Isaiah 21 Parallel Bible Translations

Isaiah 21 ▼
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BSB
Berean Standard Bible
ESV
English Standard Version
KJV
King James Version
NIV
New International Version
NLT
New Living Translation
1 This is the burden against the Desert by the Sea: Like whirlwinds sweeping through the Negev, an invader comes from the desert, from a land of terror. The oracle concerning the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the Negeb sweep on, it comes from the wilderness, from a terrible land. 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 prophecy against the Desert by the Sea: Like whirlwinds sweeping through the southland, an invader comes from the desert, from a land of terror. This 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.
2 A dire vision is declared to me: “The traitor still betrays, and the destroyer still destroys. Go up, O Elam! Lay siege, O Media! I will put an end to all her groaning.” A 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. 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 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. I 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.
3 Therefore my body is filled with anguish. Pain grips me, like the pains of a woman in labor. I am bewildered to hear, I am dismayed to see. Therefore 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. 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. At 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. My 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.
4 My heart falters; fear makes me tremble. The twilight I desired has turned to horror. My heart staggers; horror has appalled me; the twilight I longed for has been turned for me into trembling. My heart panted, fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me. My heart falters, fear makes me tremble; the twilight I longed for has become a horror to me. My mind reels and my heart races. I longed for evening to come, but now I am terrified of the dark.
5 They prepare a table, they lay out a carpet, they eat, they drink! Rise up, O princes, oil the shields! They prepare the table, they spread the rugs, they eat, they drink. Arise, O princes; oil the shield! Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield. They set the tables, they spread the rugs, they eat, they drink! Get up, you officers, oil the shields! Look! 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!
6 For this is what the Lord says to me: “Go, post a lookout and have him report what he sees. For thus the Lord said to me: “Go, set a watchman; let him announce what he sees. For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth. This is what the Lord says to me: “Go, post a lookout and have him report what he sees. Meanwhile, the Lord said to me, “Put a watchman on the city wall. Let him shout out what he sees.
7 When he sees chariots with teams of horsemen, riders on donkeys, riders on camels, he must be alert, fully alert.” When he sees riders, horsemen in pairs, riders on donkeys, riders on camels, let him listen diligently, very diligently.” 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: When he sees chariots with teams of horses, riders on donkeys or riders on camels, let him be alert, fully alert.” He should look for chariots drawn by pairs of horses, and for riders on donkeys and camels. Let the watchman be fully alert.”
8 Then the lookout shouted: “Day after day, my lord, I stand on the watchtower; night after night I stay at my post. Then he who saw cried out: “Upon a watchtower I stand, O Lord, continually by day, and at my post I am stationed whole nights. 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: And the lookout shouted, “Day after day, my lord, I stand on the watchtower; every night I stay at my post. Then the watchman called out, “Day after day I have stood on the watchtower, my lord. Night after night I have remained at my post.
9 Look, here come the riders, horsemen in pairs.” And one answered, saying: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon! All the images of her gods lie shattered on the ground!” And 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.” 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, 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!’” Now 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!”
10 O my people, crushed on the threshing floor, I tell you what I have heard from the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel. O my threshed and winnowed one, what I have heard from the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, I announce to you. 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. My people who are crushed on the threshing floor, I tell you what I have heard from the LORD Almighty, from the God of Israel. O 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.
11 This is the burden against Dumah: One calls to me from Seir, “Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left of the night?” The oracle concerning Dumah. One is calling to me from Seir, “Watchman, what time of the night? Watchman, what time of the night?” The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night? A prophecy against Dumah: Someone calls to me from Seir, “Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left of the night?” This 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?”
12 The watchman replies, “Morning has come, but also the night. If you would inquire, then inquire. Come back yet again.” The watchman says: “Morning comes, and also the night. If you will inquire, inquire; come back again.” The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will inquire, inquire ye: return, come. The watchman replies, “Morning is coming, but also the night. If you would ask, then ask; and come back yet again.” The watchman replies, “Morning is coming, but night will soon return. If you wish to ask again, then come back and ask.”
13 This is the burden against Arabia: In the thickets of Arabia you must lodge, O caravans of Dedanites. The oracle concerning Arabia. In the thickets in Arabia you will lodge, O caravans of Dedanites. The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye travelling companies of Dedanim. A prophecy against Arabia: You caravans of Dedanites, who camp in the thickets of Arabia, This message came to me concerning Arabia: O caravans from Dedan, hide in the deserts of Arabia.
14 Bring water for the thirsty, O dwellers of Tema; meet the refugees with food. To the thirsty bring water; meet the fugitive with bread, O inhabitants of the land of Tema. The inhabitants of the land of Tema brought water to him that was thirsty, they prevented with their bread him that fled. bring water for the thirsty; you who live in Tema, bring food for the fugitives. O people of Tema, bring water to these thirsty people, food to these weary refugees.
15 For they flee from the sword—the sword that is drawn—from the bow that is bent, and from the stress of battle. For they have fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow, and from the press of battle. For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war. They flee from the sword, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow and from the heat of battle. They have fled from the sword, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow and the terrors of battle.
16 For this is what the Lord says to me: “Within one year, as a hired worker would count it, all the glory of Kedar will be gone. For 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. 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: This 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. The Lord said to me, “Within a year, counting each day, all the glory of Kedar will come to an end.
17 The remaining archers, the warriors of Kedar, will be few.” For the LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken. And 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.” 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 survivors of the archers, the warriors of Kedar, will be few.” The LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken. Only a few of its courageous archers will survive. I, the LORD, the God of Israel, have spoken!”
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