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The Book of the Prophet Isaiah

Unlocked Dynamic Bible :: World English Bible Catholic

- Chapter 21 -

(Revelation 18:1–8)
1
Yahweh gave this message about a land soon to become a desert: An army will soon come from the southern Judean wilderness to invade that land; they are an army that causes their enemies to be terrified, an army that will come sweeping through the wilderness from a terrible land.
2
Yahweh showed me a terrifying vision: In the vision I saw an army that will betray people and steal their possessions after they conquer them. Yahweh said, “You armies from Elam and Media, surround Babylon and prepare to attack it! I will cause the groaning and suffering that Babylon caused to cease!”
3
Because of that, my body is full of pain; my pain is like the pain that women who are giving birth experience. When I hear about and see what God is planning to do, I am shocked.
4
My heart shakes within me, and I tremble with fear. Early evening is my favorite time of day, but now terror has taken over and I am afraid.
5
In the vision I saw that the leaders of Babylonia were preparing a great feast. They had spread rugs for people to sit on; everyone was eating and drinking. But you should get up and prepare your shields, you princes of Babylon, because you are about to be attacked!
6
Then Yahweh said to me, “Put a watchman on the wall of Jerusalem, and tell him to shout what he sees.
7
Tell him to watch for chariots pulled by pairs of horses, and men riding camels and donkeys, coming from Babylon. Tell the watchman to watch and listen carefully!”
8
So I did that, and one day the watchman called out, “Day after day I have stood on this watchtower, and I have continued to watch during the day and during the night.
9
A man comes riding in a chariot pulled by two horses. I called out to him, and he answered, ’Babylon has been destroyed! All the idols in Babylon lie in pieces on the ground!’”
10
My people in Judah, the army of Babylon has caused you to suffer greatly as though you were grain that was threshed and winnowed. But now I have told you what Yahweh, Commander of the angel armies, whom we Israelites worship, told me about Babylon.

The Burden against Edom

(Isaiah 34:5–17)
11
Yahweh gave this message about Edom: Someone from Edom has been calling to me saying, “Watchman, how long will it be before the night is over?”
12
The watchman, replied, “It will soon be morning, but after that, it will soon be night again. If you want to ask your question, then ask it now, and then come back again.”

The Burden against Arabia

13
Yahweh gave this message about Arabia: Give this message to people traveling in caravans from the town of Dedan in northwest Arabia, travelers who camp in the scrub there. Tell them to bring water for those who are thirsty.
14
And you people who live in the city of Tema in northwest Arabia, must bring food for the refugees who are fleeing from their enemies.
15
They are fleeing in order not to be killed by their enemies’ swords and not to be shot in battles by arrows.
16
Yahweh said to me, “Exactly one year from now, all the greatness of the region of Kedar in Arabia will end.
17
Only a few of their soldiers who know well how to shoot arrows will remain alive. That will surely happen because I, Yahweh, have said it.”
(Revelation 18:1–8)
1
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 sighing.
3
Therefore my thighs are filled with anguish. Pains have seized me, like the pains of a woman in labor. I am in so much pain that I can’t hear. I am so dismayed that I can’t see.
4
My heart flutters. Horror has frightened me. The twilight that I desired has been turned into trembling for me.
5
They prepare the table. They set the watch. They eat. They drink. Rise up, you princes, oil the shield!
6
For the Lord said to me, “Go, set a watchman. Let him declare what he sees.
7
When he sees a troop, horsemen in pairs, a troop of donkeys, a troop of camels, he shall listen diligently with great attentiveness.”
8
He cried like a lion: “Lord, I stand continually on the watchtower in the daytime, and every night I stay at my post.
9
Behold, here comes a troop of men, horsemen in pairs.” He answered, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon; and all the engraved images of her gods are broken to the ground.
10
You are my threshing, and the grain of my floor!” That which I have heard from the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, I have declared to you.

The Burden against Edom

(Isaiah 34:5–17)
11
The burden of Dumah. One calls to me out of Seir, “Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?”
12
The watchman said, “The morning comes, and also the night. If you will inquire, inquire. Come back again.”

The Burden against Arabia

13
The burden on Arabia. You will lodge in the thickets in Arabia, you caravans of Dedanites.
14
They brought water to him who was thirsty. The inhabitants of the land of Tema met the fugitives with their bread.
15
For they fled away from the swords, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow, and from the heat of battle.
16
For the Lord said to me, “Within a year, as a worker bound by contract would count it, all the glory of Kedar will fail,
17
and the residue of the number of the archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, will be few; for the LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken it.”