Isaiah 21:5-9

Other Translations of Isaiah 21:5-9

New International Version

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

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

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

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

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!"