1 T he mournful, inspired prediction (a burden to be lifted up) concerning the Desert of the Sea: As whirlwinds in the South (the Negeb) sweep through, so it comes from the desert, from a terrible land.

2 A hard and grievous vision is declared to me: the treacherous dealer deals treacherously, and the destroyer destroys. Go up, O Elam! Besiege, O Media! All the sighing I will cause to cease.

3 T herefore are my loins filled with anguish, pangs have seized me like the pangs of a woman in childbirth; I am bent and pained so that I cannot hear, I am dismayed so that I cannot see.

4 M y mind reels and wanders, horror terrifies me. The twilight I looked forward to with pleasure has been turned into fear and trembling for me.

5 T hey prepare the table, they spread the rugs, set the watchers, they eat, they drink. Arise, you princes, and oil your shields!

6 F or thus has the Lord said to me: Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he sees.

7 A nd when he sees a troop, horsemen in pairs, a troop of donkeys, and a troop of camels, he shall listen diligently, very diligently.

8 A nd cried like a lion, O Lord, I stand continually on the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my station every night.

9 A nd see! Here comes a troop of men and chariots, horsemen in pairs! And he tells: Babylon has fallen, has fallen! And all the graven images of her gods lie shattered on the ground!

10 O you my threshed and winnowed ones, that which I have heard from the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, I have announced to you!

11 T he mournful, inspired prediction (a burden to be lifted up) concerning Dumah (Edom): One calls to me from Seir (Edom), Watchman, what of the night? Guardian, what of the night?

12 T he watchman said, The morning comes, but also the night. if you will inquire, inquire; return, come again.

13 T he mournful, inspired prediction (a burden to be lifted up) concerning Arabia: In the forests and thickets of Arabia you shall lodge, O you caravans of Dedanites.

14 T o the thirsty bring water, O inhabitants of the land of Tema; meet the fugitive with bread for him.

15 F or they have fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.

16 F or the Lord has said this to me, Within a year, according to the years of a hireling, all the glory of Kedar will fail.

17 A nd the remainder of the number of archers and their bows, the mighty men of the sons of Kedar, will be diminished and few; for the Lord, the God of Israel, has spoken it.