Font Size
Isaiah 18:2-4
New International Version
Isaiah 18:2-4
New International Version
Go, swift messengers,
to a people tall and smooth-skinned,(C)
to a people feared far and wide,
an aggressive(D) nation of strange speech,
whose land is divided by rivers.(E)
3 All you people of the world,(F)
you who live on the earth,
when a banner(G) is raised on the mountains,
you will see it,
and when a trumpet(H) sounds,
you will hear it.
4 This is what the Lord says to me:
“I will remain quiet(I) and will look on from my dwelling place,(J)
like shimmering heat in the sunshine,(K)
like a cloud of dew(L) in the heat of harvest.”
Isaiah 18:2-4
New King James Version
Isaiah 18:2-4
New King James Version
2 Which sends ambassadors by sea,
Even in vessels of reed on the waters, saying,
“Go, swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth of skin,
To a people terrible from their beginning onward,
A nation powerful and treading down,
Whose land the rivers divide.”
3 All inhabitants of the world and dwellers on the earth:
(A)When he lifts up a banner on the mountains, you see it;
And when he blows a trumpet, you hear it.
4 For so the Lord said to me,
“I will take My rest,
And I will [a]look from My dwelling place
Like clear heat in sunshine,
Like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.”
Footnotes
- Isaiah 18:4 watch
Isaiah 18:2-4
English Standard Version
Isaiah 18:2-4
English Standard Version
2 which (A)sends ambassadors by the sea,
in vessels of papyrus on the waters!
Go, you swift messengers,
to a nation (B)tall and smooth,
to a people feared near and far,
a nation (C)mighty and conquering,
whose land the rivers divide.
3 All you inhabitants of the world,
you who dwell on the earth,
when (D)a signal is raised on the mountains, look!
When a trumpet is blown, hear!
4 For thus the Lord said to me:
“I will quietly look (E)from my dwelling
like clear heat in sunshine,
like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.”
Isaiah 18:2-4
New American Standard Bible
Isaiah 18:2-4
New American Standard Bible
2 Which sends messengers by the sea,
Even in (A)papyrus vessels on the surface of the waters.
Go, swift messengers, to a nation [a](B)tall and smooth,
To a people (C)feared [b]far and wide,
A powerful and oppressive nation
Whose land the rivers divide.
3 (D)All you who inhabit the world, and live on earth,
As soon as a flag is raised on the mountains, (E)you will see it,
And as soon as the trumpet is blown, you will hear it.
4 For this is what the Lord has told me:
“I will quietly look [c]from My (F)dwelling place
Like dazzling heat in the [d](G)sunshine,
Like a cloud of (H)dew in the heat of harvest.”
Footnotes
- Isaiah 18:2 Lit drawn out
- Isaiah 18:2 Lit from it and beyond
- Isaiah 18:4 Lit in
- Isaiah 18:4 Lit light
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) 
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.