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 special word about the place by the sea where no people live: As wind-storms in the Negev go rushing through, it comes from the desert, from a bad 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 hard special dream has been shown to me. The one who hurts still goes on hurting others, and the destroyer still destroys. Go up, Elam. Gather your armies around, Media. I will bring an end to all the crying 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 body is full of suffering. Pains have taken hold of me like the pains of a woman giving birth. I am so troubled that I cannot hear. I am so afraid that 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 turns. Fear has come over me. The evening I have waited so long for has been turned into a time of shaking with fear.

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

They set the tables. They spread out the cloth. They eat and drink. Rise up, captains, oil the battle-coverings!

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

For the Lord says to me, “Go, set a man to keep watch. Let him tell 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 men riding on horses, two by two, and men on donkeys, and men on camels, let him be very careful to watch.”

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 watchman called out like a lion, “O Lord, I stand watching from the watch-tower at all times during the day. And I stand there every night.

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 see, here comes an army of men riding on horses, two by two.” One answered and said, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon. All the objects of her gods are broken to pieces 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 people of Israel, you were beaten and crushed like grain! What I have heard from the Lord of All, the God of Israel, I make known to you. Word about Edom

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

The special word about Edom: One is calling to me from Seir, “Watchman, what is the time of night? Watchman, what is the time of 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, “The morning comes, but also the night. If you have questions to ask, ask them, and come back again.” Word about Arabia

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

The special word about Arabia: You must stay the night among the trees of Arabia, O traveling people of Dedanim.

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 people of the land of Tema, give bread to the one who is running from trouble.

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

They are running from swords, from lifted swords, from bows that are ready to shoot, and from the trouble 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 the Lord said to me, “In a year, as the servant would count it, all the greatness of Kedar will come to an end.

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 rest of the men who use the bow, the strong men of the sons of Kedar, will be few. For the Lord God of Israel has spoken.”