Isaiah 21:5 - Forerunner Commentary

Isaiah 21:5

3 Therefore ^amy loins are filled with pain;
^bPangs have taken hold of me, like the pangs of a woman in labor.
I was¹ distressed when I heard it;
I was dismayed when I saw it.

4 My heart wavered, fearfulness frightened me;
^aThe night for which I longed He turned into fear for me.

5 ^aPrepare the table,
Set a watchman in the tower,
Eat and drink.
Arise, you princes,
Anoint the shield!

6 For thus has the Lord said to me:
“Go, set a watchman,
Let him declare what he sees.”

7 And he saw a chariot with a pair of horsemen,
A chariot of donkeys, and a chariot of camels,
And he listened earnestly with great care.

8 ¹Then he cried, “A lion, my Lord!
I stand continually on the ^awatchtower in the daytime;
I have sat at my post every night.

9 And look, here comes a chariot of men with a pair of horsemen!”
Then he answered and said,
^a“Babylon is fallen, is fallen!
And ^ball the carved images of her gods
He has broken to the ground.”

10 ^aOh, my threshing and the grain of my floor!
That which I have heard from the Lord of hosts,
The God of Israel,
I have declared to you.

Proclamation Against Edom

11 ^aThe¹ burden against Dumah.
He calls to me out of ^bSeir,
“Watchman, what of the night?
Watchman, what of the night?”

12 The watchman said,
“The morning comes, and also the night.
If you will inquire, inquire;
Return! Come back!”

Proclamation Against Arabia

13 ^aThe¹ burden against Arabia.
In the forest in Arabia you will lodge,
O you traveling companies ^bof Dedanites.

14 O inhabitants of the land of Tema,
Bring water to him who is thirsty;
With their bread they met him who fled.

Verse Comparison: Isaiah 21:5

<< Isaiah 21:4

Isaiah 21:6 >>

American Standard Version
They prepare the table, they set the watch, they eat, they drink: rise up, ye princes, anoint the shield.

Amplified® Bible
They prepare the table, they spread the rugs, [and having] set the watchers [the revelers take no other precaution], they eat, they drink. Arise, you princes, and oil your shields [for your deadly foe is at the gates]!

Contemporary English Version
In Babylon the high officials were having a feast. They were eating and drinking, when someone shouted, "Officers, take your places! Grab your shields."

Darby English Version
Prepare the table, appoint the watch; eat, drink: arise, ye princes, anoint the shield.

Good News Bible
In the vision a banquet is ready; rugs are spread for the guests to sit on. They are eating and drinking. Suddenly the command rings out: "Officers! Prepare your shields!"

King James Version
Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield.

New American Standard Bible
They set the table, they spread out the cloth, they eat, they drink; "Rise up, captains, oil the shields,"

New International Version
They set the tables,
they spread the rugs,
they eat, they drink!
Get up, you officers,
oil the shields!

New King James Version
Prepare the table,
Set a watchman in the tower,
Eat and drink.
Arise, you princes,
Anoint the shield!

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
They set the table, they spread out the cloth, they eat, they drink; "Rise up, captains, oil the shields,"

Revised Standard Version
They prepare the table, they spread the rugs, they eat, they drink. Arise, O princes, oil the shield!

Young's Literal Translation
Arrange the table, watch in the watch-tower, Eat, drink, rise, ye heads, anoint the shield,

New English Translation
Arrange the table, lay out¹ the carpet, eat and drink!² Get up, you officers, smear oil on the shields!³

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