Isaiah Chapter 21
King James Version (KJV)
Other Translations
asv (asv) - eBible.org engASV USFM
1
And the fortress shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria; they shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith Jehovah of hosts.
2
And it shall come to pass in that day, that the glory of Jacob shall be made thin, and the fatness of his flesh shall wax lean.
3
And it shall be as when the harvestman gathereth the standing grain, and his arm reapeth the ears; yea, it shall be as when one gleaneth ears in the valley of Rephaim.
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Yet there shall be left therein gleanings, as the shaking of an olive-tree, two or three berries in the top of the uppermost bough, four or five in the outmost branches of a fruitful tree, saith Jehovah, the God of Israel.
5
In that day shall men look unto their Maker, and their eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel.
6
And they shall not look to the altars, the work of their hands; neither shall they have respect to that which their fingers have made, either the Asherim, or the sun-images.
7
In that day shall their strong cities be as the forsaken places in the wood and on the mountain top, which were forsaken from before the children of Israel; and it shall be a desolation.
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For thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength; therefore thou plantest pleasant plants, and settest it with strange slips.
9
In the day of thy planting thou hedgest it in, and in the morning thou makest thy seed to blossom; but the harvest fleeth away in the day of grief and of desperate sorrow.
10
Ah, the uproar of many peoples, that roar like the roaring of the seas; and the rushing of nations, that rush like the rushing of mighty waters!
11
The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but he shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like the whirling dust before the storm.
12
At eventide, behold, terror;
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and before the morning they are not. This is the portion of them that despoil us, and the lot of them that rob us.
14
Ah, the land of the rustling of wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia;
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that sendeth ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of papyrus upon the waters,
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saying, Go, ye swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth, to a people terrible from their beginning onward, a nation that meteth out and treadeth down, whose land the rivers divide!
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All ye inhabitants of the world, and ye dwellers on the earth, when an ensign is lifted up on the mountains, see ye; and when the trumpet is blown, hear ye.
darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext
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 dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. Go up, Elam! besiege, Media! All the sighing thereof have I made to cease.
3
Therefore are my loins filled with pain; anguish hath taken hold upon me, as the anguish of a woman in travail: I am bowed down so as not to hear, I am dismayed so as not to see.
4
My heart panteth, horror affrighteth me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into trembling unto me.
5
Prepare the table, appoint the watch; eat, drink: arise, ye princes, 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 chariots, horsemen by pairs, a chariot with asses, a chariot with camels; and he hearkened diligently with much heed.
8
And he cried [as] a lion, Lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward whole nights.
9
— And behold, there cometh a chariot of men; horsemen by pairs. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of hergods he hath broken unto the ground.
10
O my threshing, and the corn of my floor! What I have heard of Jehovah of hosts, theGod 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 inquire, inquire; return, come.
13
The burden against Arabia. In the forest of Arabia shall ye lodge, [ye] caravans of Dedanites.
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Bring ye water to meet the thirsty! The inhabitants of the land of Tema come forth with their bread for him that fleeth.
15
For they flee from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.
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For thus hath the Lord said unto me: Within a year, according to the years of a hired servant, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail;
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and the residue of the number of the archers, the mighty men of the sons of Kedar, shall be diminished: for Jehovah, theGod of Israel, hath spoken.
lxxbrent (lxxbrent) - Septuagint (Brenton 1851) eBible USFM
1
The Vision of the Desert. As though a whirlwind should pass through the desert, coming from a desert, [even] from such a land,
2
[so] a fearful and a grievous vision was declared to me: he that is treacherous deals treacherously, the transgressor transgresses. The Elamites are upon me, and the ambassadors of the Persians come against me: now will I groan and comfort myself.
3
Therefore are my loins filled with feebleness, and pangs have seized me as a travailing woman: I dealt wrongfully that I might not hear; I hasted that I might not see.
4
My heart wanders, and transgression overwhelms me; my soul is occupied with fear.
5
Prepare the table, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and prepare [your] shields.
6
For thus said the Lord to me, Go and station a watchman for thyself, and declare whatever thou shalt see.
7
And I saw two mounted horsemen, and a rider on an ass, and a rider on a camel.
8
Hearken with great attention, and call thou Urias to the watch-tower: the Lord has spoken. I stood continually during the day, and I stood in the camp all the night:
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and, behold, he comes riding in a chariot and pair: and he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all her images and her idols have been crushed to the ground.
10
Hear, ye that are left, and ye that are in pain, hear what things I have heard of the Lord of hosts [which] the God of Israel has declared to us.
11
The Vision of Idumea. Call to me out of Seir; guard ye the bulwarks.
12
I watch in the morning and the night: if thou wouldest enquire, enquire, and dwell by me.
13
Thou mayest lodge in the forest in the evening, or in the way of Dædan.
14
Ye that dwell in the country of Thæman, bring water to meet him that is thirsty;
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meet the fugitives with bread, because of the multitude of the slain, and because of the multitude of them that lose their way, and because of the multitude of swords, and because of the multitude of bent bows, and because of the multitude of them that have fallen in war.
16
For thus said the Lord to me, Yet a year, as the year of an hireling, [and] the glory of the sons of Kedar shall fail:
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and the remnant of the strong bows of the sons of Kedar shall be small: for the Lord God of Israel has spoken [it].
vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)
1
Onus deserti maris. Sicut turbines ab Aphrico veniunt, de deserto venit, de terra horribili.
2
Visio dura nunciata est mihi: qui incredulus est, infideliter agit: et qui depopulator est, vastat. Ascende Ælam, obside Mede: omnem gemitum eius cessare feci.
3
Propterea repleti sunt lumbi mei dolore, angustia possedit me sicut angustia parturientis: corrui cum audirem, conturbatus sum cum viderem.
