New International Version NIV
New Revised Standard NRS
1 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.
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The oracle concerning the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the Negeb sweep on, it comes from the desert, from a terrible land.
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.
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A stern vision is told to me; the betrayer 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 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.
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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 falters, fear makes me tremble; the twilight I longed for has become a horror to me.
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My mind reels, horror has appalled me; the twilight I longed for has been turned for me into trembling.
5 They set the tables, they spread the rugs, they eat, they drink! Get up, you officers, oil the shields!
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They prepare the table, they spread the rugs, they eat, they drink. Rise up, commanders, oil the shield!
6 This is what the Lord says to me: “Go, post a lookout and have him report what he sees.
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For thus the Lord said to me: "Go, post a lookout, let him announce what he sees.
7 When he sees chariots with teams of horses, riders on donkeys or riders on camels, let him be alert, fully alert.”
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When he sees riders, horsemen in pairs, riders on donkeys, riders on camels, let him listen diligently, very diligently."
8 And the lookout shouted, “Day after day, my lord, I stand on the watchtower; every night I stay at my post.
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Then the watcher called out: "Upon a watchtower I stand, O Lord, continually by day, and at my post I am stationed throughout the night.
9 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!’ ”
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Look, there they come, riders, horsemen in pairs!" Then he responded, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon; and all the images of her gods lie shattered on the ground."
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.
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O my threshed and winnowed one, what I have heard from the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, I announce to you.
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?”
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The oracle concerning Dumah. One is calling to me from Seir, "Sentinel, what of the night? Sentinel, what of the night?"
12 The watchman replies, “Morning is coming, but also the night. If you would ask, then ask; and come back yet again.”
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The sentinel says: "Morning comes, and also the night. If you will inquire, inquire; come back again."
13 A prophecy against Arabia: You caravans of Dedanites, who camp in the thickets of Arabia,
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The oracle concerning the desert plain. In the scrub of the desert plain you will lodge, O caravans of Dedanites.
14 bring water for the thirsty; you who live in Tema, bring food for the fugitives.
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Bring water to the thirsty, meet the fugitive with bread, O inhabitants of the land of Tema.
15 They flee from the sword, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow and from the heat of battle.
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For they have fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow, and from the stress of battle.
16 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.
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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 The survivors of the archers, the warriors of Kedar, will be few.” The LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken.
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and the remaining bows of Kedar's warriors will be few; for the Lord, the God of Israel, has spoken.
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.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.