1 T he burden of the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the South sweep through, it cometh from the wilderness, from a terrible land.

The oracle concerning the wilderness of the sea. As windstorms in the Negev sweep on, It comes from the wilderness, from a terrifying land.

2 A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous man dealeth treacherously, and the destroyer destroyeth. Go up, O Elam; besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease.

A harsh vision has been shown to me; The treacherous one still deals treacherously, and the destroyer still destroys. Go up, Elam, lay siege, Media; I have made an end of all the groaning she has caused.

3 T herefore are my loins filled with anguish; pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman in travail: I am pained so that I cannot hear; I am dismayed so that I cannot see.

For this reason my loins are full of anguish; Pains have seized me like the pains of a woman in labor. I am so bewildered I cannot hear, so terrified I cannot see.

4 M y heart fluttereth, horror hath affrighted me; the twilight that I desired hath been turned into trembling unto me.

My mind reels, horror overwhelms me; The twilight I longed for has been turned for me into trembling.

5 T hey prepare the table, they set the watch, they eat, they drink: rise up, ye princes, anoint the shield.

They set the table, they spread out the cloth, they eat, they drink; “Rise up, captains, oil the shields,”

6 F or thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman: let him declare what he seeth:

For thus the Lord says to me, “Go, station the lookout, let him report what he sees.

7 a nd when he seeth a troop, horsemen in pairs, a troop of asses, a troop of camels, he shall hearken diligently with much heed.

“When he sees riders, horsemen in pairs, A train of donkeys, a train of camels, Let him pay close attention, very close attention.”

8 A nd he cried as a lion: O Lord, I stand continually upon the watch-tower in the day-time, and am set in my ward whole nights;

Then the lookout called, “ O Lord, I stand continually by day on the watchtower, And I am stationed every night at my guard post.

9 a nd, behold, here cometh a troop of men, horsemen in pairs. And he answered and said, Fallen, fallen is Babylon; and all the graven images of her gods are broken unto the ground.

“Now behold, here comes a troop of riders, horsemen in pairs.” And one said, “ Fallen, fallen is Babylon; And all the images of her gods are shattered on the ground.”

10 O thou my threshing, and the grain of my floor! that which I have heard from Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto you.

O my threshed people, and my afflicted of the threshing floor! What I have heard from the Lord of hosts, The God of Israel, I make known to you. Oracles about Edom and Arabia

11 T he burden of Dumah. One calleth unto me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?

The oracle concerning Edom. One keeps calling to me from Seir, “Watchman, how far gone is the night? Watchman, how far gone is the night?”

12 T he watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will inquire, inquire ye: turn ye, come.

The watchman says, “Morning comes but also night. If you would inquire, inquire; Come back again.”

13 T he burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye caravans of Dedanites.

The oracle about Arabia. In the thickets of Arabia you must spend the night, O caravans of Dedanites.

14 U nto him that was thirsty they brought water; the inhabitants of the land of Tema did meet the fugitives with their bread.

Bring water for the thirsty, O inhabitants of the land of Tema, Meet the fugitive with bread.

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

For they have fled from the swords, From the drawn sword, and from the bent bow And from the press of battle.

16 F or thus hath the Lord said unto me, Within a year, according to the years of a hireling, all the glory of Kedar shall fail;

For thus the Lord said to me, “In a year, as a hired man would count it, all the splendor of Kedar will terminate;

17 a nd the residue of the number of the archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be few; for Jehovah, the God of Israel, hath spoken it.

and the remainder of the number of bowmen, the mighty men of the sons of Kedar, will be few; for the Lord God of Israel has spoken.”