Isaiah Chapter 21

¹ Oracle About the Sandy Wastes Beside the Sea

            Like a haboob sweeping in from the Negev,

                  catastrophe will sweep in through the desert from a terrible land.

            ² I see a harsh vision:

                              plunderers plundering; destroyers destroying.

                              Go on, Elam; lay siege, Media.

                                    I’m going to put an end to the groaning Babylon’s caused.

                        ³ My body’s in agony;

                                                      pangs have seized me like a woman in labor.

                              I’m so faint I can’t hear,

                                    so scared I can’t see.

                        ⁴ My mind is reeling, the horror is overwhelming;

                           I longed for the twilight;

                        now I’m afraid of the dark.

            ⁵ The people are setting tables and spreading rugs to sit on;

                        they’re eating and drinking. But—

                  “Get up, captains; oil the shields for battle!”                 

Is 21:1-5

            ⁶ Then the LORD said to me,

              “Station a sentry to report what he sees.

            ⁷ When he sees riders, horsemen in pairs,

                  a donkey train, a camel caravan,

                  he needs to stay alert.” 

            ⁸ Then the sentry shouted like a lion,

                  “LORD, every day I’ve manned my station on the tower;

                        every night I’ve stood at my post.

            ⁹ Now at last, here come riders, horsemen in pairs.

                  They’re reporting, ‘Fallen! Babylon’s fallen!

                  its images shattered on the ground.’”

            ¹⁰ My threshed people, winnowed on the threshing floor!

                  I’m reporting what I’ve heard

                        from the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel.               

Is 21:6-10

¹¹ Oracle About Edom

            Someone keeps calling to me from Seir,

                  “Watchman, what time is it?

                  How long till morning?”

            ¹² The watchman answers,

                  “Morning is coming, but night will soon return;

                  if you want updates, come back later

                        and ask again.”                                                         

Is 21:11-12

¹³ Oracle About Arabia

         Caravans of Dedanites, you have to spend the night

                        hiding in the deserts of Arabia.

            ¹⁴ People in Tema, bring water for these thirsty refugees;

                        meet them with food,

                  ¹⁵ because they’re running from the drawn sword,

                        the bent bow, the press of battle.

¹⁶ This is what the LORD told me,

“A year from now, as a hired hand’s contract would read, Kedar’s splendor will end. ¹⁷ Its surviving archers and strong men will be few;

                                                I, the LORD God of Israel, have spoken.”                                                 

Is 21:13-17