1 The 1oracle concerning the 2wilderness of the sea. As 3windstorms in the Negevsweep on, It comes from the wilderness, from a terrifyingland.
2
A 4harshvision has been shown to me; The 5treacherous one still dealstreacherously, and the destroyer still destroys. Go up, 6Elam, laysiege, Media; I have made an end of all the groaning she has caused.
3
For thisreason* my 7loins are full of anguish; Pains have seized me like the pains of a 8woman in labor. I am sobewildered I cannothear, soterrified I cannotsee.
4
My mindreels, horroroverwhelms me; The twilight I longed for has been 9turned for me into trembling.
5
They 10set the table, they spread out the cloth, they eat, they drink; "Rise up, captains, oil the shields,"
6
For thus the Lordsays to me, "Go, station the lookout, let him 11reportwhat he sees.
7
"When he sees12riders, horsemen in pairs, A train of donkeys, a train of camels, Let him paycloseattention, verycloseattention."
8
Then the lookoutcalled, "13O Lord, I standcontinually by day on the watchtower, And I am stationedeverynight at my guardpost.
9
"Now behold, herecomes a troop of riders, horsemen in pairs." And one said, "14Fallen, fallen is Babylon; And all the 15images of her gods are shattered on the ground."
10
O my 16threshed people, and my afflicted of the threshingfloor! What I have heard from the LORD of hosts, The God of Israel, I makeknown to you.
Oracles about Edom and Arabia
11 The oracle concerning 17Edom. One keeps calling to me from 18Seir, "Watchman, how far gone is the night? Watchman, how far gone is the night?"
12
The watchmansays, "Morningcomes but alsonight. If you would inquire, inquire; Comebackagain."
13
The oracle about 19Arabia. In the thickets of Arabia you must spend the night, O caravans of 20Dedanites.
14
Bringwater for the thirsty, O inhabitants of the land of 21Tema, Meet the fugitive with bread.
15
For they have 22fled from the swords, From the drawnsword, and from the bentbow And from the press of battle.
16
For thus the Lordsaid to me, "In a 23year, as a hiredman would count it, all the splendor of 24Kedar will terminate;
17
and the 25remainder of the number of bowmen, the mightymen of the sons of Kedar, will be few; for the LORDGod of Israel26has spoken."