Isaiah 21 :: Revised Standard Version (RSV)

God Commands That Babylon Be Taken

Isa 21:1The oracle concerning the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the Negeb sweep on, it comes from the desert, from a terrible land.

Isa 21:2

Isa 21:2A stern vision is told to me; the plunderer plunders, and the destroyer destroys. Go up, O Elam, lay siege, O Media; all the sighing she has caused I bring to an end.

Isa 21:3

Isa 21:3Therefore my loins are filled with anguish; pangs have seized me, like the pangs of a woman in travail; I am bowed down so that I cannot hear, I am dismayed so that I cannot see.

Isa 21:4

Isa 21:4My mind reels, horror has appalled me; the twilight I longed for has been turned for me into trembling.

Isa 21:5

Isa 21:5They prepare the table, they spread the rugs, they eat, they drink. Arise, O princes, oil the shield!

Isa 21:6

Isa 21:6For thus the Lord said to me: "Go, set a watchman, let him announce what he sees.

Isa 21:7

Isa 21:7When he sees riders, horsemen in pairs, riders on asses, riders on camels, let him listen diligently, very diligently."

Isa 21:8

Isa 21:8Then he who saw cried: "Upon a watchtower I stand, O Lord, continually by day, and at my post I am stationed whole nights.

Isa 21:9

Isa 21:9And, behold, here come riders, horsemen in pairs!" And he answered, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon; and all the images of her gods he has shattered to the ground."

Isa 21:10

Isa 21:10O my threshed and winnowed one, what I have heard from the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, I announce to you.

Oracles about Edom and Arabia

Isa 21:11

Isa 21:11The oracle concerning Dumah. One is calling to me from Se'ir, "Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?"

Isa 21:12

Isa 21:12The watchman says: "Morning comes, and also the night. If you will inquire, inquire; come back again."

Isa 21:13

Isa 21:13The oracle concerning Arabia. In the thickets in Arabia you will lodge, O caravans of De'danites.

Isa 21:14

Isa 21:14To the thirsty bring water, meet the fugitive with bread, O inhabitants of the land of Tema.

Isa 21:15

Isa 21:15For they have fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow, and from the press of battle.

Isa 21:16

Isa 21:16For thus the Lord said to me, "Within a year, according to the years of a hireling, all the glory of Kedar will come to an end;

Isa 21:17

Isa 21:17and the remainder of the archers of the mighty men of the sons of Kedar will be few; for the LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken."

Downloaded from the Oxford Text Archive and used with permission. The following header is required to be posted:

Source: Transcribed from: The Holy Bible: Revised Standard Version containing the Old and New Testaments, translated from the original tongues: being the version set forth A.D. 1611, revised A.D. 1881-1885 and A.D. 1901: compared with the most ancient authorities and revised A.D. 1946-52. — 2nd ed. of New Testament A.D. 1971. There should be enough in the rest of the description to identify the text.

Language: English

Availability: Freely available for non-commercial use provided that this header is included in its entirety with any copy distributed.

Isaiah 21 :: Revised Standard Version (RSV)

God Commands That Babylon Be Taken

Oracles about Edom and Arabia

Pericope