1 A Message to Ethiopia Alas, O land of whirring wingsWhich lies beyond the rivers of 18:1Or Cush, cf. Gen 10:6 Ethiopia,
2 Which sends envoys by the sea,Even in papyrus vessels on the surface of the waters.Go, swift messengers, to a nation 18:2Lit drawn out tall and smooth,To a people feared 18:2Lit from it and beyond far and wide,A powerful and oppressive nationWhose land the rivers divide.
3 All you inhabitants of the world and dwellers on earth,As soon as a standard is raised on the mountains, you will seeit,And as soon as the trumpet is blown, you will hearit.
4 For thus Yahweh has told me,“I will look 18:4Lit in from My dwelling place quietlyLike dazzling heat in the 18:4Lit light sunshine,Like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.”
5 For before the harvest, as soon as the bud 18:5Lit is finished blossomsAnd the flower becomes a ripening grape,Then He will cut off the sprigs with pruning knivesAnd removeandcut away the spreading branches.
6 They will be left together for mountain birds of prey,And for the beasts of the earth;And the birds of prey will spend the summerfeedingon them,And all the beasts of the earth will spend harvest time on them.
7 At that time a gift of homage will be brought to Yahweh of hosts 18:7As in DSS and some ancient versions; M.T. implies Consisting of a people From a people 18:7Lit drawn out tall and smooth,Even from a people feared 18:7Lit from it and beyond far and wide,A powerful and oppressive nation,Whose land the rivers divide—To the place of the name of Yahweh of hosts,evenMount Zion.