The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
New International Version NIV
1 A prophecy about the coastal desert: Like whirlwinds sweeping over the Negev, it comes from the desert, from a fearsome 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 dire vision has been shown to me: the betrayer betrays, and the spoiler spoils. 'Eilam, advance! Madai, lay siege! I will end all groaning.
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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 This is why my insides are racked with pain; I am seized by pangs, like a woman in labor; wrenched by what I hear, aghast at 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 reels, shuddering assails me. The twilight I longed for terrifies 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 set the table, light the lamps, eat and drink - "Get going, princes! Oil the shields!"
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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 this is what Adonai said to me: "Go, post a watchman to report 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 If he sees the cavalry, horsemen in pairs, riders on donkeys, riders on camels, he must be on alert, on full 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 He calls out like a lion: "My lord, I stand on the watchtower all day long, I stay at my post all 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 Then, as they appeared - the cavalry, horsemen in pairs - he spoke these words: "She has fallen! She has fallen - Bavel! All the carved images of her gods lie shattered 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 My people, who have been threshed, grain trodden down on my threshing-floor: I am telling you what I have heard from ADONAI-Tzva'ot, the God of Isra'el.
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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 A prophecy about Dumah: Someone is calling to me from Se'ir: "Watchman, how much longer is it night? Watchman, how much longer is it 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 answers: "Morning is coming, but also the night. If you want to ask, ask! 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 A prophecy about Arabia: You caravans of D'danim will camp in the desert growth of Arabia.
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A prophecy against Arabia: You caravans of Dedanites, who camp in the thickets of Arabia,
14 Bring water to the thirsty, you who live in Teima, greet the fugitives with food;
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bring water for the thirsty; you who live in Tema, bring food for the fugitives.
15 because they are fleeing the sword, the drawn sword, the bent bow and the press 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 this is what Adonai has told me: "Within a year [and not a day more], as if a hired worker were keeping track of the time, 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 Few of Kedar's valiant archers will be left. " ADONAI the God of Isra'el has 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.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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.