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Isaiah 18:2
ESV which sends ambassadors by the sea, in vessels of papyrus on the waters! Go, you swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth, to a people feared near and far, a nation mighty and conquering, whose land the rivers divide.
NIV which sends envoys by sea in papyrus boats over the water. Go, swift messengers, to a people tall and smooth-skinned, to a people feared far and wide, an aggressive nation of strange speech, whose land is divided by rivers.
NASB Which sends messengers by the sea, Even in papyrus vessels on the surface of the waters. Go, swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth, To a people feared far and wide, A powerful and oppressive nation Whose land the rivers divide.
CSB which sends envoys by sea, in reed vessels over the water. Go, swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth-skinned, to a people feared far and near, a powerful nation with a strange language, whose land is divided by rivers.
NLT that sends ambassadors in swift boats down the river. Go, swift messengers! Take a message to a tall, smooth-skinned people, who are feared far and wide for their conquests and destruction, and whose land is divided by rivers.
KJV 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!
NKJV Which sends ambassadors by sea, Even in vessels of reed on the waters, saying, “Go, swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth of skin, To a people terrible from their beginning onward, A nation powerful and treading down, Whose land the rivers divide.”

What does Isaiah 18:2 mean?

The exact meaning of this passage difficult to understand. The Hebrew phrasing is obscure, with little context to use for an anchor. But scholars have gathered an approximate idea of what Isaiah is writing about. The prophet has been speaking about the various nations in the region, one after another. He is warning Judah to not put its hope in alliances with other nations; those agreements will not save them from the threat of the Assyrians and other powers.

Isaiah now turns his attention south toward Egypt and the surrounding regions. He seems to be calling out to a region along the Nile south of Egypt. In the ancient world, this area was sometimes called "Ethiopia." This historic region of Ethiopia is not the same as the modern nation named "Ethiopia." We know that the Ethiopian kings of that era were trying to expand their rule to include all of Egypt during this time. With that in mind, scholars believe Isaiah is addressing the Ethiopians who were sending out ambassadors by the sea or possibly the rivers. They travelled in smaller sailboats made of papyrus that were able to quickly navigate the many waterways and tributaries of Egypt and Mesopotamia.

Isaiah potentially hears someone else telling messengers to go to a nation made up of "tall and smooth" people who are feared for their strength. These people are also defined as those whose "land the rivers divide." Unlike the comparatively shorter, bearded men of Israel, Assyria, and the surrounding nations, the Ethiopians and Egyptians were taller and clean-shaven. Egypt was a powerful nation.

It's unclear from where the messengers are being sent. Perhaps they are going out from Cush, Ethiopia, to attempt to form alliances with the rest of Egypt. They were also under the threat from the powerful Assyrians. It is also unclear how Israel plays into any of this.

More clearly described here is a season in which all nations appear eager to make alliances with each other to combat the threat of the powerful Assyrian Empire. Some nations even try to join forces with the Assyrians seeking to save themselves, as King Ahaz of Judah did. That plan did not work out for Judah (2 Chronicles 28:16, 20).
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