Targum Isaiah

1The burden of the armies which are coming from the wilderness, as the waters of the sea, rushing along as the tempests: yea, they are coming by the way of the south, hurrying along; yea, they are coming from the wilderness, from the land, in which terrible things are done.

2The prophet said: a dreadful vision has been declared unto me. The violent deal violently, and the spoilers spoil. Come up, ye Elamites; encompass, ye Media! I will give rest to all who sigh on account of the king of Babylon.

3Therefore their loins shall be full of terror: behold, fear shall seize them, like the pangs of a woman that travaileth. They are become foolish, so that they cannot hear; they have erred, so that they cannot see.

4Their heart is bewildered; distress and terrors have seized them, because the place of their confidence hath become destruction unto them.

5Prepare the table, place the watchmen, eat ye, drink ye; rise, ye princes, polish, and make bright the arms!

6For thus hath the Lord said unto me: Go, set a watchman, let him report what he seeth.

7And he saw a chariot, a man, and with him a couple of horsemen: a rider on an ass, a rider on a a camel. The prophet said, I listened diligently, and, behold, I saw mighty armies!

8The prophet said, the voice of armies, coming with coats of mail, is as a lion; and I stand continually upon the watchtower before the Lord in the day, and as a guard I stand all the night.

9And, behold, this was coming: A chariot! a man! and with him a couple of horsemen. He answered, and said, She is fallen! Yea, it shall come to pass, that Babylon shall fall, and all the images of her idols shall be dashed to pieces to the ground.

10Kings who are skillful to wage war, shall come against her to plunder her, like a husbandman who is skillful to thrash the floor. The prophet said, The voice of the WORD of the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel, which I have heard, I have declared unto you.

11The Burden Of The Cup Of Cursing To Give Duma To Drink. He thundered unto me from the heavens, Prophet! explain unto them the prophecy; prophet! explain unto them what shall hereafter come to pass.

12The prophet said, there is a reward to the righteous, and there is punishment to the wicked: if ye will repent, repent ye, whilst ye are able to repent.

13The Burden Of Give The Arabians To Drink. In the forest, at even, the caravan of the sons of Dedan shall remain for the night.

14Bring bottles of water before the thirsty, who dwell in land of the south; prepare for the fugitives the daily food which ye eat.

15Because, on account of the slaughter they have fled: from the face of the drawn sword; and from the face of the bent bow; and from the face of the strength of the battle.

16For thus hath the Lord said unto me: at the end of the years, as the years of an hireling, all the glory of the Arabians shall come to an end.

17And the strength of the warriors, the mighty, the sons of the Arabians, shall be lessened, because by the WORD of the Lord, the God of Israel, it is thus decreed.