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.
(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.

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.”

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 18:2 Lit drawn out
  2. Isaiah 18:2 Lit from it and beyond
  3. Isaiah 18:4 Lit in
  4. Isaiah 18:4 Lit light

which sends envoys(A) by sea
    in papyrus(B) boats over the water.

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)

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.
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.”

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