The Bible in Basic English BBE
New International Version NIV
1 The word about the waste land. As storm-winds in the South go rushing through, it comes from the waste land, from the land greatly to be feared.
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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 vision of fear comes before my eyes; the worker of deceit goes on in his false way, and the waster goes on making waste. Up! Elam; to the attack! Media; I have put an end to her sorrow.
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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 cause I am full of bitter grief; pains like the pains of a woman in childbirth have come on me: I am bent down with sorrow at what comes to my ears; I am shocked by what I 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 is wandering, fear has overcome me: the evening of my desire has been turned into shaking for 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 make ready the table, they put down the covers, they take food and drink. Up! you captains; put oil on your breastplates.
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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 so has the Lord said to me, Go, let a watchman be placed; let him give word of 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 war-carriages, horsemen by twos, war-carriages with asses, war-carriages with camels, let him give special 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 And the watchman gave a loud cry, O my lord, I am on the watchtower all day, and am placed in my watch every night:
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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 See, here come war-carriages with men, horsemen by twos: and in answer he said, Babylon is made low, is made low, and all her images are broken on the earth.
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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 crushed ones, the grain of my floor! I have given you the word which came to me from the Lord of armies, the God of Israel.
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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 word about Edom. A voice comes to me from Seir, Watchman, how far gone is the night? 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, The morning has come, but night is still to come: if you have questions to put, put them, and 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 word about Arabia. In the thick woods of Arabia will be your night's resting-place, O travelling bands of Dedanites!
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A prophecy against Arabia: You caravans of Dedanites, who camp in the thickets of Arabia,
14 Give water to him who is in need of water; give bread, O men of the land of Tema, to those in flight.
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bring water for the thirsty; you who live in Tema, bring food for the fugitives.
15 For they are in flight from the sharp sword, and the bent bow, and from the trouble of war.
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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 so has the Lord said to me, In a year, by the years of a servant working for payment, all the glory of Kedar will come to an end:
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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 rest of the bowmen, the men of war of the children of Kedar, will be small in number: for the Lord, the God of Israel, has said 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.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.
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.