New Living Translation NLT
New International Version NIV
1 This message came to me concerning Babylon—the desert by the sea : Disaster is roaring down on you from the desert, like a whirlwind sweeping in from the Negev.
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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 I see a terrifying vision: I see the betrayer betraying, the destroyer destroying. Go ahead, you Elamites and Medes, attack and lay siege. I will make an end to all the groaning Babylon 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 My stomach aches and burns with pain. Sharp pangs of anguish are upon me, like those of a woman in labor. I grow faint when I hear what God is planning; I am too afraid to look.
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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 and my heart races. I longed for evening to come, but now I am terrified of the dark.
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My heart falters, fear makes me tremble; the twilight I longed for has become a horror to me.
5 Look! They are preparing a great feast. They are spreading rugs for people to sit on. Everyone is eating and drinking. But quick! Grab your shields and prepare for battle. You are being attacked!
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They set the tables, they spread the rugs, they eat, they drink! Get up, you officers, oil the shields!
6 Meanwhile, the Lord said to me, “Put a watchman on the city wall. Let him shout out 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 He should look for chariots drawn by pairs of horses, and for riders on donkeys and camels. Let the watchman be fully alert.”
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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 watchman called out, “Day after day I have stood on the watchtower, my lord. Night after night I have remained at my 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 at last—look! Here comes a man in a chariot with a pair of horses!” Then the watchman said, “Babylon is fallen, fallen! All the idols of Babylon lie broken 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 people, threshed and winnowed, I have told you everything the LORD of Heaven’s Armies has said, everything the God of Israel has told me.
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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 This message came to me concerning Edom : Someone from Edom keeps calling to me, “Watchman, how much longer until morning? When will the night be over?”
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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 replies, “Morning is coming, but night will soon return. If you wish to ask again, then come back and ask.”
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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 This message came to me concerning Arabia: O caravans from Dedan, hide in the deserts of Arabia.
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A prophecy against Arabia: You caravans of Dedanites, who camp in the thickets of Arabia,
14 O people of Tema, bring water to these thirsty people, food to these weary refugees.
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bring water for the thirsty; you who live in Tema, bring food for the fugitives.
15 They have fled from the sword, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow and the terrors 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 The Lord said to me, “Within a year, counting each day, 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 Only a few of its courageous archers will survive. I, the LORD, the God of Israel, have 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.
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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.