Isaiah 21:4–9

My heart staggers; horror has appalled me;

the twilight I longed for

has been turned for me into trembling.

They prepare the table,

they spread the rugs,

they eat, they drink.

Arise, O princes;

oil the shield!

For thus the Lord said to me:

“Go, set a watchman;

let him announce what he sees.

When he sees riders, horsemen in pairs,

riders on donkeys, riders on camels,

let him listen diligently,

very diligently.”

Then he who saw cried out:

“Upon a watchtower I stand, O Lord,

continually by day,

and at my post I am stationed

whole nights.

And behold, here come riders,

horsemen in pairs!”

And he answered,

“Fallen, fallen is Babylon;

and all the carved images of her gods

he has shattered to the ground.”

My heart falters,

fear makes me tremble;

the twilight I longed for

has become a horror to me.

They set the tables,

they spread the rugs,

they eat, they drink!

Get up, you officers,

oil the shields!

This is what the Lord says to me:

“Go, post a lookout

and have him report what he sees.

When he sees chariots

with teams of horses,

riders on donkeys

or riders on camels,

let him be alert,

fully alert.”

And the lookout shouted,

“Day after day, my lord, I stand on the watchtower;

every night I stay at my post.

Look, here comes a man in a chariot

with a team of horses.

And he gives back the answer:

‘Babylon has fallen, has fallen!

All the images of its gods

lie shattered on the ground!’ ”

My heart staggers;

horror terrifies me.

He has turned my last glimmer of hope

into sheer terror.

Prepare a table, and spread out a carpet!

Eat and drink!

Rise up, you princes, and oil the shields!

For the Lord has said to me,

“Go, post a lookout;

let him report what he sees.

When he sees riders—

pairs of horsemen,

riders on donkeys,

riders on camels—

he must pay close attention.”

Then the lookout reported,

“Lord, I stand on the watchtower all day,

and I stay at my post all night.

Look, riders come—

horsemen in pairs.”

And he answered, saying,

“Babylon has fallen, has fallen.

All the images of her gods

have been shattered on the ground.”

My mind reels and my heart races.

I longed for evening to come,

but now I am terrified of the dark.

Look! They are preparing a great feast.

They are spreading rugs for people to sit on.

Everyone is eating and drinking.

But quick! Grab your shields and prepare for battle.

You are being attacked!

Meanwhile, the Lord said to me,

“Put a watchman on the city wall.

Let him shout out what he sees.

He should look for chariots

drawn by pairs of horses,

and for riders on donkeys and camels.

Let the watchman be fully alert.”

Then the watchman called out,

“Day after day I have stood on the watchtower, my lord.

Night after night I have remained at my post.

Now at last—look!

Here comes a man in a chariot

with a pair of horses!”

Then the watchman said,

“Babylon is fallen, fallen!

All the idols of Babylon

lie broken on the ground!”

My mind staggers; fear terrifies me;

the twilight I desired brought me fear.

Set out the table in order!

Spread out the rugs!

Eat! drink!

Rise up, commanders;

smear the shield!

For the Lord said this to me:

“Go, set a watchman in position.

He must announce what he sees.

When he sees riders,

a pair of horsemen,

riders of donkeys,

riders of camels,

then he must listen attentively,

paying attention, paying special attention.”

Then the watchman called,

“Lord, I am standing on the watchtower continually by day,

and I am standing at my post throughout the night.

And look at this! A man’s chariot is coming,

a pair of horsemen!”

Then he responded and said,

“It has fallen! Babylon has fallen!

And all the images of her gods are smashed on the ground!”

My heart panted, fearfulness affrighted me:

The night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me.

Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink:

Arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield.

For thus hath the Lord said unto me,

Go, set a watchman,

Let him declare what he seeth.

And 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:

And he cried, A lion:

My lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime,

And I am set in my ward whole nights:

And, 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.