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.

The burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds in the south pass through, so it cometh 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.

A grievous vision is declared unto me: the treacherous dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. Go up, Elam! besiege, Media! All the sighing thereof have I made 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.

Therefore are my loins filled with pain; anguish hath taken hold upon me, as the anguish of a woman in travail: I am bowed down so as not to hear, I am dismayed so as not to 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.

My heart panteth, horror affrighteth me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into trembling unto 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!

Prepare the table, appoint the watch; eat, drink: arise, ye princes, anoint the shield.

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

For thus hath the Lord said unto me: Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth.

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.

And he saw chariots, horsemen by pairs, a chariot with asses, a chariot with camels; and he hearkened diligently with much heed.

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.

And he cried a lion, Lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward whole nights.

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!

—And behold, there cometh a chariot of men; horsemen by pairs. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto 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!

O my threshing, and the corn of my floor! What I have heard of Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto 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?

The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?

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

The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will inquire, inquire; return, come.

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.

The burden against Arabia. In the forest of Arabia shall ye lodge, caravans of Dedanites.

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

Bring ye water to meet the thirsty! The inhabitants of the land of Tema come forth with their bread for him that fleeth.

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

For they flee from the swords, from the drawn sword, and 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.

For thus hath the Lord said unto me: Within a year, according to the years of a hired servant, and all the glory of Kedar shall 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.

and the residue of the number of the archers, the mighty men of the sons of Kedar, shall be diminished: for Jehovah, the God of Israel, hath spoken.