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God’s Message to Babylon

21 This is a ·message [prophecy; oracle; burden] about the Desert by the Sea [C probably Babylon (v. 9), though an unusual description of it]:

·Disaster [or An invader; L It] is coming from the desert
    like ·wind [whirlwinds] blowing in the ·south [or Negev].
    It is coming from a terrible country.
I have seen a ·terrible [terrifying; dire; distressing] vision.
    ·I see traitors turning against you [L The betrayer betrays]
    ·and people taking your wealth [the destroyer destroys; or the looter loots].

Elam, ·attack the people [L go up; C Elam sounds like the Hebrew for “go up”]!
    Media, ·surround the city and attack it [besiege]!
I will bring an end to ·the pain the city causes [L all the groaning].

·I saw those terrible things, and now [L For this reason; At this] ·I am in pain [my loins/stomach are filled with pain];
    my pains ·are [seize me] like the pains of giving birth.
What I hear ·makes me very afraid [distresses/staggers me];
    what I see ·causes me to shake with fear [bewilders/horrifies me].

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A Prophecy Against Babylon

21 A prophecy(A) against the Desert(B) by the Sea:

Like whirlwinds(C) sweeping through the southland,(D)
    an invader comes from the desert,
    from a land of terror.

A dire(E) vision has been shown to me:
    The traitor betrays,(F) the looter takes loot.
Elam,(G) attack! Media,(H) lay siege!
    I will bring to an end all the groaning she caused.

At this my body is racked with pain,(I)
    pangs seize me, like those of a woman in labor;(J)
I am staggered by what I hear,
    I am bewildered(K) by what I see.

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