The Holy Bible

A Prophecy Against Babylon

oracle against the Desert by the Sea.

Like whirlwinds in the Negev sweeping through,
it comes from the desert, from a land of terror.

2 A dire vision has been declared to me:

“The treacherous one acts treacherously,
and the destroyer destroys. Advance, O Elam!
Lay siege, O Media! I will put an end
to all the sighing she has caused.”

3 Therefore my loins are filled with anguish;
pangs have seized me, like the pangs of a woman in labour. I am distressed by what I hear,
I am dismayed by what I see. 4 My heart waivers,
horror terrifies me; the twilight I longed for
has been turned into trembling for me.

5 Prepare the table,
spread out the carpets, eat and drink! Rise up, you princes,
oil the shields!

6 For this is what the Lord has said to me:

“ ‘Go, post a lookout;
let him report what he sees. 7 When he sees chariots
and horsemen in pairs, chariots and donkeys,
chariots and camels, let him watch carefully,
very carefully’.

8 Then the lookout shouted:

‘My lord, I stand on the watchtower continually by day,
and I stay at my post every night. 9 Look, here they come,
chariots with men, and horsemen in pairs’.

Then he answered back:

‘Babylon has fallen, has fallen. All the images of her gods
lie shattered on the ground’.”

10 O my threshed and winnowed people,
all I have heard from the Lord of Hosts,
the God of Israel, I have declared to you.

A Prophecy Against Edom

11 An oracle concerning Dumah.

Someone calls to me from Seir,
“Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?” 12 The watchman replies,
“Morning comes, and also the night. If you would ask, then ask;
come back again.”

A Prophecy Against Arabia

13 An oracle concerning Arabia.

In the thickets of Arabia
you camp for the night, O caravans of Dedanites. 14 Bring water to the thirsty,
bring food to the fugitives, O inhabitants of the land of Tema.

15 They flee from the swords,
from the drawn sword, from the bent bow,
and from the stress of battle.

16  For this is what the Lord said to me: “Within one year, as a hired man counts a year, all the glory of Kedar will come to an end.  17  The warrior bowmen of the people of Kedar will be few in number.” The Lord, the God of Israel, has spoken.