Esajas 21

1 Et Udsagn om Havørkenen. Som hvirvlende Storme, der jager i Sydlandet, kommer det fra Ørkenen, det grufulde Land.

The oracle on the desert of the sea: As storm-winds in the South which with a rush from the desert, do come from a terrible land,

2 Saa svart et Syn blev mig meldt: »Ransmænd raner, Hærmænd hærger! Frem, Elamiter! Til Belejring, Meder! Alle Suk gør jeg Ende paa!«

[So] hath, a grievous vision, been told me: —the deceiver, is deceiving. And the spoiler, is spoiling, Go up, O Elam Besiege O Media, All the sighing she hath caused, have I made to cease.

3 Derfor fyldes mine Lænder af Skælven, jeg gribes af Veer som fødende Kvinde, døv af Svimmelhed, blind af Skræk,

For this cause, are my loins filled with anguish, Pangs, have seized me, as the pangs of her that is giving birth, —I writhe so that I cannot hear, I tremble, so that I cannot see:

4 mit Hjerte forvirres, Gru falder paa mig; Skumringen, jeg elsker, bliver mig til Angst.

My heart fluttereth, A horror, terrifieth me, —My twilight of pleasure, hath he turned for me into a time of trembling.

5 Bordet dækkes, Hynder bredes, man spiser og drikker. »Op, I Fyrster, salv eders Skjolde!«

[Ye thought] to prepare the table—spread the mat—eat—drink! …Arise ye chieftains anoint the shield!

6 Thi saa sagde Herren til mig: »Gaa hen og stil Vægteren ud! Hvad han faar at se, skal han melde.

For, thus, hath My Lord said unto me, —Go, set the watchman, What he seeth, let him tell!

7 Og ser han Ryttere, et Par komme ridende, en Rytter paa Æsel, en Rytter paa Kamel, da skal han lytte, ja lytte spændt!«

When he seeth A train of horsemen in double rank, A train of asses, A train of camels, Then shall he hearken attentively with diligent heed.

8 Og han raabte: »Se, o Herre, paa Varden staar jeg bestandig, Dagen lang, og paa min Vagtpost staar jeg trolig

Then cried he. A lion! On the watch, O My Lord, had I been standing continually, by day, And at my post, had I been stationed whole nights; —

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!«

When lo! here was a train of men coming. With horsemen in double rank, —And one began and said, Fallen! fallen! is Babylon, And all the images of her gods, are smashed to the ground!

10 Mit knuste, mit tærskede Folk! Hvad jeg, har hørt fra Hærskarers HERRE, fra Israels Gud, det melder jeg eder.

O thou My threshing! And the grain of my corn-floor! That which I have heard from Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel, Have I declared, unto you.

11 Et Udsagn om Duma. Der raabes til mig fra Se'ir: »Vægter, hvordan skrider Natten, Vægter, hvordan skrider Natten?«

The oracle on Dumah: Unto me, is one crying—out of Seir, Watchman! how far gone is the night? Watchman, how far gone is the night?

12 Vægteren svarer: »Morgen kommer, men ogsaa Nat! Vil I spørge, saa spørg! Kom kun igen!«

Said the watchman, There cometh a morning. But also a night, —If ye will enquire, enquire, ye—Come, again!

13 Et Udsagn: »I Ødemarken«. Søg Nattely i Ødemarkens Krat, I Dedans Karavaner!

The oracle on Arabia, —Among the shrubs in Arabia, must ye lodge, Ye caravans of Dedanites.

14 Bring de tørstige Vand i Møde, I, som bor i Temas Land, mød de flyende med Brød!

To meet the thirsty, bring ye water, —Ye dwellers in the land of Tema; With bread for him, get in advance of him that is 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, before swords, have they fled: Before a sword that is drawn, Before a bow that is bent, And before the stress 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, thus, hath My Lord said unto me, —Within a year according to the yearn of a hireling, shall fail all the glory of Kedar;

17 Resten af Kedars Heltes Buer skal være ringe, saa sandt HERREN, Israels Gud, har talet.«

And, the remnant of the record of bowmen, The heroes of the sons of Kedar, shall become few; For Yahweh God of Israel, hath spoken.