World English Bible WEB
New International Version NIV
1 The burden of the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the South sweep through, it comes from the wilderness, from an awesome 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 grievous vision is declared to me; the treacherous man deals treacherously, and the destroyer destroys. Go up, Elam; besiege, Media; all the sighing of it have I made to cease.
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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 Therefore are my loins filled with anguish; pangs have taken hold on me, as the pangs of a woman in travail: I am pained so that I can't hear; I am dismayed so that I can't 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 heart flutters, horror has frightened me; the twilight that I desired has been turned into trembling to me.
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My heart falters, fear makes me tremble; the twilight I longed for has become a horror to me.
5 They prepare the table, they set the watch, they eat, they drink: rise up, you princes, anoint the shield.
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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 has the Lord said to me, Go, set a watchman: let him declare 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 and when he sees a troop, horsemen in pairs, a troop of donkeys, a troop of camels, he shall listen diligently with much heed.
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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 He cried as a lion: Lord, I stand continually on the watch-tower in the day-time, and am set in my ward whole nights;
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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 and, behold, here comes a troop of men, horsemen in pairs. He answered, Fallen, fallen is Babylon; and all the engraved images of her gods are broken to 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 You my threshing, and the grain of my floor! that which I have heard from Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared 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 burden of Dumah. One calls to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of 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 said, "The morning comes, and also the night. If you will 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 burden on Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall you lodge, you caravans of Dedanites.
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A prophecy against Arabia: You caravans of Dedanites, who camp in the thickets of Arabia,
14 To him who was thirsty they brought water; the inhabitants of the land of Tema did meet the fugitives with their bread.
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bring water for the thirsty; you who live in Tema, bring food for the fugitives.
15 For they fled away from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the heat 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 has the Lord said to me, Within a year, according to the years of a hireling, all the glory of Kedar shall fail;
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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 residue of the number of the archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be few; for Yahweh, the God of Israel, has spoken it.
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The survivors of the archers, the warriors of Kedar, will be few.” The LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken.
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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.