American Standard Version ASV
New International Version NIV
1 The burden of the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the South sweep through, it cometh from the wilderness, from a terrible 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 unto me; the treacherous man dealeth treacherously, and the destroyer destroyeth. Go up, O Elam; besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof 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 upon me, as the pangs of a woman in travail: I am pained so that I cannot hear; I am dismayed so that I cannot 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 fluttereth, horror hath affrighted me; the twilight that I desired hath been turned into trembling unto 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, ye 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 hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman: let him declare what he seeth:
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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 seeth a troop, horsemen in pairs, a troop of asses, a troop of camels, he shall hearken 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 as a lion: O Lord, I stand continually upon 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 cometh a troop of men, horsemen in pairs. And he answered and said, Fallen, fallen is Babylon; and all the graven images of her gods are 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 thou my threshing, and the grain of my floor! that which I have heard from Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto 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 calleth unto 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 cometh, and also the night: if ye will inquire, inquire ye: turn ye, come.
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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 upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye caravans of Dedanites.
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A prophecy against Arabia: You caravans of Dedanites, who camp in the thickets of Arabia,
14 Unto him that 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 grievousness 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 thus hath the Lord said unto 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 Jehovah, the God of Israel, hath 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.
The American Standard 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.