21:1 The burden of the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the South sweep through, it cometh from the wilderness, from a terrible land.
21:1 The oracle concerning the wilderness of the sea. As windstorms in the Negev sweep on, It comes from the wilderness, from a terrifying land.

21:2 A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous man dealeth treacherously, and the destroyer destroyeth. Go up, O Elam; besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease.
21:2 A harsh vision has been shown to me; The treacherous one still deals treacherously, [and] the destroyer still destroys. Go up, Elam, lay siege, Media; I have made an end of all the groaning she has caused.

21:3 Therefore are my loins filled with anguish; pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman in travail: I am pained so that I cannot hear; I am dismayed so that I cannot see.
21:3 For this reason my loins are full of anguish; Pains have seized me like the pains of a woman in labor. I am so bewildered I cannot hear, so terrified I cannot see.

21:4 My heart fluttereth, horror hath affrighted me; the twilight that I desired hath been turned into trembling unto me.
21:4 My mind reels, horror overwhelms me; The twilight I longed for has been turned for me into trembling.

21:5 They prepare the table, they set the watch, they eat, they drink: rise up, ye princes, anoint the shield.
21:5 They set the table, they spread out the cloth, they eat, they drink; "Rise up, captains, oil the shields,"

21:6 For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman: let him declare what he seeth:
21:6 For thus the Lord says to me, "Go, station the lookout, let him report what he sees.

21:7 and when he seeth a troop, horsemen in pairs, a troop of asses, a troop of camels, he shall hearken diligently with much heed.
21:7 "When he sees riders, horsemen in pairs, A train of donkeys, a train of camels, Let him pay close attention, very close attention."

21:8 And he cried as a lion: O Lord, I stand continually upon the watch-tower in the day-time, and am set in my ward whole nights;
21:8 Then the lookout called, "O Lord, I stand continually by day on the watchtower, And I am stationed every night at my guard post.

21:9 and, behold, here cometh a troop of men, horsemen in pairs. And he answered and said, Fallen, fallen is Babylon; and all the graven images of her gods are broken unto the ground.
21:9 "Now behold, here comes a troop of riders, horsemen in pairs." And one answered and said, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon; And all the images of her gods are shattered on the ground."

21:10 O thou my threshing, and the grain of my floor! that which I have heard from Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto you.
21:10 O my threshed [people,] and my afflicted of the threshing floor! What I have heard from the LORD of hosts, The God of Israel, I make known to you.

21:11 The burden of Dumah. One calleth unto me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?
21:11 The oracle concerning Edom. One keeps calling to me from Seir, " Watchman, how far gone is the night? Watchman, how far gone is the night? "

21:12 The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will inquire, inquire ye: turn ye, come.
21:12 The watchman says, "Morning comes but also night. If you would inquire, inquire; Come back again."

21:13 The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye caravans of Dedanites.
21:13 The oracle about Arabia. In the thickets of Arabia you must spend the night, O caravans of Dedanites.

21:14 Unto him that was thirsty they brought water; the inhabitants of the land of Tema did meet the fugitives with their bread.
21:14 Bring water for the thirsty, O inhabitants of the land of Tema, Meet the fugitive with bread.

21:15 For they fled away from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.
21:15 For they have fled from the swords, From the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, And from the press of battle.

21:16 For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Within a year, according to the years of a hireling, all the glory of Kedar shall fail;
21:16 For thus the Lord said to me, "In a year, as a hired man would count it, all the splendor of Kedar will terminate;

21:17 and the residue of the number of the archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be few; for Jehovah, the God of Israel, hath spoken it.
21:17 and the remainder of the number of bowmen, the mighty men of the sons of Kedar, will be few; for the LORD God of Israel has spoken. "