Isaiah 21 Comparison: Douay-Rheims vs King James Version
Isaiah 21
1The burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds come from the south, it cometh from the desert from a terrible land.
2A grievous vision is told me: he that is unfaithful dealeth unfaithfully: and he that is a spoiler, spoileth. Go up, O Elam, besiege, O Mede: I have made all the mourning thereof to cease.
3Therefore are my loins filled with pain, anguish hath taken hold of me, as the anguish of a woman in labour: I fell down at the hearing of it, I was troubled at the seeing of it.
4My heart failed, darkness amazed me: Babylon my beloved is become a wonder to me.
5Prepare the table, behold in the watchtower them that eat and drink: arise, ye princes, take up the shield.
6For thus hath the Lord said to me: Go, and set a watchman: and whatsoever he shall see, let him tell.
7And he saw a chariot with two horsemen, a rider upon an ass, and a rider upon a camel: and he beheld them diligently with much heed.
8And a lion cried out: I am upon the watchtower of the Lord, standing continually by day: and I am upon my ward, standing whole nights.
9Behold this man cometh, the rider upon the chariot with two horsemen, and he answered, and said: Babylon is fallen, she is fallen, and all the graven gods thereof are broken unto the ground.
10O my thrashing, and the children of my floor, that which I have heard of the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, I have declared unto you.
11The burden of Duma calleth to me out of Seir: Watchman, what of the night? watchman, what of the night?
12The watchman said: The morning cometh, also the night: if you seek, seek: return, come.
13The burden in Arabia. In the forest at evening you shall sleep, in the paths of Dedanim.
14Meeting the thirsty bring him water, you that inhabit the land of the south, meet with bread him that fleeth.
15For they are fled from before the swords, from the sword that hung over them, from the bent bow, from the face of a grievous battle.
16For thus saith the Lord to me: Within a year, according to the years of a hireling, all the glory of Cedar shall be taken away.
17And the residue of the number of strong archers of the children of Cedar shall be diminished: for the Lord the God of Israel hath spoken it.
Isaiah 21
1The burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds in the south pass through; so it cometh from the desert, from a terrible land.
2A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. Go up, O Elam: besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease.
3Therefore are my loins filled with pain: pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman that travaileth: I was bowed down at the hearing of it; I was dismayed at the seeing of it.
4My heart panted, fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me.
5Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield.
6For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth.
7And he saw a chariot with a couple of horsemen, a chariot of asses, and a chariot of camels; and he hearkened diligently with much heed:
8And he cried, A lion: My lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward whole nights:
9And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground.
10O my threshing, and the corn of my floor: that which I have heard of the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto you.
11The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?
12The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, come.
13The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye travelling companies of Dedanim.
14The inhabitants of the land of Tema brought water to him that was thirsty, they prevented with their bread him that fled.
15For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.
16For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Within a year, according to the years of an hireling, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail:
17And the residue of the number of archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be diminished: for the Lord God of Israel hath spoken it.
Understanding Douay-Rheims vs King James Version in Isaiah 21
Douay-Rheims (DRC)
Traditional Catholic English translation from the Latin Vulgate. Includes deuterocanonical books used in Catholic tradition. Best for readers who want a classic, historically influential Catholic Bible.
King James Version (KJV)
The classic 1611 English translation known for its majestic prose and literary influence. Ideal for traditional study and memorization thanks to its formal style. A foundational English Bible used for centuries.
You are viewing a side-by-side comparison of Isaiah 21 in the Douay-Rheims and King James Version. Comparing these two versions can help shed light on the nuances of the original text.
Key Comparison: Isaiah 21:16
"For thus saith the Lord to me: Within a year, according to the years of a hireling, all the glory of Cedar shall be taken away."
"For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Within a year, according to the years of an hireling, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail:"
