Isaiah 21

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
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 The burden of the desert of the sea. Just as the whirlwinds approach from Africa, it approaches from the desert, from a terrible land.
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 difficult vision has been announced to me: he who is unbelieving, he acts unfaithfully, and he who is a plunderer, he devastates. Ascend, O Elam! Lay siege, O Media! I have caused all its mourning to cease.
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 Because of this, my lower back has been filled with pain, and anguish has possessed me, like the anguish of a woman in labor. I fell down when I heard it. I was disturbed when I saw it.
4 My mind reels, shuddering assails me; My yearning for twilight has turned into dread.	4 My heart withered. The darkness stupefied me. Babylon, my beloved, has become a wonder to me.
5 They set the table, spread out the rugs; they eat, they drink. Rise up, O princes, oil the shield!	5 Prepare the table. Contemplate, from a place of observation, those who eat and drink. Rise up, you leaders! Take up the shield!
6 For thus says my Lord to me: Go, station a watchman, let him tell what he sees.	6 For the Lord has said this to me: “Go and station a watchman. And let him announce whatever he will see.”
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 And he saw a chariot with two horsemen, and a rider on an donkey, and a rider on a camel. And he considered them diligently, with an intense gaze.
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 And a lion cried out: “I am on the watchtower of the Lord, standing continually by day. And I am at my station, standing throughout the 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 Behold, a certain man approaches, a man riding on a two-horse chariot.” And he responded, and he said: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon! And all its graven gods have been crushed into the earth!
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 O my threshed grain! O sons of my threshing floor! What I have heard from the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, I have announced to you.”
11 Oracle on Edom: They call to me from Seir, "Watchman, how much longer the night? Watchman, how much longer the night?"	11 The burden of Dumah, cried out to me from Seir: “Watchman, how goes the night? Watchman, how goes the night?”
12 The watchman replies, "Morning has come, and again night. If you will ask, ask; come back again."	12 The watchman said: “Morning approaches with the night. If you are seeking: seek, and convert, and approach.”
13 Oracle on Arabia: In the thicket in the nomad country spend the night, O caravans of Dedanites.	13 The burden in Arabia. In the forest you shall sleep, in the evening on the paths of Dedanim.
14 Meet the thirsty, bring them water; you who dwell in the land of Tema, greet the fugitives with bread.	14 You who inhabit the land of the south: upon meeting the thirsty, bring water; meet the fugitive with bread.
15 They flee from the sword, from the whetted sword; From the taut bow, from the fury of battle.	15 For they are fleeing before the face of swords, before the face of a sword hanging over them, before the face of a bent bow, before the face of a grievous 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 the Lord said this to me: “After one more year, just like one year for a hired hand, all the glory of Kedar will be taken away.
17 Few of Kedar's stalwart archers shall remain, for the LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken.	17 And the remainder of the multitude of strong archers from the sons of Kedar will be few, for the Lord, the God of Israel, has spoken it.”