A Judgment on Babylon
1 A pronouncement 21:1 Is 13:1 concerning the desert by the sea: 21:1 Is 13:20–22; 14:23; 21:9; Jr 51:41–44
Like storms that pass over the Negev,
it comes from the desert, from the land of terror.
2 A troubling vision is declared to me:
"The treacherous one acts treacherously, 21:2 Is 24:16; 33:1
and the destroyer destroys.
Advance, Elam! Lay siege, you Medes!
I will put an end to all the groaning."
3 Therefore I am 21:3 Lit my waist is, or my insides are filled with anguish.
Pain grips me, like the pain of a woman in labor. 21:3 Ps 48:6; Is 13:8; 16:11; 26:17–18; Jr 4:31; 6:24; 22:23; 30:6; 50:43; Mc 4:9–10; 1Th 5:3
I am too perplexed to hear,
too dismayed to see.
4 My heart staggers;
horror terrifies me.
He has turned my last glimmer of hope 21:4 Lit my twilight
into sheer terror. 21:4 Dt 28:67
5 Prepare a table, 21:5 Jr 51:39,57; Dn 5:1–4 and spread out a carpet!
Eat and drink!
Rise up, you princes, and oil the shields!
6 For the Lord has said to me,
"Go, post a lookout;
let him report what he sees.
7 When he sees riders —
pairs of horsemen,
riders on donkeys,
riders on camels —
he must pay close attention."
8 Then the lookout 21:8 DSS, Syr; MT reads Then a lion reported,
"Lord, I stand on the watchtower all day, 21:8 Hab 2:1
and I stay at my post all night.
9 Look, riders come —
horsemen in pairs."
And he answered, saying,
"Babylon has fallen, 21:9 2Sm 1:19; Is 3:8; 14:12; Jr 51:8; Ezk 32:22; Rv 14:8; 18:2 has fallen.
All the images of her gods
have been shattered on the ground." 21:9 Is 46:1; Jr 50:2; 51:44
10 My people who have been crushed
on the threshing floor, 21:10 Jr 51:33; Mc 4:13
I have declared to you
what I have heard from the Lord of Armies,
the God of Israel.
A Pronouncement against Dumah
11 A pronouncement 21:11 Is 21:1 concerning Dumah: 21:11 Some Hb mss, LXX read Edom, 21:11 Gn 25:14
One calls to me from Seir, 21:11 Dt 2:8; Ezk 35:2
"Watchman, what is left of the night?
Watchman, what is left of the night? "
12 The watchman said,
"Morning has come, and also night.
If you want to ask, ask!
Come back again."
A Pronouncement against Arabia
13 A pronouncement concerning Arabia: 21:13 Jr 25:23–24; 49:28
In the desert 21:13 LXX, Syr, Tg, Vg read desert at evening brush
you will camp for the night,
you caravans of Dedanites. 21:13 Gn 10:7; Jr 25:23; 49:8; Ezk 27:15
14 Bring water for the thirsty.
The inhabitants of the land of Tema 21:14 Gn 25:15; Jb 6:19
meet 21:14 LXX, Syr, Tg, Vg read meet as a command the refugees with food.
15 For they have fled from swords,
from the drawn sword,
from the bow that is strung,
and from the stress of battle.
16 For the Lord said this to me: "Within one year, 21:16 Is 16:14 as a hired worker counts years, all the glory of Kedar 21:16 Ps 120:5; Sg 1:5; Is 42:11; 60:7; Jr 2:10; Ezk 27:21 will be gone. 17 The remaining Kedarite archers will be few in number." For the Lord, the God of Israel, has spoken.