Isaiah 21
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Christian Standard BibleNew Living Translation
1A pronouncement concerning the desert by the sea: Like storms that pass over the Negev, it comes from the desert, from the land of terror.1This message came to me concerning Babylon—the desert by the sea : Disaster is roaring down on you from the desert, like a whirlwind sweeping in from the Negev.
2A troubling vision is declared to me: "The treacherous one acts treacherously, and the destroyer destroys. Advance, Elam! Lay siege, you Medes! I will put an end to all the groaning."2I see a terrifying vision: I see the betrayer betraying, the destroyer destroying. Go ahead, you Elamites and Medes, attack and lay siege. I will make an end to all the groaning Babylon caused.
3Therefore I am filled with anguish. Pain grips me, like the pain of a woman in labor. I am too perplexed to hear, too dismayed to see.3My stomach aches and burns with pain. Sharp pangs of anguish are upon me, like those of a woman in labor. I grow faint when I hear what God is planning; I am too afraid to look.
4My heart staggers; horror terrifies me. He has turned my last glimmer of hope into sheer terror.4My mind reels and my heart races. I longed for evening to come, but now I am terrified of the dark.
5Prepare a table, and spread out a carpet! Eat and drink! Rise up, you princes, and oil the shields!5Look! They are preparing a great feast. They are spreading rugs for people to sit on. Everyone is eating and drinking. But quick! Grab your shields and prepare for battle. You are being attacked!
6For the Lord has said to me, "Go, post a lookout; let him report what he sees.6Meanwhile, the Lord said to me, “Put a watchman on the city wall. Let him shout out what he sees.
7When he sees riders--pairs of horsemen, riders on donkeys, riders on camels--he must pay close attention."7He should look for chariots drawn by pairs of horses, and for riders on donkeys and camels. Let the watchman be fully alert.”
8Then the lookout reported, "Lord, I stand on the watchtower all day, and I stay at my post all night.8Then the watchman called out, “Day after day I have stood on the watchtower, my lord. Night after night I have remained at my post.
9Look, riders come--horsemen in pairs." And he answered, saying, "Babylon has fallen, has fallen. All the images of her gods have been shattered on the ground."9Now at last—look! Here comes a man in a chariot with a pair of horses!” Then the watchman said, “Babylon is fallen, fallen! All the idols of Babylon lie broken on the ground!”
10My people who have been crushed on the threshing floor, I have declared to you what I have heard from the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel.10O my people, threshed and winnowed, I have told you everything the LORD of Heaven’s Armies has said, everything the God of Israel has told me. A Message about Edom
11A pronouncement concerning Dumah: One calls to me from Seir, "Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left of the night?"11This message came to me concerning Edom : Someone from Edom keeps calling to me, “Watchman, how much longer until morning? When will the night be over?”
12The watchman said, "Morning has come, and also night. If you want to ask, ask! Come back again."12The watchman replies, “Morning is coming, but night will soon return. If you wish to ask again, then come back and ask.” A Message about Arabia
13A pronouncement concerning Arabia: In the desert brush you will camp for the night, you caravans of Dedanites.13This message came to me concerning Arabia: O caravans from Dedan, hide in the deserts of Arabia.
14Bring water for the thirsty. The inhabitants of the land of Tema meet the refugees with food.14O people of Tema, bring water to these thirsty people, food to these weary refugees.
15For they have fled from swords, from the drawn sword, from the bow that is strung, and from the stress of battle.15They have fled from the sword, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow and the terrors of battle.
16For the Lord said this to me: "Within one year, as a hired worker counts years, all the glory of Kedar will be gone.16The Lord said to me, “Within a year, counting each day, all the glory of Kedar will come to an end.
17The remaining Kedarite archers will be few in number." For the LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken.17Only a few of its courageous archers will survive. I, the LORD, the God of Israel, have spoken!”
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Isaiah 20
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