| New Living Translation | NET Bible |
| 1This message came to me concerning Babylon—the desert by the sea : Disaster is roaring down on you from the desert, like a whirlwind sweeping in from the Negev. | 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. |
| 2I see a terrifying vision: I see the betrayer betraying, the destroyer destroying. Go ahead, you Elamites and Medes, attack and lay siege. I will make an end to all the groaning Babylon 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!" |
| 3My stomach aches and burns with pain. Sharp pangs of anguish are upon me, like those of a woman in labor. I grow faint when I hear what God is planning; I am too afraid to look. | 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 mind reels and my heart races. I longed for evening to come, but now I am terrified of the dark. | 4My heart palpitates, I shake in fear; the twilight I desired has brought me terror. |
| 5Look! They are preparing a great feast. They are spreading rugs for people to sit on. Everyone is eating and drinking. But quick! Grab your shields and prepare for battle. You are being attacked! | 5Arrange the table, lay out the carpet, eat and drink! Get up, you officers, smear oil on the shields! |
| 6Meanwhile, the Lord said to me, “Put a watchman on the city wall. Let him shout out what he sees. | 6For this is what the sovereign master has told me: "Go, post a guard! He must report what he sees. |
| 7He should look for chariots drawn by pairs of horses, and for riders on donkeys and camels. Let the watchman be fully alert.” | 7When he sees chariots, teams of horses, riders on donkeys, riders on camels, he must be alert, very alert." |
| 8Then the watchman called out, “Day after day I have stood on the watchtower, my lord. Night after night I have remained at my post. | 8Then the guard cries out: "On the watchtower, O sovereign master, I stand all day long; at my post I am stationed every night. |
| 9Now at last—look! Here comes a man in a chariot with a pair of horses!” Then the watchman said, “Babylon is fallen, fallen! All the idols of Babylon lie broken 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 people, threshed and winnowed, I have told you everything the LORD of Heaven’s Armies has said, everything the God of Israel has told me. A Message about Edom | 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. |
| 11This message came to me concerning Edom : Someone from Edom keeps calling to me, “Watchman, how much longer until morning? When will the night be over?” | 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 night will soon return. If you wish to ask again, then come back and ask.” A Message about Arabia | 12The watchman replies, "Morning is coming, but then night. If you want to ask, ask; come back again." |
| 13This message came to me concerning Arabia: O caravans from Dedan, hide in the deserts of Arabia. | 13Here is a message about Arabia: In the thicket of Arabia you spend the night, you Dedanite caravans. |
| 14O people of Tema, bring water to these thirsty people, food to these weary refugees. | 14Bring out some water for the thirsty. You who live in the land of Tema, bring some food for the fugitives. |
| 15They have fled from the sword, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow and the terrors 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. |
| 16The Lord said to me, “Within a year, counting each day, all the glory 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. |
| 17Only a few of its courageous archers will survive. I, the LORD, the God of Israel, have 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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