Isaiah 21

God Commands That Babylon Be Taken

1The 12oracle concerning the 34wilderness of the sea. As 5windstorms in the 6Negev sweep on, It comes from the wilderness, from a terrifying land.2A 7harsh vision has been shown to me; The 8treacherous one still deals treacherously, and the destroyer still destroys. Go up, 9Elam, lay siege, Media; I have made an end of all 10the groaning she has caused.3For this reason my 11loins are full of anguish; Pains have seized me like the pains of a 12woman in labor. I am so bewildered I cannot hear, so terrified I cannot see.4My 13mind reels, 14horror overwhelms me; The twilight I longed for has been 15turned for me into trembling.5They 16set the table, they 17spread out the cloth, they eat, they drink; “Rise up, captains, oil the shields,” 6For thus the Lord says to me, “Go, station the lookout, let him 18report what he sees.7When he sees 19riders, horsemen in pairs, A train of donkeys, a train of camels, Let him pay close attention, very close attention.” 8Then 20the lookout called, “21O Lord, I stand continually by day on the watchtower, And I am stationed every night at my guard post.9Now behold, here comes a troop of riders, horsemen in pairs.” And one said, “22Fallen, fallen is Babylon; And all the 23images of her gods 24are shattered on the ground.”10O my 25threshed people, and my 26afflicted of the threshing floor! What I have heard from the Lord of hosts, The God of Israel, I make known to you.

Oracles about Edom and Arabia

11The 27oracle concerning 2829Edom. One keeps calling to me from 30Seir, “Watchman, 31how far gone is the night? Watchman, 32how far gone is the night?”12The watchman says, “Morning comes but also night. If you would inquire, inquire; Come back again.”

13The 33oracle about 34Arabia. In the thickets of Arabia you 35must spend the night, O caravans of 36Dedanites.14Bring water 37for the thirsty, O inhabitants of the land of 38Tema, Meet the fugitive with bread.15For they have 39fled from the swords, From the drawn sword, and from the bent bow And from the press of battle.

16For thus the Lord said to me, “In a 40year, as 41a hired man would count it, all the splendor of 42Kedar will terminate; 17and the 43remainder of the number of bowmen, the mighty men of the sons of Kedar, will be few; for the Lord God of Israel 44has spoken.”