Isaiah 18:3

¹ Woe to the land shadowing with wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia:

² That sendeth ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of bulrushes upon the waters, saying, Go, ye swift messengers, to a nation scattered and peeled, to a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden down, whose land the rivers have spoiled!

All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye, when he lifteth up an ensign on the mountains; and when he bloweth a trumpet, hear ye.

⁴ For so the LORD said unto me, I will take my rest, and I will consider in my dwelling place like a clear heat upon herbs, and like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.

⁵ For afore the harvest, when the bud is perfect, and the sour grape is ripening in the flower, he shall both cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks, and take away and cut down the branches.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: All you people of the world and dwellers of the earth, when a banner is raised on the mountains, you will see it; when a ram’s horn sounds, you will hear it.
KJV: All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye, when he lifteth up an ensign on the mountains; and when he bloweth a trumpet, hear ye.
WEB: All you inhabitants of the world, and you dwellers on the earth, when a banner is lifted up on the mountains, look! When the trumpet is blown, listen!
ASV: All ye inhabitants of the world, and ye dwellers on the earth, when an ensign is lifted up on the mountains, see ye; and when the trumpet is blown, hear ye.
DARBY: All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, when a banner is lifted up on the mountains, see ye, and when a trumpet is blown, hear ye!
BLB: All [you] dwellers of the world and dwellers of the earth—at the lifting of a banner [in] the mountains, you⁺ will see [it], and at the blowing of a shofar, you⁺ will hear [it].

ÅB: Alle dere jorderikes innbyggere, dere som bor på jorden! Når det løftes banner på fjellene, da se til, og når det støtes i basun, da hør etter!
OTB: Alle dere innbyggere i verden, dere som bor på jorden, når et banner heves på fjellene, vil dere se det, og når trompeten lyder, vil dere høre det.
B1930: Alle I jorderikes innbyggere, I som bor på jorden! Når det løftes banner på fjellene, da se til, og når det støtes i basun, da hør efter!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Isaiah 5:26
And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss unto them from the end of the earth: and, behold, they shall come with speed swiftly:
Read in context
Matthew 13:16
But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
Read in context
Isaiah 26:11
LORD, when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see: but they shall see, and be ashamed for their envy at the people; yea, the fire of thine enemies shall devour them.
Read in context
Micah 6:9
The LORD’s voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name: hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it.
Read in context
Matthew 13:9
Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Read in context
Isaiah 13:2
Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain, exalt the voice unto them, shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles.
Read in context
Psalms 49:1–2
Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:
Read in context
Amos 3:6–8
Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?
Read in context