Common English Bible CEB
English Standard Version ESV
1 An oracle about the wilderness near the sea. Like whirlwinds sweeping through the arid southern plain, it comes from the desert, from a fearsome land.
1
The oracle concerning the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the Negeb sweep on, it comes from the wilderness, from a terrible land.
2 A harsh vision was proclaimed to me: The betrayer betrays, and the destroyer destroys. Go up, Elam! Lay siege, Media! Put an end to all her groaning.
2
A stern vision is told to me; the traitor betrays, and the destroyer destroys. Go up, O Elam; lay siege, O Media; all the sighing she has caused I bring to an end.
3 Therefore, I'm shaken to my core in anguish. Pains have seized me like the pains of a woman in labor. I'm too bent over to hear, too dismayed to see.
3
Therefore my loins are filled with anguish; pangs have seized me, like the pangs of a woman in labor; I am bowed down so that I cannot hear; I am dismayed so that I cannot see.
4 My heart pounds; convulsions overpower me. He has turned my evening of pleasure into dread—
4
My heart staggers; horror has appalled me; the twilight I longed for has been turned for me into trembling.
5 setting the table, spreading the cloth, eating, drinking. "Arise, captains! Polish the shields."
5
They prepare the table, they spread the rugs, they eat, they drink. Arise, O princes; oil the shield!
6 The Lord said this to me: "Go, post a lookout to report what he sees.
6
For thus the Lord said to me: “Go, set a watchman; let him announce what he sees.
7 When he sees chariots, pairs of horsemen, donkey riders, camel riders, he should listen carefully, carefully, very carefully."
7
When he sees riders, horsemen in pairs, riders on donkeys, riders on camels, let him listen diligently, very diligently. ”
8 Then the seer called out: "Upon a watchtower, Lord, I'm standing all day; and upon my observation post I'm stationed throughout the night.
8
Then he who saw cried out: “Upon a watchtower I stand, O Lord, continually by day, and at my post I am stationed whole nights.
9 Here they come: charioteers, pairs of horsemen!" One spoke up and said, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon, and all the images of her gods are shattered on the ground!"
9
And behold, here come riders, horsemen in pairs! ” And he answered, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon; and all the carved images of her gods he has shattered to the ground. ”
10 Oh, my downtrodden people, threshed on my threshing floor, what I heard from the LORD of heavenly forces, the God of Israel, I reported to you.
10
O my threshed and winnowed one, what I have heard from the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, I announce to you.
11 An oracle about Dumah. Someone is calling to me from Seir: "Guard, how long is the night? Guard, how long is the night?"
11
The oracle concerning Dumah. One is calling to me from Seir, “Watchman, what time of the night? Watchman, what time of the night? ”
12 The guard said, "Morning has come, but it is still night. If you must inquire, inquire; come back again."
12
The watchman says: “Morning comes, and also the night. If you will inquire, inquire; come back again. ”
13 An oracle about the desert. In the woods, in the desert where you camp, caravans of the Dedanites
13
The oracle concerning Arabia. In the thickets in Arabia you will lodge, O caravans of Dedanites.
14 meet the thirsty with water; inhabitants of the land of Tema greet the refugees with bread.
14
To the thirsty bring water; meet the fugitive with bread, O inhabitants of the land of Tema.
15 They have fled from swords, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow and from the intensity of battle.
15
For they have fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow, and from the press of battle.
16 So the Lord said to me: Within a year, according to the number of years for which a laborer is hired, all the glory of Kedar will end;
16
For thus the Lord said to me, “Within a year, according to the years of a hired worker, all the glory of Kedar will come to an end.
17 there will be few Kedarite archers remaining. The LORD God of Israel has spoken.
17
And the remainder of the archers of the mighty men of the sons of Kedar will be few, for the Lord, the God of Israel, has spoken. ”
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025