1 T he 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.

The 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 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.

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 F or 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.

Therefore 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 turns. Fear has come over me. The evening I have waited so long for has been turned into a time of shaking with fear.

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

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

6 F or the Lord says to me, “Go, set a man to keep watch. Let him tell what he sees.

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

7 W hen he sees men riding on horses, two by two, and men on donkeys, and men on camels, let him be very careful to watch.”

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

8 T hen 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.

And 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 N ow 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.”

And 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 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

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 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?”

The 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 says, “The morning comes, but also the night. If you have questions to ask, ask them, and come back again.” Word about Arabia

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

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

The 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 B ring water for the thirsty. O people of the land of Tema, give bread to the one who is running from trouble.

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

15 T hey are running from swords, from lifted swords, from bows that are ready to shoot, and from the trouble of battle.

For 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 said to me, “In a year, as the servant would count it, all the greatness of Kedar will come to an end.

For 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 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.”

And 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.