King James Version KJV
New International Version NIV
2 A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. Go up, O Elam: besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease.
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.
3 Therefore are my loins filled with pain: pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman that travaileth: I was bowed down at the hearing of it; I was dismayed at the seeing of it.
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.
4 My heart panted, fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me.
4
My heart falters, fear makes me tremble; the twilight I longed for has become a horror to me.
5 Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield.
5
They set the tables, they spread the rugs, they eat, they drink! Get up, you officers, oil the shields!
6 For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth.
6
This is what the Lord says to me: “Go, post a lookout and have him report what he sees.
7 And he saw a chariot with a couple of horsemen, a chariot of asses, and a chariot of camels; and he hearkened 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 And he cried, A lion: My lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward whole nights:
8
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 cometh a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto 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 threshing, and the corn of my floor: that which I have heard of the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto you.
10
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. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?
11
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 cometh, and also the night: if ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, come.
12
The watchman replies, “Morning is coming, but also the night. If you would ask, then ask; and come back yet again.”
The King James Version 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.