Isaiah 21
21THE MOURNFUL, inspired prediction (a burden to be lifted up) concerning the Desert of the Sea [which was Babylon after great dams were raised to control the waters of the Euphrates River which overflowed it like a sea--and would do so again]: As whirlwinds in the South (the Negeb) sweep through, so it [the judgment of God by hostile armies] comes from the desert, from a terrible land.H4853H4057H3220H5492H5045H2498H935H4057H3372H7762A 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 [caused by Babylon's ruthless oppressions] I will cause to cease [says the Lord].H7186H2380H5046H898H898H7703H7703H5927H5867H6696H4074H585H76733Therefore are my [Isaiah's] 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.H4975H4390H2479H6735H270H6735H3205H5753H8085H926H72004My mind reels {and} wanders, horror terrifies me. [In my mind's eye I am at the feast of Belshazzar. I see the defilement of the golden vessels taken from God's temple, I watch the handwriting appear on the wall--I know that Babylon's great king is to be slain.] The twilight I looked forward to with pleasure has been turned into fear {and} trembling for me.H3824H8582H6427H1204H5399H2837H7760H27315They prepare the table, they spread the rugs, [and having] set the watchers [the revelers take no other precaution], they eat, they drink. Arise, you princes, and oil your shields [for your deadly foe is at the gates]!H6186H7979H6822H6844H398H8354H6965H8269H4886H40436For thus has the Lord said to me: Go, set [yourself as] a watchman, let him declare what he sees.H136H559H3212H5975H6822H5046H72007And when he sees a troop, horsemen in pairs, a troop of donkeys, and a troop of camels, he shall listen diligently, very diligently.H7200H7393H6776H6571H7393H2543H7393H1581H7181H7182H7227H71828And [the watchman] cried like a lion, O Lord, I stand continually on the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my station every night.H7121H738H136H5975H8548H4707H3119H5324H4931H39159And see! Here comes a troop of men {and} chariots, horsemen in pairs! And he [the watchman] tells [what it foretells]: Babylon has fallen, has fallen! And all the graven images of her gods lie shattered on the ground [in my vision]!H935H7393H376H6776H6571H6030H559H894H5307H5307H6456H430H7665H77610O you my threshed and winnowed ones [my own people the Jews, who must be trodden down by Babylon], that which I have heard from the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, I have [joyfully] announced to you [Babylon is to fall]!H4098H1121H1637H8085H3068H6635H430H3478H504611The mournful, inspired prediction (a burden to be lifted up) concerning Dumah (Edom): One calls to me from Seir (Edom), Watchman, what of the night? [How far is it spent? How long till morning?] Guardian, what of the night?H4853H1746H7121H8165H8104H3915H8104H391512The watchman said, The morning comes, but also the night. [Another time, if Edom earnestly wishes to know] if you will inquire [of me], inquire; return, come again.H8104H559H1242H857H3915H1158H1158H7725H85713The 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 [from northern Arabia].H4853H6152H3293H6152H3885H736H172014To the thirsty [Dedanites] bring water, O inhabitants of the land of Tema [in Arabia]; meet the fugitive with bread [suitable] for him.H3427H776H8485H857H4325H7125H6771H6923H3899H507415For they have fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war [the press of battle].H5074H6440H2719H6440H5203H2719H6440H1869H7198H6440H3514H442116For the Lord has said this to me, Within a year, according to the years of a hireling [who will work no longer than was agreed], all the glory of Kedar [an Arabian tribe] will fail.H136H559H8141H8141H7916H3519H6938H361517And 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.H7605H4557H7198H1368H1121H6938H4591H3068H430H3478H1696
Columbus, OH
