Isaiah 21

English Standard Version

1 The oracle concerning the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the Negeb sweep on, it comes from the wilderness, from a terrible land. (Isa 13:1; Jer 51:1; Jer 51:36; Jer 51:42)2 A stern vision is told to me; the traitor betrays, and the destroyer destroys. Go up, O Elam; lay siege, O Media; all the sighing she has caused I bring to an end. (Isa 11:11; Isa 13:17; Isa 24:16; Isa 33:1; Eze 9:4)3 Therefore my loins are filled with anguish; pangs have seized me, like the pangs of a woman in labor; I am bowed down so that I cannot hear; I am dismayed so that I cannot see. (Isa 13:8)4 My heart staggers; horror has appalled me; the twilight I longed for has been turned for me into trembling. (De 28:67)5 They prepare the table, they spread the rugs,[1] they eat, they drink. Arise, O princes; oil the shield! (2Sa 1:21; Jer 51:39; Jer 51:57)6 For thus the Lord said to me: “Go, set a watchman; let him announce what he sees.7 When he sees riders, horsemen in pairs, riders on donkeys, riders on camels, let him listen diligently, very diligently.”8 Then he who saw cried out:[2] “Upon a watchtower I stand, O Lord, continually by day, and at my post I am stationed whole nights. (Hab 2:1)9 And behold, here come riders, horsemen in pairs!” And he answered, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon; and all the carved images of her gods he has shattered to the ground.” (Isa 46:1; Jer 51:8; Hab 2:2; Re 14:8; Re 18:2)10 O my threshed and winnowed one, what I have heard from the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, I announce to you. (Jer 51:33; Am 1:3; Mic 4:13)11 The oracle concerning Dumah. One is calling to me from Seir, “Watchman, what time of the night? Watchman, what time of the night?” (Ge 25:14; De 2:8; 1Ch 1:30; Isa 13:1; Eze 35:2)12 The watchman says: “Morning comes, and also the night. If you will inquire, inquire; come back again.” (Job 36:20; Ps 37:36; Am 5:8)13 The oracle concerning Arabia. In the thickets in Arabia you will lodge, O caravans of Dedanites. (Ge 25:3; Ge 37:25; Isa 13:1; Jer 25:23)14 To the thirsty bring water; meet the fugitive with bread, O inhabitants of the land of Tema. (Job 6:19)15 For they have fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow, and from the press of battle.16 For thus the Lord said to me, “Within a year, according to the years of a hired worker, all the glory of Kedar will come to an end. (Ge 25:13; Ps 120:5; So 1:5; Isa 16:14; Isa 60:7; Jer 2:10; Jer 49:28; Eze 27:21)17 And the remainder of the archers of the mighty men of the sons of Kedar will be few, for the Lord, the God of Israel, has spoken.” (Isa 1:20; Isa 21:16)

Isaiah 21

King James Version

1 The burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds in the south pass through; so it cometh from the desert, from a terrible land.2 A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. Go up, O Elam: besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease.3 Therefore are my loins filled with pain: pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman that travaileth: I was bowed down at the hearing of it ; I was dismayed at the seeing of it .4 My heart panted, fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me.5 Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield.6 For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth.7 And he saw a chariot with a couple of horsemen, a chariot of asses, and a chariot of camels; and he hearkened diligently with much heed:8 And he cried, A lion: My lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward whole nights:9 And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground.10 O my threshing, and the corn of my floor: that which I have heard of the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto you.11 The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?12 The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, come.13 The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye travelling companies of Dedanim.14 The inhabitants of the land of Tema brought water to him that was thirsty, they prevented with their bread him that fled.15 For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.16 For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Within a year, according to the years of an hireling, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail:17 And the residue of the number of archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be diminished: for the LORD God of Israel hath spoken it .