11 The Hebrew term translated “sovereign master” here and in vv. 12, 14, 15 is אֲדֹנָי (’adonay).
12 Heb “For [there is] a day of panic, and trampling, and confusion for the master, the Lord who commands armies [traditionally, the Lord of hosts].”
13 The traditional accentuation of the Hebrew text suggests that this phrase goes with what precedes.
14 The precise meaning of this statement is unclear. Some take קִר (qir) as “wall” and interpret the verb to mean “tear down.” However, tighter parallelism (note the reference to crying for help in the next line) is achieved if one takes both the verb and noun from a root, attested in Ugaritic and Arabic, meaning “make a sound.” See J. N. Oswalt, Isaiah (), 1:, n. 5.
15 Perhaps “the hill” refers to the temple mount.
16 Heb “[with] the chariots of men, horsemen.”
17 A distant region in the direction of Mesopotamia; see Amos 1:5; 9:7.
18 Heb “Kir uncovers” (so , ).
19 The Elamites and men of Kir may here symbolize a fierce army from a distant land. If this oracle anticipates a Babylonian conquest of the city (see 39:5–7), then the Elamites and men of Kir are perhaps viewed here as mercenaries in the Babylonian army. See J. N. Oswalt, Isaiah (), 1:.
20 The verb that introduces this verse serves as a discourse particle and is untranslated; see note on “in the future” in .
21 Heb “taking a stand, take their stand.” The infinitive absolute emphasizes the following finite verb. The translation attempts to bring out this emphasis with the adverb “confidently.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

For the Lord God of hosts has a day

of tumult and trampling and confusion

in the valley of vision,

a battering down of walls

and a shouting to the mountains.

And Elam bore the quiver

with chariots and horsemen,

and Kir uncovered the shield.

Your choicest valleys were full of chariots,

and the horsemen took their stand at the gates.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

The Lord, the Lord Almighty, has a day

of tumult and trampling and terror

in the Valley of Vision,

a day of battering down walls

and of crying out to the mountains.

Elam takes up the quiver,

with her charioteers and horses;

Kir uncovers the shield.

Your choicest valleys are full of chariots,

and horsemen are posted at the city gates.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

For the Lord God of Armies

had a day of tumult, trampling, and confusion

in the Valley of Vision—

people shouting and crying to the mountains;

Elam took up a quiver

with chariots and horsemen,

and Kir uncovered the shield.

Your best valleys were full of chariots,

and horsemen were positioned at the city gates.

NLTNew Living Translation

Oh, what a day of crushing defeat!

What a day of confusion and terror

brought by the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies,

upon the Valley of Vision!

The walls of Jerusalem have been broken,

and cries of death echo from the mountainsides.

Elamites are the archers,

with their chariots and charioteers.

The men of Kir hold up the shields.

Chariots fill your beautiful valleys,

and charioteers storm your gates.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

For the Lord Yahweh of hosts has a day of tumult and trampling and confusion in the valley of vision,

a tearing down of walls and a cry for help to the mountains.

And Elam lifted up the quiver,

with chariots of men and cavalry.

And Kir uncovered the shield.

And this happened:

the choicest of your valleys were full of chariots,

and the cavalry confidently stood at the gate.

KJV 1900King James Version

For it is a day of trouble, and of treading down, and of perplexity

By the Lord God of hosts in the valley of vision,

Breaking down the walls, and of crying to the mountains.

And Elam bare the quiver

With chariots of men and horsemen,

And Kir uncovered the shield.

And it shall come to pass, that thy choicest valleys shall be full of chariots,

And the horsemen shall set themselves in array at the gate.

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