 1 The burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds in the south pass through, it comes from the desert, from a terrible land. 2 A harsh vision is revealed to me. The deceiver deceives and the plunderer plunders. Go up, O Elam. Besiege, O Media. I have caused all her sighing to cease. 3 Therefore my body+ is filled with pain. Pangs have taken hold on me like the pangs of a woman who travails. I was bowed down from hearing. I was troubled from seeing. 4 My heart wanders. Terror overwhelms me. He has turned the twilight of my pleasure into trembling. 5 Prepare the table. Watch in the watchtower. Eat. Drink. Arise, rulers. Anoint the shield. 6 For so the Lord has said to me, Go and set a watchman. Let him declare what he sees. 7 He saw a chariot with a pair of horsemen. A chariot of a donkey and a chariot of a camel. Let him listen very attentively. 8 He shouted, A lion my lord. I stand on the watchtower by day and I am stationed at my post all night. 9 Behold, here comes a chariot of a man, a pair of horsemen. He said, Babylon has fallen, has fallen. He has smashed all the graven images of her gods to the ground. 10 O my threshing and the grain of my floor. What I have heard of the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, I have declared to you. 11 The burden against Dumah: He 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, and come again. 13 The burden against Arabia: You shall stay in the forest of Arabia, O traveling companies of Dedanites. 14 The people of the land of Tema brought water to those who were thirsty. They went before those who fled with their bread. 15 For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow, and from the press of war. 16 For thus has the Lord said to me, Within a year, according to the years of a hired hand, all the glory of Kedar will fail. 17 The rest of the number of archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, will be cut down. For the Lord God of Israel, has spoken.
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