Babylon Is Fallen (Revelation 18:1–8)
1 UEB A declaration about the desert by the sea. Like stormwinds sweeping through the Negev it comes passing through from the wilderness, from a terrible land. BSB BSB: This is the burden against the Desert by the Sea: Like whirlwinds sweeping through the Negev, an invader comes from the desert, from a land of terror.
2 UEB A distressing vision has been given to me: the treacherous man deals treacherously, and the destroyer destroys. Go up and attack, Elam; besiege, Media; I will stop all her groaning. BSB BSB: A dire vision is declared to me: “The traitor still betrays, and the destroyer still destroys. Go up, O Elam! Lay siege, O Media! I will put an end to all her groaning.”
3 UEB Therefore my loins are filled with pain; pains like the pains of a woman in labor have taken hold of me; I am bowed down by what I heard; I am disturbed by what I saw. BSB BSB: Therefore my body is filled with anguish. Pain grips me, like the pains of a woman in labor. I am bewildered to hear, I am dismayed to see.
4 UEB My heart pounds; I shake with fear. Twilight was my desire, but it brought me terror. BSB BSB: My heart falters; fear makes me tremble. The twilight I desired has turned to horror.
5 UEB They prepare the table, they spread rugs and eat and drink; arise, princes, anoint your shields with oil. BSB BSB: They prepare a table, they lay out a carpet, they eat, they drink! Rise up, O princes, oil the shields!
6 UEB For this is what the Lord said to me, "Go, post a watchman; he must report what he sees. BSB BSB: For this is what the Lord says to me: “Go, post a lookout and have him report what he sees.
7 UEB When he sees a chariot, a pair of horsemen, riders on donkeys, and riders on camels, then he must pay attention and be very alert." BSB BSB: When he sees chariots with teams of horsemen, riders on donkeys, riders on camels, he must be alert, fully alert.”
8 UEB The watchman cries out, "Lord, on the watchtower I stand all day, every day, and at my post I stand all night long." BSB BSB: Then the lookout shouted: “Day after day, my lord, I stand on the watchtower; night after night I stay at my post.
9 UEB Here comes a chariot with a man and a pair of horsemen. He calls out, "Babylon has fallen, fallen, and all the carved figures of its gods are broken to the ground." BSB BSB: Look, here come the riders, horsemen in pairs.” And one answered, saying: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon! All the images of her gods lie shattered on the ground!”
10 UEB My threshed and winnowed ones, children of my threshing floor! What I have heard from Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel, I have declared to you. BSB BSB: O my people, crushed on the threshing floor, I tell you what I have heard from the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel.
The Burden against Edom (Isaiah 34:5–17)
11 UEB A declaration about Dumah. One calls to me from Seir, "Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left of the night?" BSB BSB: This is the burden against Dumah: One calls to me from Seir, “Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left of the night?”
12 UEB The watchman said, "The morning comes and also the night. If you want to ask, then ask; and come back again." BSB BSB: The watchman replies, “Morning has come, but also the night. If you would inquire, then inquire. Come back yet again.”
The Burden against Arabia 13 UEB A declaration about Arabia. In the wilderness of Arabia you spend the night, you caravans of Dedanites. BSB BSB: This is the burden against Arabia: In the thickets of Arabia you must lodge, O caravans of Dedanites.
14 UEB Bring water for the thirsty; inhabitants of the land of Tema, meet the fugitives with bread. BSB BSB: Bring water for the thirsty, O dwellers of Tema; meet the refugees with food.
15 UEB For they have fled from the sword, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow, and from the weight of war. BSB BSB: For they flee from the sword—the sword that is drawn—from the bow that is bent, and from the stress of battle.
16 UEB For this is what the Lord said to me, "Within a year, as a laborer hired for a year would see it, all the glory of Kedar will end. BSB BSB: For this is what the Lord says to me: “Within one year, as a hired worker would count it, all the glory of Kedar will be gone.
17 UEB Only a few of the archers, the warriors of Kedar will remain," for Yahweh, the God of Israel, has spoken. BSB BSB: The remaining archers, the warriors of Kedar, will be few.” For the LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.