Elam and Media are Rebuked

1A messagea concerning the pastureb by the Sea.

“Like whirlwinds in the Negevc sweep on,

it comes from the desert,

from a distantd land.

2A dire vision has been announced to me:

the traitor betrays,

and the plunderer takes loot.

Get up, Elam!

Attack, Media!

I am putting a stop

to all the groaning she has caused.

3Therefore my body ise racked with pain;

pangs have seized me,

like the pangs of a woman in labor;

I am so upset that I cannot hear;

I am so frightened that I cannot see

while I’m reeling around.f

4And as for my heart,g horror has terrified me;

the twilight I longed for

has started to make me tremble.

5They set the tables;

they spread the carpets;h

they eat, they drink!

Get up, you officers!

Oil the shields!”

The Fall of Babylon

6For this is what the LORD told me:

“Go post a lookout.

Have him report what he sees.

7When he sees chariots, each mani with a pair of horses,

riders on donkeys or riders onj camels,

let him pay attention,

full attention.”

8Then the lookoutk shouted:

“Upon a watchtower I stand, O Lord,

continually by day,

and I am stationed at my post

throughout the night.

9Look! Here come riders,l

each man with a pair of horses!”

They’re shouting out the answer:

“Babylon has fallen, has fallen,

and they have shattered

all the images of her godsm on the ground!

10O my downtrodden people,n my wall!o

I’ll tell you what I have heard

from the LORD of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel.”

A Message about Dumah

11A messagep concerning Dumah.

“Someone is calling to me from Seir:

‘Watchman, what is left of the night?q

Watchman, what is left of the night?’r

12The watchman replies:

‘Morning is coming, but also the night.

If you want to ask, then ask;

come back again.’”

A Message about Arabia

13A messages concerning Arabia.

“You will camp in the thickets in Arabia,

you caravans of the Dedanites.

14Bring water for the thirsty,

you who live in the land of Tema.

Meet the fugitive with bread,t

15For he has fledu from swords,

from the drawn sword,

from the bent bow,

and from the heat of battle.”

16For this is what the LORDv is saying to me: “Within three years,w according to the years of a contract worker,x the pompy of Kedar will come to an end. 17And there will be few archers, those who are descendants of Kedar, who survive, because the LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken.”