1The prophecy concerning the desert of the sea. As storms which rush along through the south, So it cometh from the desert, From the terrible land.

2A grievous vision was revealed to me; The plunderer plundereth, and the destroyer destroyeth. “Go up, O Elam! Besiege, O Media! All sighing do I make to cease.”

3Therefore are my loins full of pain; Pangs have seized me, as the pangs of a woman in travail; For convulsions I cannot hear; For anguish I cannot see.

4My heart panteth, Terror hath seized upon me; The evening of my desire is changed into horror.

5The table is prepared; the watch is set; They eat; they drink; “Arise, ye princes! Anoint the shield!”

6For thus said the Lord unto me: “Go, set a watchman, Who shall declare what he seeth.”

7And he saw a troop, horsemen in pairs, Riders on asses, and riders on camels, And he watched with the utmost heed.

8Then he cried like a lion: “My Lord, I stand continually upon the watch-tower in the daytime, And keep my post all the night;

9And behold, there cometh a troop, Horsemen in pairs.” Again also he lifted up his voice, and said: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon, And all the graven images of her gods are cast broken to the ground.”

10O my threshing, and the corn of my floor! What I have heard from Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, That have I declared to you.

11The prophecy concerning Dumah. A voice came to me from Seir: “Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?”

12The watchman saith: “Morning cometh, and also night. If ye will inquire, inquire! Return, come!”

13The prophecy against the Arabians. In the thickets of Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye caravans of Dedan!

14The inhabitants of the land of Tema Bring water to the thirsty; They come to meet the fugitive with bread.

15For they flee from swords, From the drawn sword, And from the bent bow, And from the fury of war.

16For thus saith the Lord to me: Within one year, according to the years of a hireling, Shall all the glory of Kedar be consumed.

17The remainder of the mighty bowmen of the sons of Kedar shall be diminished; For Jehovah, the God of Israel, hath said it.