Isaiah 21:1-17

Here is a prophecy concerning Babylon, the Desert by the Sea: As whirlwinds rushing in from the southland, an invader comes in from the desert, from a land to be feared. A terrifying revelation has been given to me: The betrayer betrays; the destroyer destroys. Arise, you Elamites! Lay siege, you Medes! I will put an end to all the grief she brought to the nations. There’s a churning deep inside me, like labor pains of a woman about to give birth. I’m too anguished by what I hear and too frightened by what I see. My mind is reeling; I’m filled with panic. I longed for twilight, but now I tremble through the night. I see them prepare the table and spread their rugs, then they eat and they drink. Get up, you military officers! Anoint your shields for battle! For this is what the Lord said to me: “Go post a sentry and have him report what he sees. When he sees them come with chariots and advancing warriors riding on horses, donkeys, and camels, let him be alert—extremely alert!” Then the sentry cries out, “I continually stand on this watchtower day after day for you, O Lord. I’m stationed at my post throughout the night. Look! Someone’s coming! It’s a man in a chariot with a team of horses. He shouts out, ‘Fallen, fallen, Babylon has fallen! All the idols of their gods lie shattered on the ground!’ ” My people, lying crushed on the threshing floor, I declare to you what I have heard from the God of Israel, YAHWEH, the Commander of Angel Armies. Here is a prophecy about Dumah: Someone keeps calling me from the land of Edom, saying, “Watchman, how much longer is the night? Watchman, how much longer is the night?” The watchman answers, “Morning comes, but a dark night endures. If you want to ask again, then come back and ask.” A prophecy concerning Arabia: You caravans from Dedan, you will camp among the thickets in the desert land of Arabia. People of Tema, come and bring water to the thirsty and bread for the fugitives. For they have fled from the battle, from the drawn swords, from the bent bows, and from the weight of warfare. This is what the Sovereign God said to me: “Within exactly one year, all the splendor of Kedar will end. And all the weapons left of Kedar’s warriors will be few, for the Lord YAHWEH, the God of Israel, has spoken.”