Isaiah 21

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 The oracle concerning the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the Negeb sweep on, it comes from the desert, from a terrible 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 stern vision is told to me; the plunderer plunders, and the destroyer destroys. Go up, O Elam, lay siege, O Media; all the sighing she has caused I bring to an end.	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 the pangs of a woman in travail; I am bowed down so that I cannot hear, I am dismayed so that I cannot see.	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, horror has appalled me; the twilight I longed for has been turned for me into trembling.	4 My heart withered. The darkness stupefied me. Babylon, my beloved, has become a wonder to me.
5 They prepare the table, they spread the rugs, they eat, they drink. Arise, 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 the Lord said to me: "Go, set a watchman, let him announce 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 When he sees riders, horsemen in pairs, riders on asses, riders on camels, let him listen diligently, very diligently."	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 he who saw cried: "Upon a watchtower I stand, O Lord, continually by day, and at my post I am stationed whole nights.	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 And, behold, here come riders, horsemen in pairs!" And he answered, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon; and all the images of her gods he has shattered 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 threshed and winnowed one, what I have heard from the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, I announce 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 The oracle concerning Dumah. One is calling to me from Seir, "Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of 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 says: "Morning comes, and also the night. If you will inquire, inquire; come back again."	12 The watchman said: “Morning approaches with the night. If you are seeking: seek, and convert, and approach.”
13 The oracle concerning Arabia. In the thickets in Arabia you will lodge, O caravans of Dedanites.	13 The burden in Arabia. In the forest you shall sleep, in the evening on the paths of Dedanim.
14 To the thirsty bring water, meet the fugitive with bread, O inhabitants of the land of Tema.	14 You who inhabit the land of the south: upon meeting the thirsty, bring water; meet the fugitive with bread.
15 For they have fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow, and from the press 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 the Lord said to me, "Within a year, according to the years of a hireling, all the glory of Kedar will 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 and the remainder of the archers of the mighty men of the sons of Kedar will be few; 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.”