| International Standard Version | NET 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. | 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 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. | 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 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. | 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. |
| 4And as for my heart, horror has terrified me; the twilight I longed for has started to make me tremble. | 4My heart palpitates, I shake in fear; the twilight I desired has brought me terror. |
| 5They set the tables; they spread the carpets; they eat, they drink! Get up, you officers! Oil the shields!" | 5Arrange the table, lay out the carpet, eat and drink! Get up, you officers, smear oil on the shields! |
| 6For this is what the LORD told me: "Go post a lookout. Have 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 chariots, each man with a pair of horses, riders on donkeys or riders on camels, let him pay attention, full attention." | 7When he sees chariots, teams of horses, riders on donkeys, riders on camels, he must be alert, very alert." |
| 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 guard cries out: "On the watchtower, O sovereign master, I stand all day long; at my post I am stationed every 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 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!" |
| 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." | 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. |
| 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?' | 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 replies: 'Morning is coming, but also the night. If you want to ask, then ask; come back again.'" | 12The watchman replies, "Morning is coming, but then 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. | 13Here is a message about Arabia: In the thicket of Arabia you spend the night, you Dedanite caravans. |
| 14Bring water for the thirsty, you who live in the land of Tema. Meet the fugitive with bread, | 14Bring out some water for the thirsty. You who live in the land of Tema, bring some food for the fugitives. |
| 15For he has fled from swords, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow, and from the heat 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 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 this is what the sovereign master has told me: "Within exactly one year all the splendor of Kedar will come to an end. |
| 17And there will be few archers, those who are descendants of Kedar, who survive, because 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. |
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