Isaiah 21:2-9

Other Translations of Isaiah 21:2-9

New International Version

² A dire vision has been shown to me: The traitor betrays, the looter takes loot. Elam, attack! Media, lay siege! I will bring to an end all the groaning she caused. ³ At this my body is racked with pain, pangs seize me, like those of a woman in labor; I am staggered by what I hear, I am bewildered by what I see. ⁴ My heart falters, fear makes me tremble; the twilight I longed for has become a horror to me. ⁵ They set the tables, they spread the rugs, they eat, they drink! Get up, you officers, oil the shields! ⁶ This is what the Lord says to me: "Go, post a lookout and have him report what he sees. ⁷ When he sees chariots with teams of horses, riders on donkeys or riders on camels, let him be alert, fully alert." ⁸ And the lookoutDead Sea Scrolls and Syriac; Masoretic Text "A lion" 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 with a team of horses. And he gives back the answer: 'Babylon has fallen, has fallen! All the images of its gods lie shattered on the ground!' "

English Standard Version

² A stern vision is told to me; the traitor betrays, and the destroyer destroys. Go up, O Elam; lay siege, O Media; all the sighing she has caused I bring to an end. ³ Therefore my loins are filled with anguish; pangs have seized me, like the pangs of a woman in labor; I am bowed down so that I cannot hear; I am dismayed so that I cannot see. ⁴ My heart staggers; horror has appalled me; the twilight I longed for has been turned for me into trembling. ⁵ They prepare the table, they spread the rugs,Or they set the watchman they eat, they drink. Arise, O princes; oil the shield! ⁶ For thus the Lord said to me: "Go, set a watchman; let him announce what he sees. ⁷ When he sees riders, horsemen in pairs, riders on donkeys, riders on camels, let him listen diligently, very diligently." ⁸ Then he who saw cried out:Dead Sea Scroll, Syriac; Masoretic Text Then a lion cried out, or Then he cried out like a lion "Upon a watchtower I stand, O Lord, continually by day, and at my post I am stationed whole nights. ⁹ And behold, here come riders, horsemen in pairs!" And he answered, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon; and all the carved images of her gods he has shattered to the ground."

The Message

² A hard vision is given me: The betrayer betrayed, the plunderer plundered. Attack, Elam! Lay siege, Media! Persians, attack! Attack, Babylon! I'll put an end to all the moaning and groaning. ³ Because of this news I'm doubled up in pain, writhing in pain like a woman having a baby, Baffled by what I hear, undone by what I see. ⁴ Absolutely stunned, horror-stricken, I had hoped for a relaxed evening, but it has turned into a nightmare. ⁵ The banquet is spread, the guests reclining in luxurious ease, Eating and drinking, having a good time, and then, "To arms, princes! The fight is on!" ⁶ The Master told me, "Go, post a lookout. Have him report whatever he spots. ⁷ When he sees horses and wagons in battle formation, lines of donkeys and columns of camels, Tell him to keep his ear to the ground, note every whisper, every rumor." ⁸ Just then, the lookout shouted, "I'm at my post, Master, Sticking to my post day after day and all through the night! ⁹ I watched them come, the horses and wagons in battle formation. I heard them call out the war news in headlines: 'Babylon fallen! Fallen! And all its precious god-idols smashed to pieces on the ground.'"

New King James Version

² A distressing vision is declared to me; The treacherous dealer deals treacherously, And the plunderer plunders. Go up, O Elam! Besiege, O Media! All its sighing I have made to cease. ³ Therefore my loins are filled with pain; Pangs have taken hold of me, like the pangs of a woman in labor. I was distressed when I heard it; I was dismayed when I saw it. ⁴ My heart wavered, fearfulness frightened me; The night for which I longed He turned into fear for me. ⁵ Prepare the table, Set a watchman in the tower, Eat and drink. Arise, you princes, Anoint the shield! ⁶ For thus has the Lord said to me: "Go, set a watchman, Let him declare what he sees." ⁷ And he saw a chariot with a pair of horsemen, A chariot of donkeys, and a chariot of camels, And he listened earnestly with great care. ⁸ Then he cried, "A lion, my Lord! I stand continually on the watchtower in the daytime; I have sat at my post every night. ⁹ And look, here comes a chariot of men with a pair of horsemen!" Then he answered and said, "Babylon is fallen, is fallen! And all the carved images of her gods He has broken to the ground."

New Living Translation

² I see a terrifying vision: I see the betrayer betraying, the destroyer destroying. Go ahead, you Elamites and Medes, attack and lay siege. I will make an end to all the groaning Babylon caused. ³ My stomach aches and burns with pain. Sharp pangs of anguish are upon me, like those of a woman in labor. I grow faint when I hear what God is planning; I am too afraid to look. ⁴ My mind reels and my heart races. I longed for evening to come, but now I am terrified of the dark. ⁵ Look! They are preparing a great feast. They are spreading rugs for people to sit on. Everyone is eating and drinking. But quick! Grab your shields and prepare for battle. You are being attacked! ⁶ Meanwhile, the Lord said to me, "Put a watchman on the city wall. Let him shout out what he sees. ⁷ He should look for chariots drawn by pairs of horses, and for riders on donkeys and camels. Let the watchman be fully alert." ⁸ Then the watchman called out, "Day after day I have stood on the watchtower, my lord. Night after night I have remained at my post. ⁹ Now at last-look! Here comes a man in a chariot with a pair of horses!" Then the watchman said, "Babylon is fallen, fallen! All the idols of Babylon lie broken on the ground!"