New Living Translation | New International Version |
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. | 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. |
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. | 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. |
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. | 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. |
4My mind reels and my heart races. I longed for evening to come, but now I am terrified of the dark. | 4My heart falters, fear makes me tremble; the twilight I longed for has become a horror to me. |
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! | 5They set the tables, they spread the rugs, they eat, they drink! Get up, you officers, oil the shields! |
6Meanwhile, the Lord said to me, “Put a watchman on the city wall. Let him shout out what he sees. | 6This is what the Lord says to me: "Go, post a lookout and have him report what he sees. |
7He should look for chariots drawn by pairs of horses, and for riders on donkeys and camels. Let the watchman be fully alert.” | 7When he sees chariots with teams of horses, riders on donkeys or riders on camels, let him be alert, fully alert." |
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. | 8And the lookout shouted, "Day after day, my lord, I stand on the watchtower; every night I stay at my post. |
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!” | 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!'" |
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 | 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. |
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?” | 11A prophecy against 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 night will soon return. If you wish to ask again, then come back and ask.” A Message about Arabia | 12The watchman replies, "Morning is coming, but also the night. If you would ask, then ask; and come back yet again." |
13This message came to me concerning Arabia: O caravans from Dedan, hide in the deserts of Arabia. | 13A prophecy against Arabia: You caravans of Dedanites, who camp in the thickets of Arabia, |
14O people of Tema, bring water to these thirsty people, food to these weary refugees. | 14bring water for the thirsty; you who live in Tema, bring food for the fugitives. |
15They have fled from the sword, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow and the terrors of battle. | 15They flee from the sword, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow and from the heat of battle. |
16The Lord said to me, “Within a year, counting each day, all the glory of Kedar will come to an end. | 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. |
17Only a few of its courageous archers will survive. I, the LORD, the God of Israel, have spoken!” | 17The survivors of the archers, the warriors of Kedar, will be few." The LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken. |
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. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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