Short oracles about Babylon, whose fall is announced by a watchman, about Edom, with the watchman's answer, The morning cometh, and the night, and about Arabia.
1 The burden of the desert of the sea . As whirlwinds in the south pass through; so it cometh from the desert , from a terrible land .
2 A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously , and the spoiler spoileth . Go up , O Elam : besiege , O Media ; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease .
3 Therefore are my loins filled with pain : pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman that travaileth : I was bowed down at the hearing of it; I was dismayed at the seeing of it.
4 My heart panted , fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me.
5 Prepare the table , watch in the watchtower , eat , drink : arise , ye princes , and anoint the shield .
6 For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go , set a watchman , let him declare what he seeth .
7 And he saw a chariot with a couple of horsemen , a chariot of asses , and a chariot of camels ; and he hearkened diligently with much heed :
8 And he cried , A lion : My lord , I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime , and I am set in my ward whole nights :
9 And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men , with a couple of horsemen . And he answered and said , Babylon is fallen , is fallen ; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground .
10 O my threshing , and the corn of my floor : that which I have heard of the LORD of hosts , the God of Israel , have I declared unto you.
11 The burden of Dumah . He calleth to me out of Seir , Watchman , what of the night ? Watchman , what of the night ?
12 The watchman said , The morning cometh , and also the night : if ye will enquire , enquire ye: return , come .
13 The burden upon Arabia . In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge , O ye travelling companies of Dedanim .
14 The inhabitants of the land of Tema brought water to him that was thirsty , they prevented with their bread him that fled .
15 For they fled from the swords , from the drawn sword , and from the bent bow , and from the grievousness of war .
16 For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Within a year , according to the years of an hireling , and all the glory of Kedar shall fail :
17 And the residue of the number of archers , the mighty men of the children of Kedar , shall be diminished : for the LORD God of Israel hath spoken it.