Isaiah
Chapter 21
Isaiah delivers three short messages of judgment against nations near Judah. The first is a night vision about the fall of Babylon, which leaves the prophet shaking with pain and fear; a watchman finally cries out that Babylon has fallen and its idols are smashed. The next is a brief exchange with someone in Edom asking a watchman how much of the night is left. The last is about Arabia, where the fleeing people of Dedan need water and bread, and Kedar's fighting strength will be gone within a year.
Plain reading written for preteens. Clear and complete, at about a fifth grade reading level.
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.
1This is a message about the desert by the sea. Like windstorms sweeping across the dry southern land, an attacker comes from the desert, from a land that fills people with fear.
"Burden" here means a heavy message of judgment that a prophet is given to announce. It is used the same way in verses 11 and 13.
2A 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.
2A harsh vision was shown to me. The traitor keeps betraying, and the destroyer keeps destroying. Attack, Elam! Surround the city, Media! I will put an end to all the groaning Babylon caused.
3Therefore 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.
3So my whole body aches. Sharp pains grip me, like a woman giving birth. What I heard left me shaken. What I saw left me stunned.
4My heart panted, fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me.
4My heart pounds. Fear makes me shake. The evening I looked forward to has turned into terror for me.
5Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield.
5They set the table, they spread out the rug, they eat, they drink. Then the cry comes: Get up, you leaders! Oil your shields for battle!
6For thus hath the LORD said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth.
6This is what the Lord told me: Go, post a lookout, and have him report whatever he sees.
7And 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:
7The lookout saw riders coming in pairs on horses, and riders on donkeys, and riders on camels. He listened closely and paid careful attention.
8And he cried, A lion: My lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward whole nights:
8Then he called out like a lion: My lord, I stand on the watchtower all day long. Every night I stay at my post.
9And, 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.
9Look, here come the riders, horsemen in pairs. And one of them answered, Babylon has fallen! Babylon has fallen! All the carved statues of her gods lie smashed on the ground.
10O 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.
10My people, you have been crushed like grain beaten on a threshing floor. I have told you what I heard from the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel.
Threshing means beating grain to knock the seed loose from the stalk. Isaiah uses it as a picture of a people who have been badly beaten down.
11The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?
11This is a message about Dumah. Someone calls to me from Seir, Watchman, how much of the night is left? Watchman, how much of the night is left?
12The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, come.
12The watchman answers, Morning is coming, but night is coming too. If you want to ask, then ask. Come back again.
13The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye travelling companies of Dedanim.
13This is a message about Arabia. You will have to camp in the thickets of Arabia, you traveling groups of Dedan.
14The inhabitants of the land of Tema brought water to him that was thirsty, they prevented with their bread him that fled.
14People of Tema, bring water to those who are thirsty. Go out and meet the runaways with bread.
The KJV says the people of Tema "prevented" the ones who fled with bread. In 1611 "prevent" meant to go out ahead and meet someone, not to stop them.
15For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.
15They are running from swords, from the sword pulled from its sheath, from the bow ready to shoot, and from the hard weight of war.
16For 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:
16This is what the Lord told me: In exactly one year, counted the way a hired worker counts his days, all the glory of Kedar will be gone.
A hired worker counted his days of work exactly, since his pay depended on it. So "the years of an hireling" means one full year, not a rough guess.
17And 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.
17The archers who are left, the strong fighting men of Kedar, will be very few. The Lord, the God of Israel, has said it.
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