1 T he burden of the wilderness of the sea. `Like hurricanes in the south for passing through, From the wilderness it hath come, From a fearful 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 hard vision hath been declared to me, The treacherous dealer is dealing treacherously, And the destroyer is destroying. Go up, O Elam, besiege, O Media, All its sighing I have caused 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 filled have been my loins great pain, Pangs have seized me as pangs of a travailing woman, I have been bent down by hearing, I have been troubled by seeing.

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 W andered hath my heart, trembling hath terrified me, The twilight of my desire He hath made a fear to 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 A rrange the table, watch in the watch-tower, Eat, drink, rise, ye heads, 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 said the Lord unto me: `Go, station the watchman, That which he seeth let him declare.'

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

7 A nd he hath seen a chariot -- a couple of horsemen, The rider of an ass, the rider of a camel, And he hath given attention -- He hath increased attention!

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 crieth -- a lion, `On a watch-tower my lord, I am standing continually by day, And on my ward I am stationed 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 lo, this, the chariot of a man is coming, A couple of horsemen.' And he answereth and saith: `Fallen, fallen hath Babylon, And all the graven images of her gods He hath broken to the earth.

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 my threshing, and the son of my floor, That which I heard from Jehovah of Hosts, God of Israel, I have declared to 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. Unto me is calling from 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 hath said, `Come hath morning, and also night, If ye inquire, inquire ye, turn back, 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 on Arabia. In a forest in Arabia ye lodge, O travellers of Dedanim.

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

14 T o meet the thirsty brought water have Inhabitants of the land of Tema, With his bread they came before a fugitive.

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 from the face of destructions they fled, From the face of a stretched-out sword, And from the face of a trodden bow, And from the face of the grievousness of battle.

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 said the Lord unto me: `Within a year, as years of a hireling, Consumed hath been all the honour of Kedar.

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 remnant of the number of bow-men, The mighty of the sons of Kedar are few, For Jehovah, God of Israel, hath spoken!'

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.”