International Standard Version | Christian Standard Bible |
1A message concerning the pasture by the Sea. "Like whirlwinds in the Negev sweep on, it comes from the desert, from a distant land. | 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. |
2A dire vision has been announced to me: the traitor betrays, and the plunderer takes loot. Get up, Elam! Attack, Media! I am putting a stop to all the groaning she has caused. | 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." |
3Therefore my body is racked with pain; pangs have seized me, like the pangs of a woman in labor; I am so upset that I cannot hear; I am so frightened that I cannot see while I'm reeling around. | 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. |
4And as for my heart, horror has terrified me; the twilight I longed for has started to make me tremble. | 4My heart staggers; horror terrifies me. He has turned my last glimmer of hope into sheer terror. |
5They set the tables; they spread the carpets; they eat, they drink! Get up, you officers! Oil the shields!" | 5Prepare a table, and spread out a carpet! Eat and drink! Rise up, you princes, and oil the shields! |
6For this is what the LORD told me: "Go post a lookout. Have him report what he sees. | 6For the Lord has said to me, "Go, post a lookout; let him report what he sees. |
7When he sees chariots, each man with a pair of horses, riders on donkeys or riders on camels, let him pay attention, full attention." | 7When he sees riders--pairs of horsemen, riders on donkeys, riders on camels--he must pay close attention." |
8Then the lookout shouted: "Upon a watchtower I stand, O Lord, continually by day, and I am stationed at my post throughout the night. | 8Then the lookout reported, "Lord, I stand on the watchtower all day, and I stay at my post all night. |
9Look! Here come riders, each man with a pair of horses!" They're shouting out the answer: "Babylon has fallen, has fallen, and they have shattered all the images of her gods on the ground! | 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." |
10O my downtrodden people, my wall! I'll tell you what I have heard from the LORD of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel." | 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. |
11A message concerning Dumah. "Someone is calling to me from Seir: 'Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left of the night?' | 11A pronouncement concerning Dumah: One calls to me from Seir, "Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left of the night?" |
12The watchman replies: 'Morning is coming, but also the night. If you want to ask, then ask; come back again.'" | 12The watchman said, "Morning has come, and also night. If you want to ask, ask! Come back again." |
13A message concerning Arabia. "You will camp in the thickets in Arabia, you caravans of the Dedanites. | 13A pronouncement concerning Arabia: In the desert brush you will camp for the night, you caravans of Dedanites. |
14Bring water for the thirsty, you who live in the land of Tema. Meet the fugitive with bread, | 14Bring water for the thirsty. The inhabitants of the land of Tema meet the refugees with food. |
15For he has fled from swords, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow, and from the heat of battle." | 15For they have fled from swords, from the drawn sword, from the bow that is strung, and from the stress of battle. |
16For this is what the LORD is saying to me: "Within three years, according to the years of a contract worker, the pomp of Kedar will come to an end. | 16For the Lord said this to me: "Within one year, as a hired worker counts years, all the glory of Kedar will be gone. |
17And there will be few archers, those who are descendants of Kedar, who survive, because the LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken." | 17The remaining Kedarite archers will be few in number." For the LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken. |
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. | The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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