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New International Version (NIV) |
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1 The oracle concerning the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the Negeb sweep on, it comes from the desert, from a terrible land.
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1 An oracle concerning the Desert by the Sea: Like whirlwinds sweeping through the southland, an invader comes from the desert, from a land of terror.
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2 A stern vision is told to me; the plunderer plunders, and the destroyer destroys. Go up, O Elam, lay siege, O Media; all the sighing she has caused I bring to an end.
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2 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.
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3 Therefore my loins are filled with anguish; pangs have seized me, like the pangs of a woman in travail; I am bowed down so that I cannot hear, I am dismayed so that I cannot see.
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3 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.
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4 My mind reels, horror has appalled me; the twilight I longed for has been turned for me into trembling.
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4 My heart falters, fear makes me tremble; the twilight I longed for has become a horror to me.
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5 They prepare the table, they spread the rugs, they eat, they drink. Arise, O princes, oil the shield!
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5 They set the tables, they spread the rugs, they eat, they drink! Get up, you officers, oil the shields!
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6 For thus the Lord said to me: "Go, set a watchman, let him announce what he sees.
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6 This is what the Lord says to me: "Go, post a lookout and have him report what he sees.
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7 When he sees riders, horsemen in pairs, riders on asses, riders on camels, let him listen diligently, very diligently."
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7 When he sees chariots with teams of horses, riders on donkeys or riders on camels, let him be alert, fully alert."
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8 Then he who saw cried: "Upon a watchtower I stand, O Lord, continually by day, and at my post I am stationed whole nights.
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8 And the lookout shouted, "Day after day, my lord, I stand on the watchtower; every night I stay at my post.
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9 And, behold, here come riders, horsemen in pairs!" And he answered, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon; and all the images of her gods he has shattered to the ground."
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9 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!' "
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10 O my threshed and winnowed one, what I have heard from the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, I announce to you.
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10 O my people, crushed on the threshing floor, I tell you what I have heard from the LORD Almighty, from the God of Israel.
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11 The oracle concerning Dumah. One is calling to me from Se'ir, "Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?"
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11 An oracle concerning Dumah: Someone calls to me from Seir, "Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left of the night?"
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12 The watchman says: "Morning comes, and also the night. If you will inquire, inquire; come back again."
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12 The watchman replies, "Morning is coming, but also the night. If you would ask, then ask; and come back yet again."
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13 The oracle concerning Arabia. In the thickets in Arabia you will lodge, O caravans of De'danites.
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13 An oracle concerning Arabia: You caravans of Dedanites, who camp in the thickets of Arabia,
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14 To the thirsty bring water, meet the fugitive with bread, O inhabitants of the land of Tema.
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14 bring water for the thirsty; you who live in Tema, bring food for the fugitives.
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15 For they have fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow, and from the press of battle.
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15 They flee from the sword, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow and from the heat of battle.
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16 For thus the Lord said to me, "Within a year, according to the years of a hireling, all the glory of Kedar will come to an end;
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16 This is what the Lord says to me: "Within one year, as a servant bound by contract would count it, all the pomp of Kedar will come to an end.
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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."
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17 The survivors of the bowmen, the warriors of Kedar, will be few." The LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken.
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| Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. (Revised Standard Version - Holy Bible) |
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |
