Isaiah 21

DOUAI-RHEIMS	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 The burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds come from the south, it cometh from the desert from a terrible land.	1 Oracle on the wastelands by the sea: Like whirlwinds sweeping in waves through the Negeb, there comes from the desert, from the fearful land,
2 A grievous vision is told me: he that is unfaithful dealeth unfaithfully : and he that is a spoiler, spoileth. Go up, O Elam, besiege, O Mede: I have made all the mourning thereof to cease.	2 A cruel sight, revealed to me: the traitor betrays, the despoiler spoils. "Go up, Elam; besiege, O Media; I will put an end to all groaning!"
3 Therefore are my loins filled with pain, anguish hath taken hold of me, as the anguish of a woman in labour: I fell down at the hearing of it, I was troubled at the seeing of it.	3 Therefore my loins are filled with anguish, pangs have seized me like those of a woman in labor; I am too bewildered to hear, too dismayed to look.
4 My heart failed, darkness amazed me: Babylon my beloved is become a wonder to me.	4 My mind reels, shuddering assails me; My yearning for twilight has turned into dread.
5 Prepare the table, behold in the watchtower them that eat and drink: arise, ye princes, take up the shield.	5 They set the table, spread out the rugs; they eat, they drink. Rise up, O princes, oil the shield!
6 For thus hath the Lord said to me: Go, and set a watchman: and whatsoever he shall see, let him tell.	6 For thus says my Lord to me: Go, station a watchman, let him tell what he sees.
7 And he saw a chariot with two horsemen, a rider upon an ass, and a rider upon a camel: and he beheld them diligently with much heed.	7 If he sees a chariot, a pair of horses, Someone riding an ass, someone riding a camel, Then let him pay heed, very close heed.
8 And a lion cried out: I am upon the watchtower of the Lord, standing continually by day: and I am upon my ward, standing whole nights.	8 Then the watchman cried, "On the watchtower, O my Lord, I stand constantly by day; And I stay at my post through all the watches of the night.
9 Behold this man cometh, the rider upon the chariot with two horsemen, and he answered, and said: Babylon is fallen, she is fallen, and all the graven gods thereof are broken unto the ground.	9 Here he comes now: a single chariot, a pair of horses; He calls out and says, 'Fallen, fallen is Babylon, And all the images of her gods are smashed to the ground.'"
10 O my thrashing and the children of my door, that which I have heard of the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, I have declared unto you.	10 O my people who have been threshed, beaten on my threshing floor! What I have heard from the LORD of hosts, The God of Israel, I have announced to you.
11 The burden of Duma calleth to me out of Seir: Watchman, what of the eight? watchman, what of the night?	11 Oracle on Edom: They call to me from Seir, "Watchman, how much longer the night? Watchman, how much longer the night?"
12 The watchman said: The morning cometh, also the night: if you seek, seek: return, come.	12 The watchman replies, "Morning has come, and again night. If you will ask, ask; come back again."
13 The burden in Arabia. In the forest at evening you shall sleep, in the paths of Dedanim.	13 Oracle on Arabia: In the thicket in the nomad country spend the night, O caravans of Dedanites.
14 Meeting the thirsty bring him water, you that inhabit the land of the south, meet with bread him that fleeth.	14 Meet the thirsty, bring them water; you who dwell in the land of Tema, greet the fugitives with bread.
15 For they are fled from before the swords, from the sword that hung over them, from the bent bow, from the face of a grievous battle.	15 They flee from the sword, from the whetted sword; From the taut bow, from the fury of battle.
16 For thus saith the Lord to me: Within a year, according to the years of a hireling, all the glory of Cedar shall be taken away.	16 For thus says the Lord to me: In another year, like those of a hireling, all the glory of Kedar shall come to an end.
17 And the residue of the number of strong archers of the children of Cedar shall be diminished: for the Lord the God of Israel hath spoken it.	17 Few of Kedar's stalwart archers shall remain, for the LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken.