Esajas 21

1 Profeti imod Havets Ørk. Ligesom Hvirvelvinde fare frem i Syden, saa kommer det fra Ørken, fra det forfærdelige Land.

The burden of the desert of the sea. Just as the whirlwinds approach from Africa, it approaches from the desert, from a terrible land.

2 Mig er kundgjort et haardt Syn: Røveren røver, og Ødelæggeren ødelægger; drag op, Elam! træng paa Madaj! jeg har gjort, at hvert Suk hører op.

A difficult vision has been announced to me: he who is unbelieving, he acts unfaithfully, and he who is a plunderer, he devastates. Ascend, O Elam! Lay siege, O Media! I have caused all its mourning to cease.

3 Derfor ere mine Lænder fulde af Smerter, Veer have betaget mig ligesom Veer den fødende; jeg vrider mig, saa jeg ikke kan høre, jeg er forfærdet, saa at jeg ikke kan se.

Because of this, my lower back has been filled with pain, and anguish has possessed me, like the anguish of a woman in labor. I fell down when I heard it. I was disturbed when I saw it.

4 Mit Hjerte er forvildet, Gru har forfærdet mig, Tusmørket, som var min Lyst, er blevet mig til Rædsel.

My heart withered. The darkness stupefied me. Babylon, my beloved, has become a wonder to me.

5 Man dækker Bord, Vagten vaager, man æder, man drikker; — „gører eder rede, I Fyrster! salver Skjoldet!‟

Prepare the table. Contemplate, from a place of observation, those who eat and drink. Rise up, you leaders! Take up the shield!

6 Thi saa sagde Herren til mig: Gak, sæt en Vægter ud, lad ham kundgøre, hvad han ser.

For the Lord has said this to me: “Go and station a watchman. And let him announce whatever he will see.”

7 Og ser han Vogne, Ryttere parvis, Vogne, dragne af Asener, Vogne, dragne af Kameler, da skal han give Agt, nøje Agt.

And he saw a chariot with two horsemen, and a rider on a donkey, and a rider on a camel. And he considered them diligently, with an intense gaze.

8 Og han raabte som en Løve: Herre! jeg staar stadig paa Vagt om Dagen, jeg staar paa min Vare hver Nat.

And a lion cried out: “I am on the watchtower of the Lord, standing continually by day. And I am at my station, standing throughout the night.

9 Og se! da kom der Vogne med Folk, Ryttere parvis; og han svarede og sagde: Babel er falden, den er falden, og man har kastet alle dens Gudebilleder knuste til Jorden!

Behold, a certain man approaches, a man riding on a two-horse chariot.” And he responded, and he said: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon! And all its graven gods have been crushed into the earth!

10 Du, min tærskede, og du, som har været lagt paa min Lo! det, jeg hørte af den Herre Zebaoth, Israels Gud, kundgjorde jeg eder.

O my threshed grain! O sons of my threshing floor! What I have heard from the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, I have announced to you.”

11 Profeti imod Duma. Der raaber en til mig fra Seir: Vægter, hvordan skrider Natten? Vægter, hvordan skrider Natten?

The burden of Dumah, cried out to me from Seir: “Watchman, how goes the night? Watchman, how goes the night?”

12 Vægteren siger: Der kommer Morgen, men ogsaa Nat; ville I spørge, saa spørger! kommer igen en anden Gang.

The watchman said: “Morning approaches with the night. If you are seeking: seek, and convert, and approach.”

13 Profeti imod Arabien. I skulle blive Natten over i Skoven i Arabien, I rejsende Hobe af Dedaniter!

The burden in Arabia. In the forest you shall sleep, in the evening on the paths of Dedanim.

14 De komme den tørstige i Møde med Vand; Indbyggerne i Themas Land møde den flygtende med Brød.

You who inhabit the land of the south: upon meeting the thirsty, bring water; meet the fugitive with bread.

15 Thi de flyede for Sværd, for det dragne Sværd, for den spændte Bue og for den svare Krig.

For they are fleeing before the face of swords, before the face of a sword hanging over them, before the face of a bent bow, before the face of a grievous battle.

16 Thi saa sagde Herren til mig: Endnu inden et Aar, som en Daglønners Aar, da skal al Kedars Herlighed faa Ende.

For the Lord said this to me: “After one more year, just like one year for a hired hand, all the glory of Kedar will be taken away.

17 Og Tallet af Buerne, som blive tilbage for de vældige af Kedars Børn, skal formindskes; thi Herren, Israels Gud, har talt det.

And the remainder of the multitude of strong archers from the sons of Kedar will be few, for the Lord, the God of Israel, has spoken it.”