Isaiah 21

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
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,	1 Proclamation about the coastal desert: As whirlwinds sweeping over the Negeb, he comes from thedesert, from a fearsome country.
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!"	2 A harsh vision has been shown me, 'The traitor betrays and the despoiler despoils. Advance, Elam, laysiege, Media!' I have cut short all groaning.
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.	3 This is why my loins are racked with pain, why I am seized with pangs like the pangs of a woman inlabour; I am too distressed to hear, too afraid to look.
4 My mind reels, shuddering assails me; My yearning for twilight has turned into dread.	4 My heart is bewildered, dread overwhelms me, the twilight I longed for has become my horror.
5 They set the table, spread out the rugs; they eat, they drink. Rise up, O princes, oil the shield!	5 They lay the table, spread the cloth, they eat, they drink. Up, princes, grease the shield!
6 For thus says my Lord to me: Go, station a watchman, let him tell what he sees.	6 For this is what the Lord has told me, 'Go, post a look-out, let him report what he sees.
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.	7 He will see cavalry, horsemen two by two, men mounted on donkeys, men mounted on camels; let himwatch alertly, be very alert indeed!'
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.	8 Then the look-out shouted, 'On the watchtower, Lord, I stay al day and at my post I stand al night.
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.'"	9 Now the cavalry is coming, horsemen two by two.' He shouted again and said, 'Babylon has fallen, hasfal en, and al the images of her gods he has shattered to the ground!'
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.	10 You whom I have threshed, grain of my threshing-floor, what I have heard from Yahweh Sabaoth, Godof Israel, I am tel ing you now.
11 Oracle on Edom: They call to me from Seir, "Watchman, how much longer the night? Watchman, how much longer the night?"	11 Proclamation about Dumah: From Seir, someone shouts to me, 'Watchman, what time of night?Watchman, what time of night?'
12 The watchman replies, "Morning has come, and again night. If you will ask, ask; come back again."	12 The watchman answers, 'Morning is coming, then night again. If you want to ask, ask! Come back!Come here!'
13 Oracle on Arabia: In the thicket in the nomad country spend the night, O caravans of Dedanites.	13 Proclamation about the wastelands: In the thickets, on the wastelands, you spend the night, youcaravans of Dedanites.
14 Meet the thirsty, bring them water; you who dwell in the land of Tema, greet the fugitives with bread.	14 Bring water for the thirsty! The inhabitants of Tema went with bread to greet the fugitive.
15 They flee from the sword, from the whetted sword; From the taut bow, from the fury of battle.	15 For these have fled before the sword, the naked sword and the bent bow, the press of battle.
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.	16 For this is what the Lord has told me, 'In one year's time as a hired worker reckons it, al the glory ofKedar will be finished
17 Few of Kedar's stalwart archers shall remain, for the LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken.	17 and, of the valiant archers, the Kedarites, hardly any wil be left, for Yahweh, God of Israel, hasspoken.'