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Isaiah 21

21
God Commands That Babylon Be Taken
1The pronouncement concerning the #21:1 Or sandy wastes, sea countrywilderness of the sea:
As windstorms in the #21:1 I.e., South countryNegev come in turns,
It comes from the wilderness, from a terrifying land.
2A 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 put an end to all #21:2 Lit her groaningthe groaning she has caused.
3For 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.
4My #21:4 Lit heart has wanderedmind reels, #21:4 Lit shudderinghorror overwhelms me;
The twilight I longed for has been turned into trembling for me.
5They set the table, they #21:5 Or spread out the rugs or possibly they arranged the seatingspread out the cloth, they eat, they drink;
“Rise up, captains, oil the shields!”
6For this is what the Lord says to me:
“Go, station the lookout, have him report what he sees.
7“When he sees #21:7 Or ridersa column of chariots, horsemen in pairs,
A train of donkeys, a train of camels,
He is to pay close attention, very close attention.”
8Then #21:8 As in DSS; MT he called like a lionthe lookout called,
“Lord, I stand continually by day on the watchtower,
And I am stationed every night at my guard post.
9“Now behold, here comes a troop of riders, horsemen in pairs.”
And one said, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon;
And all the images of her gods #21:9 Lit he has shattered to the earthare shattered on the ground.”
10My downtrodden people, and my #21:10 Lit sonafflicted of the threshing floor!
What I have heard from the Lord of armies,
The God of Israel, I make known to you.
Pronouncements about Edom and Arabia
11The pronouncement concerning #21:11 As in LXX; MT Dumah, silenceEdom:
One keeps calling to me from Seir,
“Watchman, #21:11 Lit what is the time of the night?how far gone is the night?
Watchman, #21:11 Lit what is the time of the night?how far gone is the night?”
12The watchman says,
“Morning comes but also night.
If you would inquire, inquire;
Come back again.”
13The pronouncement about Arabia:
In the thickets of Arabia you #21:13 Or will spendmust spend the night,
You caravans of Dedanites.
14Bring water #21:14 Lit to meetfor the thirsty,
You inhabitants of the land of Tema;
Meet the fugitive with bread.
15For they have fled from the swords,
From the drawn sword, and from the bent bow,
And from the press of battle.
16For this is what the Lord said to me: “In a year, as #21:16 Lit the years of a hireda hired worker would count it, all the splendor of Kedar will come to an end; 17and the remainder of the number of bowmen, the warriors of the sons of Kedar, will be few; for the Lord God of Israel has spoken.”

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Isaiah 21: NASB2020

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