Isaiah 18 · A Message to Cush

1Ah,land in the deep shadow of wings, Beyond the rivers of Cush!

2Go, swift messengers,To a nation far and remote,To a people thrust forth and away—A nation of gibber and chatter—Whose land is cut off by streams;Which sends out envoys by sea,In papyrus vessels upon the water!

3[Say this:]“All you who live in the worldAnd inhabit the earth,When a flag is raised in the hills, take note!When a ram’s horn is blown, give heed!”

4For thus GOD said to me:“I rest calm and confident “to rely” (Job 6.19). The related noun mabbaṭ occurs with similar meaning in Isa. 20.5, 6. in My habitation—Like a scorching heat upon sprouts,Like a rain-cloud in the heat of reaping time.”

5For before the harvest, yet after the budding,When the blossom has hardened into berries,[God] will trim away the twigs with pruning hooks,And lop off the trailing branches.

6They shall all be leftTo the kites of the hillsAnd to the beasts of the earth;The kites shall summer on themAnd all the beasts of the earth shall winter on them.

7In that time,Tribute shall be brought to GOD of Hosts[From] a people far and remote,From a people thrust forth and away—A nation of gibber and chatter,Whose land is cut off by streams—At the place where the name of GOD of Hosts abides,At Mount Zion.