1 THE VISION OF THE DESERT. As though a whirlwind should pass through the desert, coming from a desert, even from such a land, 2 so a fearful and a severe vision was declared to me: he that is treacherous deals treacherously, the transgressor transgresses. The Elamites are upon me, and the ambassadors of the Persians come against me: now I will groan and comfort myself. 3 Therefore my lower back is filled with weakness, and pangs have seized me as a woman in labor: I dealt wrongfully that I might not hear; I hastened that I might not see. 4 My heart wanders, and transgression overwhelms me; my soul is occupied with fear. 5 Prepare the table, drink, eat: arise, you princes, and prepare your shields. 6 For thus said the Lord to me, Go and station a watchman for yourself, and declare whatever you shall see. 7 And I saw two mounted horsemen, and a rider on an donkey, and a rider on a camel. Listen with great attention,⁠a 8 and call Uriah to the watch-tower of the Lord. And he said, I stood continually during the day, and I stood in the camp all night: 9 and, look, he comes riding in a chariot and pair: and he answered and said, Babylon is fallen; and all her images and her idols have been crushed to the ground. 10 Hear, you that are left, and you that are in pain, hear what things I have heard of the Lord of hosts, which the God of Israel has declared to us. 11 THE VISION OF IDUMEA. He calls to me out of Seir; guard the bulwarks. 12 I watch in the morning and the night: if you would inquire, inquire, and dwell by me. 13 You may lodge in the forest in the evening, or in the way of Dedan. 14 You that dwell in the country of Teman, bring water to meet him that is thirsty; meet the fugitives with bread, 15 because of the multitude of those who flee, and because of the multitude of those who lose their way, and because of the multitude of swords, and because of the multitude of bent bows, and because of the multitude of those who have fallen in war. 16 For thus said the Lord to me, Yet a year, as the year of a hireling, and the glory of the sons of Kedar shall fail: 17 and the remnant of the strong bows of the sons of Kedar shall be small: for the Lord God of Israel has spoken it.