Isaiah 21

1 “The vision of the desert. It comes like a whirlwind sweeping through the wilderness, coming from a wilderness and a fearsome land.”

2 “A harsh vision was declared to me: the treacherous one deals treacherously, and the lawbreaker acts lawlessly. The Elamites come against me, and Persian ambassadors attack me. Now I will groan and try to comfort myself.”

3 “My waist is weak, and pain has seized me like a woman in labor. I did wrong so that I would not hear. I hurried so that I would not see.”

4 “My heart wanders, wrongdoing overwhelms me, and fear occupies my soul.”

5 “Prepare the table, eat, and drink. Rise, rulers, and prepare your shields.”

6 The Lord said to me,

“Go and station a watchman for yourself, and report whatever you see.”

7 “I saw two mounted horsemen, a rider on a donkey, and a rider on a camel. Listen very carefully.”

8 Call Uriah to the Lord’s watchtower.

He said,

“I have stood continually by day, and I have remained at my post every night.”

9 “Look, a rider with a pair of horses is coming.”

Then he answered,

“Babylon has fallen! All her images and the works of her hands have been crushed to the ground.”

10 “You who remain and suffer pain, hear what I heard from the Lord of armies, which the God of Israel declared to us.”

11 The vision concerning Edom. Someone calls to me from Seir:

“Guard the battlements.”

12 “I guard in the morning and through the night. If you would ask, ask. Stay with me.”

13 “You may spend the evening in the forest or along Dedan’s road.”

14 “People living in Teman’s country, bring water to meet the thirsty and bread to meet the fugitives,”

15 “Because of the many fugitives and those who lost their way, because of the many swords and drawn bows, and because of the many who fell in war.”

16 “This is what the Lord said to me: ‘Within one year, counted as exactly as a hired worker’s term, the glory of Kedar’s people will fail.’”

17 “Only a few of Kedar’s strong archers will remain, because the Lord God of Israel has spoken.”