| English Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1The oracle concerning the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the Negeb sweep on, it comes from the wilderness, from a terrible land. | 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 stern vision is told to me; the traitor betrays, and the destroyer destroys. Go up, O Elam; lay siege, O Media; all the sighing she has caused I bring to an end. | 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!" |
| 3Therefore my loins are filled with anguish; pangs have seized me, like the pangs of a woman in labor; I am bowed down so that I cannot hear; I am dismayed so that I cannot 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 staggers; horror has appalled me; the twilight I longed for has been turned for me into trembling. | 4My heart palpitates, I shake in fear; the twilight I desired has brought me terror. |
| 5They prepare the table, they spread the rugs, they eat, they drink. Arise, O princes; oil the shield! | 5Arrange the table, lay out the carpet, eat and drink! Get up, you officers, smear oil on the shields! |
| 6For thus the Lord said to me: “Go, set a watchman; let him announce 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 riders, horsemen in pairs, riders on donkeys, riders on camels, let him listen diligently, very diligently.” | 7When he sees chariots, teams of horses, riders on donkeys, riders on camels, he must be alert, very alert." |
| 8Then he who saw cried out: “Upon a watchtower I stand, O Lord, continually by day, and at my post I am stationed whole nights. | 8Then the guard cries out: "On the watchtower, O sovereign master, I stand all day long; at my post I am stationed every night. |
| 9And behold, here come riders, horsemen in pairs!” And he answered, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon; and all the carved images of her gods he has shattered to 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!" |
| 10O my threshed and winnowed one, what I have heard from the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, I announce to you. | 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. |
| 11The oracle concerning Dumah. One is calling to me from Seir, “Watchman, what time of the night? Watchman, what time 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 says: “Morning comes, and also the night. If you will inquire, inquire; come back again.” | 12The watchman replies, "Morning is coming, but then night. If you want to ask, ask; come back again." |
| 13The oracle concerning Arabia. In the thickets in Arabia you will lodge, O caravans of Dedanites. | 13Here is a message about Arabia: In the thicket of Arabia you spend the night, you Dedanite caravans. |
| 14To the thirsty bring water; meet the fugitive with bread, O inhabitants of the land of Tema. | 14Bring out some water for the thirsty. You who live in the land of Tema, bring some food for the fugitives. |
| 15For they have fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow, and from the press 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. |
| 16For thus the Lord said to me, “Within a year, according to the years of a hired worker, all the glory 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. |
| 17And the remainder of the archers of the mighty men of the sons of Kedar will be few, for 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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