Isaiah 21

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 The burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds in the south pass through; so 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 declared unto me; the treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. Go up, O Elam: besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made 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: pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman that travaileth: I was bowed down at the hearing of it; I was dismayed 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 panted, fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me.	4 My mind reels, shuddering assails me; My yearning for twilight has turned into dread.
5 Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint 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 unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth.	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 a couple of horsemen, a chariot of asses, and a chariot of camels; and he hearkened 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 he cried, A lion: My lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward 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 And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath 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 threshing, and the corn of my floor: that which I have heard of the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have I 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 Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? 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, and also the night: if ye will inquire, inquire ye: return, come.	12 The watchman replies, "Morning has come, and again night. If you will ask, ask; come back again."
13 The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye travelling companies of Dedanim.	13 Oracle on Arabia: In the thicket in the nomad country spend the night, O caravans of Dedanites.
14 The inhabitants of the land of Tema brought water to him that was thirsty, they prevented with their bread him that fled.	14 Meet the thirsty, bring them water; you who dwell in the land of Tema, greet the fugitives with bread.
15 For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.	15 They flee from the sword, from the whetted sword; From the taut bow, from the fury of battle.
16 For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Within a year, according to the years of an hireling, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail:	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 archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be diminished: for the LORD God of Israel hath spoken it.	17 Few of Kedar's stalwart archers shall remain, for the LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken.