New Revised Standard NRS
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 The oracle concerning the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the Negeb sweep on, it comes from the desert, from a terrible land.
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The word about the waste land. As storm-winds in the South go rushing through, it comes from the waste land, from the land greatly to be feared.
2 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.
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A vision of fear comes before my eyes; the worker of deceit goes on in his false way, and the waster goes on making waste. Up! Elam; to the attack! Media; I have put an end to her sorrow.
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.
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For this cause I am full of bitter grief; pains like the pains of a woman in childbirth have come on me: I am bent down with sorrow at what comes to my ears; I am shocked by what I see.
4 My mind reels, horror has appalled me; the twilight I longed for has been turned for me into trembling.
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My mind is wandering, fear has overcome me: the evening of my desire has been turned into shaking for me.
5 They prepare the table, they spread the rugs, they eat, they drink. Rise up, commanders, oil the shield!
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They make ready the table, they put down the covers, they take food and drink. Up! you captains; put oil on your breastplates.
6 For thus the Lord said to me: "Go, post a lookout, let him announce what he sees.
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For so has the Lord said to me, Go, let a watchman be placed; let him give word of what he sees:
7 When he sees riders, horsemen in pairs, riders on donkeys, riders on camels, let him listen diligently, very diligently."
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And when he sees war-carriages, horsemen by twos, war-carriages with asses, war-carriages with camels, let him give special attention.
8 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.
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And the watchman gave a loud cry, O my lord, I am on the watchtower all day, and am placed in my watch every night:
9 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."
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See, here come war-carriages with men, horsemen by twos: and in answer he said, Babylon is made low, is made low, and all her images are broken on the earth.
10 O my threshed and winnowed one, what I have heard from the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, I announce to you.
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O my crushed ones, the grain of my floor! I have given you the word which came to me from the Lord of armies, the God of Israel.
11 The oracle concerning Dumah. One is calling to me from Seir, "Sentinel, what of the night? Sentinel, what of the night?"
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The word about Edom. A voice comes to me from Seir, Watchman, how far gone is the night? how far gone is the night?
12 The sentinel says: "Morning comes, and also the night. If you will inquire, inquire; come back again."
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The watchman says, The morning has come, but night is still to come: if you have questions to put, put them, and come back again.
13 The oracle concerning the desert plain. In the scrub of the desert plain you will lodge, O caravans of Dedanites.
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The word about Arabia. In the thick woods of Arabia will be your night's resting-place, O travelling bands of Dedanites!
14 Bring water to the thirsty, meet the fugitive with bread, O inhabitants of the land of Tema.
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Give water to him who is in need of water; give bread, O men of the land of Tema, to those in flight.
15 For they have fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow, and from the stress of battle.
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For they are in flight from the sharp sword, and the bent bow, and from the trouble of war.
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;
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For so has the Lord said to me, In a year, by the years of a servant working for payment, all the glory of Kedar will come to an end:
17 and the remaining bows of Kedar's warriors will be few; for the Lord, the God of Israel, has spoken.
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And the rest of the bowmen, the men of war of the children of Kedar, will be small in number: for the Lord, the God of Israel, has said it.
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.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.