| Christian Standard Bible | Berean Study Bible |
| 1A pronouncement concerning the desert by the sea: Like storms that pass over the Negev, it comes from the desert, from the land of terror. | 1This 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. |
| 2A troubling vision is declared to me: "The treacherous one acts treacherously, and the destroyer destroys. Advance, Elam! Lay siege, you Medes! I will put an end to all the groaning." | 2A 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.” |
| 3Therefore I am filled with anguish. Pain grips me, like the pain of a woman in labor. I am too perplexed to hear, too dismayed to see. | 3Therefore 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. |
| 4My heart staggers; horror terrifies me. He has turned my last glimmer of hope into sheer terror. | 4My heart falters; fear makes me tremble. The twilight of my desire has turned to horror. |
| 5Prepare a table, and spread out a carpet! Eat and drink! Rise up, you princes, and oil the shields! | 5They prepare a table, they lay out a carpet, they eat, they drink! Rise up, O princes, oil the shields! |
| 6For the Lord has said to me, "Go, post a lookout; let him report what he sees. | 6For this is what the Lord says to me: “Go, post a lookout and have him report what he sees. |
| 7When he sees riders--pairs of horsemen, riders on donkeys, riders on camels--he must pay close attention." | 7When he sees chariots with teams of horsemen, riders on donkeys, riders on camels, he must be alert, fully alert.” |
| 8Then the lookout reported, "Lord, I stand on the watchtower all day, and I stay at my post all night. | 8Then the lookout shouted: “Day after day, my lord, I stand on the watchtower; night after night I stay at my post. |
| 9Look, riders come--horsemen in pairs." And he answered, saying, "Babylon has fallen, has fallen. All the images of her gods have been shattered on the ground." | 9Look, 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!” |
| 10My people who have been crushed on the threshing floor, I have declared to you what I have heard from the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel. | 10O my people, crushed on the threshing floor, I tell you what I have heard from the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel. |
| 11A pronouncement concerning Dumah: One calls to me from Seir, "Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left of the night?" | 11This 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?” |
| 12The watchman said, "Morning has come, and also night. If you want to ask, ask! Come back again." | 12The watchman replies, “Morning has come, but also the night. If you would inquire, then inquire. Come back yet again.” |
| 13A pronouncement concerning Arabia: In the desert brush you will camp for the night, you caravans of Dedanites. | 13This is the burden against Arabia: In the thickets of Arabia you must lodge, O caravans of Dedanites. |
| 14Bring water for the thirsty. The inhabitants of the land of Tema meet the refugees with food. | 14Bring water for the thirsty, O dwellers of Tema; meet the refugees with food. |
| 15For they have fled from swords, from the drawn sword, from the bow that is strung, and from the stress of battle. | 15For they flee from the sword—the sword that is drawn—from the bow that is bent, and from the stress of battle. |
| 16For the Lord said this to me: "Within one year, as a hired worker counts years, all the glory of Kedar will be gone. | 16For 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. |
| 17The remaining Kedarite archers will be few in number." For the LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken. | 17The remaining archers, the warriors of Kedar, will be few.” For the LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken. |
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