Isaiah 18

1 Woe [a cry of sorrow, oh] to the land [a country, territory, or region] of whirring wings [buzzing, a loud clatter, or rustling], along [beyond, on the other side of] the rivers [a flood] of Cush [Ethiopia, the region south of Egypt], word study 2 which sends couriers [envoys, ambassadors] by sea [the Mediterranean, a large body of water], in papyrus vessels [ships of reed, boats made of papyrus] on the waters [the face of the rivers]. Go, swift [light, quick] messengers [representatives], to a people [nation, Gentiles] tall [drawn out, peeled] and smooth-skinned [polished, refined], to a people [nation, group of people] widely feared [terrible, awesome], to a powerful [strong, mighty] nation of strange [unfamiliar, foreign] speech, whose land [earth, territory] is divided [cut through, separated] by rivers [branches of a large river, streams]. word study 3 All [every single one, the entire world] you people of the world [inhabitants of the earth, all nations] and dwellers [residents, those who remain] of the earth [land, territory], when a banner [ensign, flag] is raised [lifted up, elevated] on the mountains [hills, high places], you will see [look, behold] it; when a ram’s horn [trumpet] sounds [is blown, blasts], you will hear [listen, give attention] it. word study 4 For this is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] has told me: “I will quietly [be at peace, still] look on from My dwelling place [My fixed place, foundation], like shimmering heat [clear heat, dazzling] in the sunshine [light, warmth], like a cloud [thick cloud] of dew [moisture, refreshing] in the heat [warmth, summer] of harvest [the time of gathering, reaping].” word study 5 For before [afore, prior to] the harvest [time of gathering, reaping], when the blossom [flower, bud] is gone and the flower [unripe grape, sour grape] becomes a ripening grape [fruit ready for crushing], He will cut off [prune, lop off] the shoots [tendrils, twigs] with a pruning knife [pruning-hook, cutting tool] and remove [take away, turn aside] and discard [cut down, strike away] the branches [long, thin limbs]. word study 6 They will all be left [abandoned, forsaken] to the mountain [hill] birds of prey [ravenous birds, like hawks], and to the beasts [wild animals, large quadruped mammals] of the land [earth, soil, or ground]. The birds [fowls] will feed [eat, summer upon] on them in summer [the warmest season, harvest time], and all the wild animals [beasts of the earth] in winter [the coldest season]. word study 7 At that time [before all eternity, from the very first] gifts [offerings, tributes] will be brought to the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] of Hosts [army, heavenly forces]— from a people [nation, Gentiles] tall and smooth-skinned [polished, refined], from a people [nation, Gentiles] widely feared [awesome, revered], from a powerful [mighty, strong] nation of strange [foreign, unknown] speech, whose land [territory, country] is divided [cleaved, separated] by rivers [streams, waters]— to Mount [hill, mountain] Zion [the city of God, heavenly Jerusalem], the place [location, dwelling] of the Name [reputation, character] of the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] of Hosts [army, heavenly forces]. word study