Isaiah 21 - New International Version (NIV)

A Prophecy Against Babylon

21 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) lay siege!
I will bring to an end all the groaning she caused.

3 At this my body is racked with pain,(I)
pangs seize me, like those of a woman in labor;(J)
I am staggered by what I hear,
I am bewildered(K) by what I see.
4 My heart(L) falters,
fear makes me tremble;(M)
the twilight I longed for
has become a horror(N) to me.

5 They set the tables,
they spread the rugs,
they eat, they drink!(O)
Get up, you officers,
oil the shields!(P)

6 This is what the Lord says to me:

“Go, post a lookout(Q)
and have him report what he sees.
7 When he sees chariots(R)
with teams of horses,
riders on donkeys
or riders on camels,(S)
let him be alert,
fully alert.”

8 And the lookout[a](T) shouted,

“Day after day, my lord, I stand on the watchtower;
every night I stay at my post.
9 Look, here comes a man in a chariot(U)
with a team of horses.
And he gives back the answer:
‘Babylon(V) has fallen,(W) has fallen!
All the images of its gods(X)
lie shattered(Y) on the ground!’”

10 My people who are crushed on the threshing floor,(Z)
I tell you what I have heard
from the Lord Almighty,
from the God of Israel.

A Prophecy Against Edom

11 A prophecy against Dumah[b]:(AA)

Someone calls to me from Seir,(AB)
“Watchman, what is left of the night?
Watchman, what is left of the night?”
12 The watchman replies,
“Morning is coming, but also the night.
If you would ask, then ask;
and come back yet again.”

A Prophecy Against Arabia

13 A prophecy(AC) against Arabia:(AD)

You caravans of Dedanites,(AE)
who camp in the thickets of Arabia,
14 bring water for the thirsty;
you who live in Tema,(AF)
bring food for the fugitives.
15 They flee(AG) from the sword,(AH)
from the drawn sword,
from the bent bow
and from the heat of battle.

16 This is what the Lord says to me: “Within one year, as a servant bound by contract(AI) would count it, all the splendor(AJ) of Kedar(AK) will come to an end. 17 The survivors of the archers, the warriors of Kedar, will be few.(AL)” The Lord, the God of Israel, has spoken.(AM)

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 21:8 Dead Sea Scrolls and Syriac; Masoretic Text A lion
  2. Isaiah 21:11 Dumah, a wordplay on Edom, means silence or stillness.

Cross references

  1. Isaiah 21:1 : S Isa 13:1
  2. Isaiah 21:1 : Isa 13:21; Jer 50:12; 51:43
  3. Isaiah 21:1 : S Job 1:19
  4. Isaiah 21:1 : Da 11:40; Zec 9:14
  5. Isaiah 21:2 : Ps 60:3
  6. Isaiah 21:2 : Isa 24:16; 33:1
  7. Isaiah 21:2 : S Ge 10:22; Isa 22:6
  8. Isaiah 21:2 : S Isa 13:3; Jer 25:25; 51:28
  9. Isaiah 21:3 : S Job 14:22
  10. Isaiah 21:3 : S Ge 3:16; Ps 48:6; Isa 26:17; 37:3; Jer 30:6; 48:41; 49:22; Jn 16:21
  11. Isaiah 21:3 : Da 7:28; 8:27; 10:16
  12. Isaiah 21:4 : Isa 7:4; 35:4
  13. Isaiah 21:4 : S Isa 13:8; Da 5:9
  14. Isaiah 21:4 : S Ps 55:5
  15. Isaiah 21:5 : Isa 5:12; 22:2, 13; 23:7; 24:8; 32:13; Jer 25:16, 27; 51:39, 57; Da 5:2
  16. Isaiah 21:5 : 2Sa 1:21; 1Ki 10:16-17; Jer 46:3; 51:11
  17. Isaiah 21:6 : S 2Ki 9:17
  18. Isaiah 21:7 : ver 9
  19. Isaiah 21:7 : S Jdg 6:5
  20. Isaiah 21:8 : Mic 7:7; Hab 2:1
  21. Isaiah 21:9 : ver 7
  22. Isaiah 21:9 : S Isa 13:1; 47:1, 5; S Rev 14:8
  23. Isaiah 21:9 : Isa 47:11; Jer 51:8; Da 5:30
  24. Isaiah 21:9 : S Lev 26:30; Isa 46:1; Jer 50:2; 51:44
  25. Isaiah 21:9 : S Isa 2:18
  26. Isaiah 21:10 : Isa 27:12; 28:27, 28; 41:15; Jer 51:33; Mic 4:13; Hab 3:12; Mt 3:12
  27. Isaiah 21:11 : S Ge 25:14; S Isa 34:11
  28. Isaiah 21:11 : Ge 32:3
  29. Isaiah 21:13 : Isa 13:1
  30. Isaiah 21:13 : S 2Ch 9:14
  31. Isaiah 21:13 : S Ge 10:7; S 25:3
  32. Isaiah 21:14 : S Ge 25:15
  33. Isaiah 21:15 : S Isa 13:14
  34. Isaiah 21:15 : Isa 31:8
  35. Isaiah 21:16 : S Lev 25:50
  36. Isaiah 21:16 : S Isa 17:3
  37. Isaiah 21:16 : S Ge 25:13
  38. Isaiah 21:17 : S Dt 4:27; S Isa 10:19
  39. Isaiah 21:17 : S Isa 1:20; 16:14

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