses.

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

The Lord instructed me, "Send a lookout who will share his observations."

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:

He watched intently as a chariot drawn by horses appeared, followed by one pulled by donkeys, and another by camels. He listened carefully, paying close attention.

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:

With a voice trembling like a lion's roar, he pleaded, "My lord, I am your faithful sentinel, tirelessly guarding your tower day and night."

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.

Look, a group of men approach in a chariot, with horsemen in pairs. They bring news: Babylon, the great city, has fallen, fallen! All the idols of their false gods have been shattered, scattered on the ground.

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.

O my people, crushed like grain on my threshing floor, I share with you the divine words I've received from the Lord, the God of Israel.

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

A solemn message about Dumah. Someone calls to me from Seir, "Guardian, how fares the night? Guardian, how fares the night?"

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

The guard declared, "Dawn is breaking, but darkness will follow. If you seek answers, ask. Come back, return."

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

A solemn message against Arabia. In Arabia's thickets, you, the wandering caravans of Dedanim, will have to camp for the night.

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

The kind people of Tema offered water to the parched wanderer, and shared their bread with the fleeing refugee.

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

They ran, terrified of the unsheathed swords, the ready bows, and the unbearable horrors of war.

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:

The LORD has told me, within a year, just like a worker's contract, all the splendor of Kedar will fade away.

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.

The remaining warriors of Kedar, once mighty archers, will dwindle in number. This is the solemn promise of the Lord, the God of Israel.