1
The burden of the wilderness of the sea. As storms in the Negev sweep through, so it comes from the wilderness, from a terrifying land.
2
A harsh vision has been declared to me: the treacherous one acts treacherously, and the destroyer destroys. “Go up, Elam. Lay siege, Madai. All her groaning I have caused to cease.”
3
Therefore my loins are filled with anguish. Pangs have seized me like the pangs of an ishah giving birth. I am bent from hearing; I am terrified from seeing.
4
My heart wanders. Terror overwhelms me. The twilight I desired He has turned into trembling for me.
5
They prepare the table. They spread the covering. They eat. They drink. “Rise, rulers. Anoint the shield.”
6
For thus Adonai said to me: “Go, set a watchman. Let him declare what he sees.
7
And when he sees a chariot, a pair of horsemen, a chariot of donkeys, a chariot of camels, let him listen, listening with great attention.”
8
And he cried: “A lion! Upon the watchtower, Adonai, I stand continually by day, and upon my guard I am stationed all the nights.
9
And see, here comes a chariot of men, a pair of horsemen.” And he answered and said: “Fallen, fallen is Bavel! And all the carved images of her elohim He has shattered to the ground.”
10
My threshed one, and son of my threshing floor— what I have heard from Yahuah of Hosts, Elohim of Yisra’el, I have declared to you.
11
The burden of Dumah. One calls to me from Se’ir: “Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?”
12
The watchman said: “Morning comes, and also night. If you will seek, seek. Return. Come.”
13
The burden upon Arabia. In the forest of Arabia you shall lodge, caravans of Dedanim.
14
To meet the thirsty, bring water, inhabitants of the land of Tema. With his bread meet the fugitive.
15
For they flee from before swords— from before the drawn sword, and from before the bent bow, and from before the weight of war.
16
For thus Adonai said to me: “Within a year, according to the years of a hired worker, all the glory of Qedar shall come to an end.
17
And the remainder of the number of bowmen, the mighty men of the sons of Qedar, shall become few, for Yahuah, Elohim of Yisra’el, has spoken.”