1The Vision of the Desert. As though a whirlwind should pass through the desert, coming from a desert, even from such a land,

2so a fearful and a grievous vision was declared to me: he that is treacherous deals treacherously, the transgressor transgresses. The Elamites are upon me, and the ambassadors of the Persians come against me: now will I groan and comfort myself.

3Therefore are my loins filled with feebleness, and pangs have seized me as a travailing woman: I dealt wrongfully that I might not hear; I hasted that I might not see.

4My heart wanders, and transgression ⁶³overwhelms me; my soul is occupied with fear.

5Prepare the table, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and prepare your shields.

6For thus said the Lord to me, Go and station a watchman for thyself, and declare whatever thou shalt see.

7And I saw two mounted horsemen, and a rider on an ass, and a rider on a camel.

8Hearken with great attention, and call thou Urias to the watch-tower: the Lord has spoken. I stood continually during the day, and I stood in the camp all the night:

9and, behold, he comes riding in a chariot and pair: and he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all her images and her idols have been crushed to the ground.

10Hear, ye that are left, and ye that are in pain, hear what things I have heard of the Lord of hosts which the God of Israel has declared to us.

11The Vision of Idumea. Call to me out of Seir; guard ye the bulwarks.

12I watch in the morning and the night: if thou wouldest enquire, enquire, and dwell by me.

13Thou mayest lodge in the forest ⁶⁴in the evening, or in the way of Dædan.

14Ye that dwell in the country of Thæman, bring water to meet him that is thirsty;

15meet the fugitives with bread, because of the multitude of the slain, and because of the multitude of them that lose their way, and because of the multitude of swords, and because of the multitude of bent bows, and because of the multitude of them that have fallen in war.

16For thus said the Lord to me, Yet a year, as the year of an hireling, and the glory of the sons of Kedar shall fail:

17and the remnant of the strong bows of the sons of Kedar shall be small: for the Lord God of Israel has spoken it.