New American Standard Bible NAS
New International Version NIV
1 The oracle concerning the wilderness of the sea. As windstorms in the Negev sweep on, It comes from the wilderness, from a terrifying land.
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A prophecy against the Desert by the Sea: Like whirlwinds sweeping through the southland, an invader comes from the desert, from a land of terror.
2 A harsh vision has been shown to me; The treacherous one still deals treacherously, and the destroyer still destroys. Go up, Elam, lay siege, Media; I have made an end of all the groaning she has caused.
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A dire vision has been shown to me: The traitor betrays, the looter takes loot. Elam, attack! Media, lay siege! I will bring to an end all the groaning she caused.
3 For this reason my loins are full of anguish; Pains have seized me like the pains of a woman in labor. I am so bewildered I cannot hear, so terrified I cannot see.
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At this my body is racked with pain, pangs seize me, like those of a woman in labor; I am staggered by what I hear, I am bewildered by what I see.
4 My mind reels, horror overwhelms me; The twilight I longed for has been turned for me into trembling.
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My heart falters, fear makes me tremble; the twilight I longed for has become a horror to me.
5 They set the table, they spread out the cloth, they eat, they drink; "Rise up, captains, oil the shields,"
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They set the tables, they spread the rugs, they eat, they drink! Get up, you officers, oil the shields!
6 For thus the Lord says to me, "Go, station the lookout, let him report what he sees.
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This is what the Lord says to me: “Go, post a lookout and have him report what he sees.
7 "When he sees riders, horsemen in pairs, A train of donkeys, a train of camels, Let him pay close attention, very close attention."
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When he sees chariots with teams of horses, riders on donkeys or riders on camels, let him be alert, fully alert.”
8 Then the lookout called, "O Lord , I stand continually by day on the watchtower, And I am stationed every night at my guard post.
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And the lookout shouted, “Day after day, my lord, I stand on the watchtower; every night I stay at my post.
9 "Now behold, here comes a troop of riders, horsemen in pairs." And one said, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon; And all the images of her gods are shattered on the ground."
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Look, here comes a man in a chariot with a team of horses. And he gives back the answer: ‘Babylon has fallen, has fallen! All the images of its gods lie shattered on the ground!’ ”
10 O my threshed people, and my afflicted of the threshing floor! What I have heard from the LORD of hosts, The God of Israel, I make known to you.
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My people who are crushed on the threshing floor, I tell you what I have heard from the LORD Almighty, from the God of Israel.
11 The oracle concerning Edom. One keeps calling to me from Seir, "Watchman, how far gone is the night? Watchman, how far gone is the night?"
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A prophecy against Dumah : Someone calls to me from Seir, “Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left of the night?”
12 The watchman says, "Morning comes but also night. If you would inquire, inquire; Come back again."
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The watchman replies, “Morning is coming, but also the night. If you would ask, then ask; and come back yet again.”
13 The oracle about Arabia. In the thickets of Arabia you must spend the night, O caravans of Dedanites.
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A prophecy against Arabia: You caravans of Dedanites, who camp in the thickets of Arabia,
14 Bring water for the thirsty, O inhabitants of the land of Tema, Meet the fugitive with bread.
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bring water for the thirsty; you who live in Tema, bring food for the fugitives.
15 For they have fled from the swords, From the drawn sword, and from the bent bow And from the press of battle.
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They flee from the sword, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow and from the heat of battle.
16 For thus the Lord said to me, "In a year, as a hired man would count it, all the splendor of Kedar will terminate;
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This is what the Lord says to me: “Within one year, as a servant bound by contract would count it, all the splendor of Kedar will come to an end.
17 and the remainder of the number of bowmen, the mighty men of the sons of Kedar, will be few; for the LORD God of Israel has spoken."
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The survivors of the archers, the warriors of Kedar, will be few.” The LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken.
New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California. All rights reserved.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.