4
Emarcuit cor meum, tenebræ stupefecerunt me: Babylon dilecta mea posita est mihi in miraculum.
5
Pone mensam, contemplare in specula comedentes et bibentes: surgite principes, arripite clypeum.
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Hæc enim dixit mihi Dominus: Vade, et pone speculatorem: et quodcumque viderit, annunciet.
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Et vidit currum duorum equitum, ascensorem asini, et ascensorem cameli: et contemplatus est diligenter multo intuitu.
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Et clamavit leo: Super speculam Domini ego sum, stans iugiter per diem: et super custodiam meam ego sum, stans totis noctibus.
9
Ecce iste venit ascensor vir bigæ equitum, et respondit, et dixit: Cecidit, cecidit Babylon, et omnia sculptilia deorum eius contrita sunt in terram.
10
Tritura mea, et filii areæ meæ, quæ audivi a Domino exercituum Deo Israel, annunciavi vobis.
11
Onus Duma ad me clamat ex Seir: Custos quid de nocte? custos quid de nocte?
12
Dixit custos: Venit mane et nox: si quæritis, quærite: convertimini, venite.
13
Onus in Arabia. In saltu ad vesperam dormietis, in semitis Dedanim.
14
Occurrentes sitienti ferte aquam, qui habitatis terram Austri, cum panibus occurrite fugienti.
15
A facie enim gladiorum fugerunt, a facie gladii imminentis, a facie arcus extenti, a facie gravis prælii:
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quoniam hæc dicit Dominus ad me: Adhuc in uno anno, quasi in anno mercenarii, et auferetur omnis gloria Cedar.
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Et reliquiæ numeri sagittariorum fortium de filiis Cedar imminuentur: Dominus enim Deus Israel locutus est.
web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV
1
The burden of the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the South sweep through, it comes from the wilderness, from an awesome land.
2
A grievous vision is declared to me. The treacherous man deals treacherously, and the destroyer destroys. Go up, Elam; attack! I have stopped all of Media’s sighing.
3
Therefore my thighs are filled with anguish. Pains have seized me, like the pains of a woman in labor. I am in so much pain that I can’t hear. I am so dismayed that I can’t see.
4
My heart flutters. Horror has frightened me. The twilight that I desired has been turned into trembling for me.
5
They prepare the table. They set the watch. They eat. They drink. Rise up, you princes, oil the shield!
6
For the Lord said to me, “Go, set a watchman. Let him declare what he sees.
7
When he sees a troop, horsemen in pairs, a troop of donkeys, a troop of camels, he shall listen diligently with great attentiveness.”
8
He cried like a lion: “Lord, I stand continually on the watchtower in the daytime, and every night I stay at my post.
9
Behold, here comes a troop of men, horsemen in pairs.” He answered, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon; and all the engraved images of her gods are broken to the ground.
10
You are my threshing, and the grain of my floor!” That which I have heard from the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, I have declared to you.
11
The burden of Dumah. One calls to me out of Seir, “Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?”
12
The watchman said, “The morning comes, and also the night. If you will inquire, inquire. Come back again.”
13
The burden on Arabia. You will lodge in the thickets in Arabia, you caravans of Dedanites.
14
They brought water to him who was thirsty. The inhabitants of the land of Tema met the fugitives with their bread.
15
For they fled away from the swords, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow, and from the heat of battle.
16
For the Lord said to me, “Within a year, as a worker bound by contract would count it, all the glory of Kedar will fail,
17
and the residue of the number of the archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, will be few; for the LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken it.”
ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8
1
The burden of the wilderness of the sea. `Like hurricanes in the south for passing through, From the wilderness it hath come, From a fearful land.
2
A hard vision hath been declared to me, The treacherous dealer is dealing treacherously, And the destroyer is destroying. Go up, O Elam, besiege, O Media, All its sighing I have caused to cease.
3
Therefore filled have been my loins <FI>with<Fi> great pain, Pangs have seized me as pangs of a travailing woman, I have been bent down by hearing, I have been troubled by seeing.
4
Wandered hath my heart, trembling hath terrified me, The twilight of my desire He hath made a fear to me,
5
Arrange the table, watch in the watch-tower, Eat, drink, rise, ye heads, anoint the shield,
6
For thus said the Lord unto me: `Go, station the watchman, That which he seeth let him declare.'
7
And he hath seen a chariot--a couple of horsemen, The rider of an ass, the rider of a camel, And he hath given attention--He hath increased attention!
8
And he crieth--a lion, `On a watch-tower my lord, I am standing continually by day, And on my ward I am stationed whole nights.
9
And lo, this, the chariot of a man is coming, A couple of horsemen.' And he answereth and saith: `Fallen, fallen hath Babylon, And all the graven images of her gods He hath broken to the earth.
10
O my threshing, and the son of my floor, That which I heard from Jehovah of Hosts, God of Israel, I have declared to you!'
11
The burden of Dumah. Unto me is <FI>one<Fi> calling from Seir `Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?'
12
The watchman hath said, `Come hath morning, and also night, If ye inquire, inquire ye, turn back, come.'
13
The burden on Arabia. In a forest in Arabia ye lodge, O travellers of Dedanim.
14
To meet the thirsty brought water have Inhabitants of the land of Tema, With his bread they came before a fugitive.
15
For from the face of destructions they fled, From the face of a stretched-out sword, And from the face of a trodden bow, And from the face of the grievousness of battle.
16
For thus said the Lord unto me: `Within a year, as years of a hireling, Consumed hath been all the honour of Kedar.
17
And the remnant of the number of bow-men, The mighty of the sons of Kedar are few, For Jehovah, God of Israel, hath spoken!'
Explanations by Age Level
Explain Like I'm 5
A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!
Explain Like I'm 10
Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.
Explain Like I'm 15
Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).