Isaiah 21:1-10

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.