Isaiah 21

God Commands That Babylon Be Taken

1The 1pronouncement concerning the 23wilderness of the sea: As 4windstorms in the 5Negev come in turns, It comes from the wilderness, from a terrifying land.2A 6harsh vision has been shown to me; The 7treacherous one still deals treacherously, and the destroyer still destroys. Go up, 8Elam, lay siege, Media; I have put an end to all 9the groaning she has caused.3For this reason my 10loins are full of anguish; Pains have seized me like the pains of a 11woman in labor. I am so bewildered I cannot hear, so terrified I cannot see.4My 12mind reels, 13horror overwhelms me; The twilight I longed for has been 14turned into trembling for me.5They 15set the table, they 16spread out the cloth, they eat, they drink; “Rise up, captains, oil the shields!” 6For this is what the Lord says to me: “Go, station the lookout, have him 17report what he sees.7When he sees 18a 19column of chariots, horsemen in pairs, A train of donkeys, a train of camels, He is to pay close attention, very close attention.” 8Then 20the lookout called, “21Lord, 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.”10My 25downtrodden people, and my 26afflicted of the threshing floor! What I have heard from the Lord of armies, The God of Israel, I make known to you.

Pronouncements about Edom and Arabia

11The pronouncement concerning 2728Edom: One keeps calling to me from 29Seir, “Watchman, 30how far gone is the night? Watchman, 31how far gone is the night?”12The watchman says, “Morning comes but also night. If you would inquire, inquire; Come back again.”

13The pronouncement about 32Arabia: In the thickets of Arabia you 33must spend the night, You caravans of 34Dedanites.14Bring water 35for the thirsty, You inhabitants of the land of 36Tema; Meet the fugitive with bread.15For they have 37fled from the swords, From the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, And from the press of battle.

16For this is what the Lord said to me: “In a 38year, as 39a hired worker would count it, all the splendor of 40Kedar will come to an end; 17and the 41remainder of the number of bowmen, the warriors of the sons of Kedar, will be few; for the Lord God of Israel 42has spoken.”