1 The Lord Will Judge BabylonThis is an oracle about the wilderness by the Sea: Like strong winds blowing in the south, one invades from the wilderness,from a land that is feared.2 I have received a distressing message: “The deceiver deceives,the destroyer destroys.Attack, you Elamites!Lay siege, you Medes!I will put an end to all the groaning.”3 For this reason my stomach churns; cramps overwhelm melike the contractions of a woman in labor.I am disturbed by what I hear,horrified by what I see.4 My heart palpitates, I shake in fear; the twilight I desiredhas brought me terror.5 Arrange the table,lay out the carpet,eat and drink! Get up, you officers,smear oil on the shields!6 For this is what the Lord has told me:“Go, post a guard!He must report what he sees.7 When he sees chariots,teams of horses, riders on donkeys,riders on camels,he must be alert,very alert.”8 Then the guard cries out:“On the watchtower, O Lord, I stand all day long;at my postI am stationed every night.9 Look what’s coming!A charioteer,a team of horses.” When questioned, he replies, “Babylon has fallen, fallen!All the idols of her gods lie shattered on the ground!”10 O my downtrodden people, crushed like stalks on the threshing floor, what I have heardfrom the LORD of Heaven’s Armies,the God of Israel,I have reported to you. Bad News for Seir11 This is an oracle about Dumah: Someone calls to me from Seir, “Watchman, what is left of the night?Watchman, what is left of the night?”12 The watchman replies,“Morning is coming, but then night. If you want to ask, ask;come back again.” The Lord Will Judge Arabia13 This is an oracle about Arabia:In the thicket of Arabia you spend the night,you Dedanite caravans.14 Bring out some water for the thirsty.You who live in the land of Tema,bring some food for the fugitives.15 For they flee from the swords—from the drawn sword,and from the battle-ready bow,and from the severity of the battle.16 For this is what the Lord has told me: “Within exactly one year all the splendor of Kedar will come to an end.17 Just a handful of archers, the warriors of Kedar, will be left.” Indeed, the LORD God of Israel has spoken.