Esajas 21
1 Et Udsagn om Havørkenen. Som hvirvlende Storme, der jager i Sydlandet, kommer det fra Ørkenen, det grufulde Land.
The word about the waste land. As storm-winds in the South go rushing through, it comes from the waste land, from the land greatly to be feared.
2 Saa svart et Syn blev mig meldt: »Ransmænd raner, Hærmænd hærger! Frem, Elamiter! Til Belejring, Meder! Alle Suk gør jeg Ende paa!«
A vision of fear comes before my eyes; the worker of deceit goes on in his false way, and the waster goes on making waste. Up! Elam; to the attack! Media; I have put an end to her sorrow.
3 Derfor fyldes mine Lænder af Skælven, jeg gribes af Veer som fødende Kvinde, døv af Svimmelhed, blind af Skræk,
For this cause I am full of bitter grief; pains like the pains of a woman in childbirth have come on me: I am bent down with sorrow at what comes to my ears; I am shocked by what I see.
4 mit Hjerte forvirres, Gru falder paa mig; Skumringen, jeg elsker, bliver mig til Angst.
My mind is wandering, fear has overcome me: the evening of my desire has been turned into shaking for me.
5 Bordet dækkes, Hynder bredes, man spiser og drikker. »Op, I Fyrster, salv eders Skjolde!«
They make ready the table, they put down the covers, they take food and drink. Up! you captains; put oil on your breastplates.
6 Thi saa sagde Herren til mig: »Gaa hen og stil Vægteren ud! Hvad han faar at se, skal han melde.
For so has the Lord said to me, Go, let a watchman be placed; let him give word of what he sees:
7 Og ser han Ryttere, et Par komme ridende, en Rytter paa Æsel, en Rytter paa Kamel, da skal han lytte, ja lytte spændt!«
And when he sees war-carriages, horsemen by twos, war-carriages with asses, war-carriages with camels, let him give special attention.
8 Og han raabte: »Se, o Herre, paa Varden staar jeg bestandig, Dagen lang, og paa min Vagtpost staar jeg trolig
And the watchman gave a loud cry, O my lord, I am on the watchtower all day, and am placed in my watch every night:
9 Nat efter Nat!« Men se, da kom der ridende Mænd, et Par kom ridende; de raabte: »Faldet, faldet er Babel, han knuste alle dets Guder i Støvet!«
See, here come war-carriages with men, horsemen by twos: and in answer he said, Babylon is made low, is made low, and all her images are broken on the earth.
10 Mit knuste, mit tærskede Folk! Hvad jeg, har hørt fra Hærskarers HERRE, fra Israels Gud, det melder jeg eder.
O my crushed ones, the grain of my floor! I have given you the word which came to me from the Lord of armies, the God of Israel.
11 Et Udsagn om Duma. Der raabes til mig fra Se'ir: »Vægter, hvordan skrider Natten, Vægter, hvordan skrider Natten?«
The word about Edom. A voice comes to me from Seir, Watchman, how far gone is the night? how far gone is the night?
12 Vægteren svarer: »Morgen kommer, men ogsaa Nat! Vil I spørge, saa spørg! Kom kun igen!«
The watchman says, The morning has come, but night is still to come: if you have questions to put, put them, and come back again.
13 Et Udsagn: »I Ødemarken«. Søg Nattely i Ødemarkens Krat, I Dedans Karavaner!
The word about Arabia. In the thick woods of Arabia will be your night's resting-place, O travelling bands of Dedanites!
14 Bring de tørstige Vand i Møde, I, som bor i Temas Land, mød de flyende med Brød!
Give water to him who is in need of water; give bread, O men of the land of Tema, to those in flight.
15 Thi de er paa Flugt for Sværd, paa Flugt for det dragne Sværd, paa Flugt for den spændte Bue, paa Flugt for Krigens Tynge.
For they are in flight from the sharp sword, and the bent bow, and from the trouble of war.
16 Thi saa sagde Herren til mig: »Et Aar endnu, som Daglejeren regner Aaret, og det er ude med al Kedars Herlighed.
For so has the Lord said to me, In a year, by the years of a servant working for payment, all the glory of Kedar will come to an end:
17 Resten af Kedars Heltes Buer skal være ringe, saa sandt HERREN, Israels Gud, har talet.«
And the rest of the bowmen, the men of war of the children of Kedar, will be small in number: for the Lord, the God of Israel, has said it.
