The Tanakh · JPS 1917 Translation

Isaiah 21

Jewish Publication Society 1917 · Nevi'im — the Prophets

Isaiah chapter 21 — part of the Nevi'im — the Prophets in the Jewish Bible. In the classic JPS 1917 translation it opens: “The burden of the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the South sweeping on, it cometh from the wilderness, from a dreadful land.” — the complete text of all 17 verses is below, free to read online.

1The burden of the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the South sweeping on, it cometh from the wilderness, from a dreadful land.

2A grievous vision is declared unto me: 'The treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. Go up, O Elam! besiege, O Media! All the sighing thereof have I made to cease.'

3Therefore are my loins filled with convulsion; pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman in travail; I am bent so that I cannot hear; I am affrighted so that I cannot see.

4My heart is bewildered, terror hath overwhelmed me; the twilight that I longed for hath been turned for me into trembling.

5They prepare the table, they light the lamps, they eat, they drink--' Rise up, ye princes, anoint the shield.'

6For thus hath the L-rd said unto me: Go, set a watchman; let him declare what he seeth!

7And when he seeth a troop, horsemen by pairs, a troop of asses, a troop of camels, he shall hearken diligently with much heed.

8And he cried as a lion: 'Upon the watch-tower, O L-rd, I stand continually in the daytime, and I am set in my ward all the nights.'

9And, behold, there came a troop of men, horsemen by pairs. And he spoke and said: 'Fallen, fallen is Babylon; and all the graven images of her gods are broken unto the ground.'

10O thou my threshing, and the winnowing of my floor, that which I have heard from HaShem of hosts, the G-d of Israel, have I declared unto you.

11The burden of Dumah. One calleth unto me out of Seir: 'Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?'

12The watchman said: 'The morning cometh, and also the night--if ye will inquire, inquire ye; return, come.'

13The burden upon Arabia. In the thickets in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye caravans of Dedanites.

14Unto him that is thirsty bring ye water! The inhabitants of the land of Tema did meet the fugitive with his bread.

15For they fled away from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.

16For thus hath the L-rd said unto me: 'Within a year, according to the years of a hireling, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail;

17and the residue of the number of the archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be diminished; for HaShem, the G-d of Israel, hath spoken it.'

17 verses · JPS 1917 (public domain)

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