Isaiah 21 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

A pronouncement against the desert by the sea: Like storms tearing through the Negev, it comes from the wilderness, from a land that makes you shudder.

A devastating vision has been shown to me — the betrayer betrays, the destroyer destroys. Go up, Elam! Lay siege, Media! All the groaning she caused — I am ending it.

That is why my body is full of anguish. Cramps seize me like a woman in labor. I am too shattered to hear, too terrified to see.

My mind reels, panic overwhelms me. The twilight I once longed for has turned into my horror.

They set the table, they spread the rugs, they eat, they drink — Get up, officers! Oil your shields!

This is what Yahweh told me: "Go, post a lookout. Have him report what he sees."

"When he sees cavalry— pairs of horsemen, a column of donkeys, a column of camels— let him watch carefully, very carefully."

Then the lookout cried out: "My lord, I stand at the watchtower all day long. I am stationed at my post every single night."

And look — here they come! Cavalry, pairs of horsemen! Then he spoke up and said: "Fallen! Fallen is Babylon! Every carved image of her gods lies shattered on the ground."

My people — threshed and ground on the threshing floor — what I have heard from Yahweh, Commander of Armies, the God of Israel, I have declared to you.

A pronouncement against Dumah: Someone is calling to me from Seir: "Watchman, how much of the night is left? Watchman, how much of the night is left?"

The watchman answers: "Morning is coming — but so is another night. If you want to ask, ask. Come back again."

A pronouncement against Arabia: In the scrubland of Arabia you will camp for the night, you caravans of Dedanites.

Bring water to the thirsty! You who live in the land of Tema, meet the refugees with bread.

They are fleeing from swords — from the drawn sword, from the bent bow, from the crush of battle.

This is what Yahweh told me: "Within one year — counted exactly like a hired worker counts — all the glory of Kedar will be gone."

The surviving archers — the warriors of Kedar — will be few. Yahweh, the God of Israel, has spoken.