Isaiah 21:5-12

5Look! They are preparing a feast. They put down carpets for people to sit on. They are eating and they are drinking. Officers, stand up! Make your shields ready for battle!

6This is what the Lord God has said to me: ‘Go! Put someone on the city wall to watch. Tell him to report what he sees.

7If he sees chariots that two horses are pulling, or riders on donkeys, or riders on camels, he must watch very carefully.’

8Then the guard shouted, ‘Lord God, I am standing every day on the tower where I watch. I stand at my place every night.

9And look! Something is coming! It is a chariot that two horses are pulling!’ The rider reports, ‘An enemy has completely destroyed Babylon! All the idols of its people's gods lie in pieces on the ground!’

10Yes, my people, Babylon's army has hurt you very much. But now I have reported to you the message from the Lord Almighty, Israel's God.

11This is a message about Dumah. Someone is shouting to me from Seir. They are asking, ‘Guard, how soon will the night finish? Please tell me.’

12The guard replies, ‘The morning will come soon. But the night will quickly follow. If you want to ask again, then come back. Come and ask!’