Isaiah 21
A vision of judgment is announced, with Elam and Media laying siege to Babylon, causing the prophet to experience anguish and pain. A watchman is stationed to observe the approaching enemy, and he reports the fall of Babylon, with its idols crushed to the earth. The prophet also receives a message about the burden of Dumah, with the watchman responding that morning is approaching, and the people are urged to seek and convert. Additionally, the prophet speaks of the burden in Arabia, where the people are fleeing from war and will soon be defeated, with the glory of Kedar being taken away.
1The burden of the desert of the sea. Just as the whirlwinds approach from Africa, it approaches from the desert, from a terrible land2A 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 cease3Because 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 it4My heart withered. The darkness stupefied me. Babylon, my beloved, has become a wonder to me5Prepare the table. Contemplate, from a place of observation, those who eat and drink. Rise up, you leaders! Take up the shield6For the Lord has said this to me: "Go and station a watchman. And let him announce whatever he will see.7And he saw a chariot with two horsemen, and a rider on a donkey, and a rider on a camel. And he considered them diligently, with an intense gaze8And 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 night9Behold, 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 earth10O 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.11The burden of Dumah, cried out to me from Seir: "Watchman, how goes the night? Watchman, how goes the night?12The watchman said: "Morning approaches with the night. If you are seeking: seek, and convert, and approach.13The burden in Arabia. In the forest you shall sleep, in the evening on the paths of Dedanim14You who inhabit the land of the south: upon meeting the thirsty, bring water; meet the fugitive with bread15For 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 battle16For 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 away17And 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.
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