New Revised Standard NRS
Common English Bible CEB
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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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.
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 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.
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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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.
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 heart pounds; convulsions overpower me. He has turned my evening of pleasure into dread—
5 They prepare the table, they spread the rugs, they eat, they drink. Rise up, commanders, oil the shield!
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setting the table, spreading the cloth, eating, drinking. "Arise, captains! Polish the shields."
6 For thus the Lord said to me: "Go, post a lookout, let him announce what he sees.
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The Lord said this to me: "Go, post a lookout to report 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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When he sees chariots, pairs of horsemen, donkey riders, camel riders, he should listen carefully, carefully, very carefully."
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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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.
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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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!"
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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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.
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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An oracle about Dumah. Someone is calling to me from Seir: "Guard, how long is the night? Guard, how long 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 guard said, "Morning has come, but it is still night. If you must inquire, inquire; 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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An oracle about the desert. In the woods, in the desert where you camp, caravans of the Dedanites
14 Bring water to the thirsty, meet the fugitive with bread, O inhabitants of the land of Tema.
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meet the thirsty with water; inhabitants of the land of Tema greet the refugees with bread.
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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They have fled from swords, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow and from the intensity of battle.
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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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;
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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there will be few Kedarite archers remaining. The LORD God of Israel has spoken.
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.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible