Isaiah 21
HCSB Parallel NET [BSB CSB ESV HCS KJV ISV NAS NET NIV NLT HEB]
Holman Christian Standard BibleNET Bible
1An oracle against the desert by the sea: Like storms that pass over the Negev, it comes from the desert, from the land of terror. 1Here is a message about the Desert by the Sea: Like strong winds blowing in the south, one invades from the desert, from a land that is feared.
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 her groaning." 2I have received a distressing message: "The deceiver deceives, the destroyer destroys. Attack, you Elamites! Lay siege, you Medes! I will put an end to all the 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. 3For this reason my stomach churns; cramps overwhelm me like the contractions of a woman in labor. I am disturbed by what I hear, horrified by what I see.
4My heart staggers; horror terrifies me. He has turned my last glimmer of hope into sheer terror. 4My heart palpitates, I shake in fear; the twilight I desired has brought me terror.
5Prepare a table, and spread out a carpet! Eat and drink! Rise up, you princes, and oil the shields! 5Arrange the table, lay out the carpet, eat and drink! Get up, you officers, smear oil on the shields!
6For the Lord has said to me," Go, post a lookout; let him report what he sees. 6For this is what the sovereign master has told me: "Go, post a guard! He must 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, teams of horses, riders on donkeys, riders on camels, he must be alert, very alert."
8Then the lookout reported," Lord, I stand on the watchtower all day, and I stay at my post all night. 8Then the guard cries out: "On the watchtower, O sovereign master, I stand all day long; at my post I am stationed every night.
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 what's coming! A charioteer, a team of horses." When questioned, he replies, "Babylon has fallen, fallen! All the idols 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 Hosts, the God of Israel. 10O my downtrodden people, crushed like stalks on the threshing floor, what I have heard from the LORD who commands armies, the God of Israel, I have reported to you.
11An oracle against Dumah: One calls to me from Seir," Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left of the night?" 11Here is a message about Dumah: Someone 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 is coming, but then night. If you want to ask, ask; come back again."
13An oracle against Arabia: In the desert brush you will camp for the night, you caravans of Dedanites. 13Here is a message about Arabia: In the thicket of Arabia you spend the night, you Dedanite caravans.
14Bring water for the thirsty. The inhabitants of the land of Tema meet the refugees with food. 14Bring out some water for the thirsty. You who live in the land of Tema, bring some food for the fugitives.
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 swords--from the drawn sword and from the battle-ready bow and from the severity of the 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 sovereign master has told me: "Within exactly one year all the splendor of Kedar will come to an end.
17The remaining Kedarite archers will be few in number." For the LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken. 17Just a handful of archers, the warriors of Kedar, will be left." Indeed, the LORD God of Israel has spoken.
Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. //netbible.com. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Isaiah 20
Top of Page
Top of Page