1 Spriedums par Jūras tuksnesi. Par Babilonu. Kā aukas plosās dienvidos, tā nāks briesmas no tuksneša, no briesmīgas zemes. 2 Man bija darīta zināma barga parādība: laupītājs laupa, postītājs posta! Nāc, Ēlāma! Uzsāc aplenkumu, Mēdija! Visām vaimanām par to es darīšu galu! 3 Tādēļ dreb mani gurni, mani sagrābušas sāpes kā dzemdētājas sievas sāpes; es esmu apmulsis, ka nevaru dzirdēt, es esmu apjucis, ka nevaru redzēt. 4 Mans prāts mani atstāj, izbailes mulsina mani, iemīļotā vakara stunda man kļuvusi par biedēkli! 5 Sataisa galdu, izliek sargus, ēd un dzer. Celieties, valdnieki, ieziediet vairogus! 6 Jo tā Tas Kungs man teica: "Ej, noliec sargu! Lai viņš ziņo, ko viņš redz! 7 Un, kad viņš redz ratus un jātniekus, ēzeļu un kamieļu rindas, tad lai viņš uzmanīgi vēro!" 8 Un viņš sauca lauvas balsī: "Kungs, es stāvu sarga vietā cauru dienu un esmu nomodā visu nakti!" 9 Redzi, tur nāk vīri ar ratiem un jātnieki pāros un sauc: "Kritusi, kritusi ir Bābele, un visi tās dievekļu tēli ir satriekti un nogāzti zemē!" 10 Ak tu mana izmocītā, it kā ilgus gadus uz cieta klona kultā tauta! Ko es dzirdēju no Tā Kunga, Israēla Dieva, to es jums pasludināju! 11 Spriedums par Dumu (Edomu). Man sauc no Seīras: "Sargs, cik gara vēl nakts? Sargs, cik gara vēl nakts?" 12 Sargs atbild: "Rīts nāk, bet vēl ir nakts! Ja gribat vairāk zināt, tad nāciet atkal un jautājiet!" 13 Spriedums par Arābiju. Arābijas mežos palieciet pa nakti, jūs, Dedanas ceļinieki! 14 Pasniedziet izslāpušiem ūdeni, jūs, Temas iedzīvotāji! Dodiet bēgļiem vajadzīgo maizi! 15 Jo tie bēg no zobena, no atvēzta zobena, no uzvilkta stopa un no kara briesmām. 16 Jo tā man Tas Kungs teica: "Gada laikā, kāds ir algādža posms, beigsies visa Kedara godība. 17 To nebūs daudz, kas vēl atliks no Kedara brašajiem dēliem strēlniekiem, jo Tas Kungs, Israēla Dievs, to ir runājis."
A Vision of the Fall of Babylon
1 This is a message about Babylonia.
Like a whirlwind sweeping across the desert, disaster will come from a terrifying land. 2 I have seen a vision of cruel events, a vision of betrayal and destruction.
Army of Elam, attack! Army of Media, lay siege to the cities! God will put an end to the suffering which Babylon has caused.
3 What I saw and heard in the vision has filled me with terror and pain, pain like that of a woman in labor. 4 My head is spinning, and I am trembling with fear. I had been longing for evening to come, but it has brought me nothing but terror.
5 In the vision a banquet is ready; rugs are spread for the guests to sit on. They are eating and drinking. Suddenly the command rings out: “Officers! Prepare your shields!”
6 Then the Lord said to me, “Go and post a sentry, and tell him to report what he sees. 7 If he sees riders coming on horseback, two by two, and riders on donkeys and camels, he is to observe them carefully.”
8 The sentry calls out, “Sir, I have been standing guard at my post day and night.”
9 Suddenly, here they come! Riders on horseback, two by two. The sentry gives the news, “Babylon has fallen! All the idols they worshiped lie shattered on the ground.”
10 My people Israel, you have been threshed like wheat, but now I have announced to you the good news that I have heard from the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel.
A Message about Edom
11 This is a message about Edom.
Someone calls to me from Edom, “Sentry, how soon will the night be over? Tell me how soon it will end.”
12 I answer, “Morning is coming, but night will come again. If you want to ask again, come back and ask.”
A Message about Arabia
13 This is a message about Arabia.
People of Dedan, you whose caravans camp in the barren country of Arabia, 14 give water to the thirsty people who come to you. You people of the land of Tema, give food to the refugees. 15 People are fleeing to escape from swords that are ready to kill them, from bows that are ready to shoot, from all the dangers of war.
16 Then the Lord said to me, “In exactly one year the greatness of the tribes of Kedar will be at an end. 17 The archers are the bravest warriors of Kedar, but few of them will be left. I, the Lord God of Israel, have spoken.”
