Isaiah 21 - Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

God’s Message About Babylon

21 This is a message[a] about the “desert by the sea”[b]:

It is coming like a storm blowing through the Negev.
It is coming in from the desert, from a frightening nation.
2 I was given a vision of the hard times to come.
I see traitors turning against you.
I see people taking your wealth.

Elam, go against them!
Media, surround the city!
I will put an end to all their moaning.

3 I saw those terrible things, and now I am afraid.
My fear makes my stomach hurt like the pain of giving birth.
What I hear frightens me.
What I see makes me shake with fear.
4 I am worried and shaking with fear.
My pleasant evening has become a nightmare.

5 People are rushing around shouting their orders:
“Set the table!
Post the guard!
Get something to eat and drink!
Officers, get up!
Polish your shields!”

6 The Lord said to me, “Go find someone to guard this city. He must report whatever he sees. 7 Whether he sees a chariot and a team of horses or men riding donkeys or camels, he must listen carefully.”[c]

8 Then one day the watchman[d] called out,

“My master, every day I have been in the watchtower[e] watching.
Every night I have been standing on duty.
9 Look! I see a man in a chariot
with a team of horses.[f]

The messenger said,
“Babylon has been defeated!
It has fallen to the ground!
All the statues of her false gods
were thrown to the ground and broken to pieces.”

10 My people, you will be like the grain crushed on my threshing floor. I have told you everything I heard from the Lord All-Powerful, the God of Israel.

God’s Message About Dumah

11 This is a message about Dumah[g]:

There is someone calling to me from Seir,[h]
“Guard, how much of the night is left?
How much longer will it be night?”

12 The guard answered,
“Morning is coming, but then night will come again.
If you have something else to ask,
then come back[i] later and ask.”

God’s Message About Arabia

13 This is a message about Arabia:

A caravan from Dedan spent the night
near some trees in the Arabian Desert.
14 They gave water to some thirsty travelers.
The people of Tema gave them food.
15 They were running from swords
that were ready to kill.
They were running from bows
that were ready to shoot.
They were running from a hard battle.

16 The Lord told me this would happen. He said, “In one year, the way a hired helper counts time, all Kedar’s glory will be gone. 17 Only a few of the archers, the great soldiers of Kedar, will be left alive.” The Lord, the God of Israel, told me this.

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 21:1 message Or “burden.” Also in verses 11, 13.
  2. Isaiah 21:1 the desert by the sea Probably Babylon.
  3. Isaiah 21:7 Or “Whether he sees a column of teams of horsemen, columns of donkeys, or columns of camels, he must listen carefully.”
  4. Isaiah 21:8 the watchman “the seer,” an ancient title for a prophet. The standard Hebrew text has “a lion.”
  5. Isaiah 21:8 watchtower A tall building where guards stood and watched to see if anyone was coming near their city.
  6. Isaiah 21:9 a man … horses Or “a column of teams of horsemen.” This might be a team of horses pulling a war chariot or mounted archers in the Assyrian army who often worked in pairs.
  7. Isaiah 21:11 Dumah This Hebrew word means “silence.” It may refer to Edom or to a city in Arabia.
  8. Isaiah 21:11 Seir A mountain in Edom or a city in Arabia.
  9. Isaiah 21:12 come back This can also mean “change your heart” or “repent.”

You Might Also Like:

Isaiah 21 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

21 The 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. 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 ...
Read More

Isaiah 21 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

21 The burden of the forsaken (of the) sea. As whirlwinds come from the southwest, it cometh from [the] desert, from the horrible land. (The burden of the Sea of the Wilderness. Like whirlwinds come from the southwest, it cometh from the wilderness, from the horrible land.) 2 An hard revelation is t...
Read More

Isaiah 21 - World English Bible (WEB)

21 The burden of the wilderness of the sea.As whirlwinds in the South sweep through, it comes from the wilderness, from an awesome land. 2 A grievous vision is declared to me. The treacherous man deals treacherously, and the destroyer destroys. Go up, Elam; attack! I have stopped all of Media’s sig...
Read More

Isaiah 21 - The Voice (VOICE)

Isaiah is given a vision of a frightening event. It comes roaring at him like a sandstorm blowing across the Negev. The vision is harsh and violent, but very real. The prophet describes this vision and the others like it as “burdens,” for it is hard to bear such bad news. This particular vision is g...
Read More

Isaiah 21 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Watchman, Pay Attention!21 The burden of the desert by the sea:As windstorms sweep over the South,so it comes from the desert, a terrifying land.2 A harsh vision has been shown to me:“The traitor betrays, and the plunderer plunders.Go up, Elam! Besiege, Media!I have put an end to all her groaning.”3...
Read More

Isaiah 21 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Oracles concerning Babylon, Edom, and Arabia21 The oracle concerning the wilderness of the sea.As whirlwinds in the Negeb sweep on, it comes from the desert, from a terrible land.2 A stern vision is told to me; the plunderer plunders, and the destroyer destroys.Go up, O Elam, lay siege, O Media;all ...
Read More

Isaiah 21 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Oracles concerning Babylon, Edom, and Arabia21 The oracle concerning the wilderness of the sea.As whirlwinds in the Negeb sweep on, it comes from the desert, from a terrible land.2 A stern vision is told to me; the plunderer plunders, and the destroyer destroys.Go up, O Elam, lay siege, O Media;all ...
Read More

Isaiah 21 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Oracles concerning Babylon, Edom, and Arabia21 The oracle concerning the wilderness of the sea.As whirlwinds in the Negeb sweep on, it comes from the desert, from a terrible land.2 A stern vision is told to me; the betrayer betrays, and the destroyer destroys.Go up, O Elam, lay siege, O Media;all th...
Read More

Isaiah 21 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Oracles concerning Babylon, Edom, and Arabia21 The oracle concerning the wilderness of the sea.As whirlwinds in the Negeb sweep on, it comes from the desert, from a terrible land.(A)2 A stern vision is told to me; the betrayer betrays, and the destroyer destroys.Go up, O Elam; lay siege, O Media;all...
Read More

Isaiah 21 - New Living Translation (NLT)

A Message about Babylon21 This message came to me concerning Babylon—the desert by the sea[a]:Disaster is roaring down on you from the desert, like a whirlwind sweeping in from the Negev.2 I see a terrifying vision: I see the betrayer betraying, the destroyer destroying.Go ahead, you Elamites and Me...
Read More

Isaiah 21 - New Life Version (NLV)

Babylon to Be Destroyed21 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 special dream has been shown to me. The one who hurts still goes on hurting others, and the destroyer still...
Read More

Isaiah 21 - New King James Version (NKJV)

The Fall of Babylon Proclaimed21 The [a]burden against the Wilderness of the Sea.As (A)whirlwinds in the South pass through,So it comes from the desert, from a terrible land.2 A distressing vision is declared to me;(B)The treacherous dealer deals treacherously,And the plunderer plunders.(C)Go up, O ...
Read More

Isaiah 21 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

A prophecy against Babylon21 A prophecy against the Desert by the Sea:Like whirlwinds sweeping through the southland, an invader comes from the desert, from a land of terror. 2 A dire vision has been shown to me: the traitor betrays, the looter takes loot.Elam, attack! Media, lay siege! I will bring...
Read More

Isaiah 21 - New International Version (NIV)

A Prophecy Against Babylon21 A prophecy(A) against the Desert(B) by the Sea:Like whirlwinds(C) sweeping through the southland,(D) an invader comes from the desert, from a land of terror. 2 A dire(E) vision has been shown to me: The traitor betrays,(F) the looter takes loot.Elam,(G) attack! Media,(H)...
Read More

Isaiah 21 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

A Prophecy Against Babylon21 Here is a prophecy against Babylon that the Lord gave me. Babylon is known as the Desert by the Sea.An attack is coming through the desert. It is coming from a land of terror. It’s sweeping along like a windstorm blowing across the Negev Desert. 2 I have seen a vision ab...
Read More

Isaiah 21 - New English Translation (NET)

The Lord Will Judge Babylon21 This is an oracle[a] about the wilderness by the Sea:[b]Like strong winds blowing in the south,[c]one invades from the wilderness,from a land that is feared.2 I have received a distressing message:[d]“The deceiver deceives,the destroyer destroys.Attack, you Elamites!Lay...
Read More