Esajas 21
1 Et Udsagn om Havørkenen. Som hvirvlende Storme, der jager i Sydlandet, kommer det fra Ørkenen, det grufulde Land.
[I received] this message [from Yahweh about Babylonia], [a land that is] near the [Persian] Gulf [but which will soon be] a desert. [An army] will soon come from the desert to invade that land; it is an army that causes its enemies to be terrified, an army that will come like a whirlwind from the south.
2 Saa svart et Syn blev mig meldt: »Ransmænd raner, Hærmænd hærger! Frem, Elamiter! Til Belejring, Meder! Alle Suk gør jeg Ende paa!«
Yahweh showed me a terrifying vision. [In the vision I saw an army] that will betray/deceive people and steal their possessions [after they conquer them]. [Yahweh said], “You armies from Elam and Media, surround [Babylon] and prepare to attack it! I will cause the groaning [and suffering] that Babylon caused to cease!”
3 Derfor fyldes mine Lænder af Skælven, jeg gribes af Veer som fødende Kvinde, døv af Svimmelhed, blind af Skræk,
Because of that, my body is full of pain; my pain is like the pain that women who are giving birth experience. When I hear about and see [what God is planning to do], I am shocked.
4 mit Hjerte forvirres, Gru falder paa mig; Skumringen, jeg elsker, bliver mig til Angst.
I cannot think straight/correctly, and I tremble. I was eager for it to be nighttime, but now it is night, and I am horrified.
5 Bordet dækkes, Hynder bredes, man spiser og drikker. »Op, I Fyrster, salv eders Skjolde!«
[In the vision I saw that the leaders of Babylonia] were preparing a great feast. They had spread rugs [for people to sit on]; everyone was eating and drinking. [But] they should get up and prepare their shields, [because they are about to be attacked]!
6 Thi saa sagde Herren til mig: »Gaa hen og stil Vægteren ud! Hvad han faar at se, skal han melde.
Then Yahweh said to me, “Put a watchman [on the wall of Jerusalem], and tell him to shout/proclaim 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!«
Tell him to watch for chariots pulled by pairs of horses, and [men riding] camels and donkeys, [coming from Babylon]. Tell the watchman to watch and listen carefully!”
8 Og han raabte: »Se, o Herre, paa Varden staar jeg bestandig, Dagen lang, og paa min Vagtpost staar jeg trolig
[So I did that], and one day the watchman called out, “Day after day I have stood on this watchtower, and I have continued to watch during the day and during the 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!«
Now, I saw a man riding in a chariot pulled by two horses. [I called out to him], and he answered/shouted, ‘Babylon has been destroyed! All the idols in Babylon lie in pieces on the ground!’”
10 Mit knuste, mit tærskede Folk! Hvad jeg, har hørt fra Hærskarers HERRE, fra Israels Gud, det melder jeg eder.
My people [in Judah], [the army of Babylon has caused] you to suffer greatly [as though] [MET] you were grain that was threshed and (winnowed/thrown up into the air for the wind to blow away the chaff). [But now] I have told you what the Commander of the armies of angels the God whom we Israelis [worship], told me [about Babylon].
11 Et Udsagn om Duma. Der raabes til mig fra Se'ir: »Vægter, hvordan skrider Natten, Vægter, hvordan skrider Natten?«
[I received] this message [from Yahweh] about Edom: Someone from Edom has been calling/shouting to me saying, “Watchman, how long will it be before the night is ended? [DOU]”
12 Vægteren svarer: »Morgen kommer, men ogsaa Nat! Vil I spørge, saa spørg! Kom kun igen!«
[I], the watchman, replied, “It will [soon] be morning, but after that, it will [soon] be night again. If you want to inquire [again about what will happen in our country], come back and inquire again.”
13 Et Udsagn: »I Ødemarken«. Søg Nattely i Ødemarkens Krat, I Dedans Karavaner!
[I received] this message about Arabia: Give this message to people traveling in caravans from Dedan [town in northwest Arabia], who camp in the scrub there. Tell them to bring water for those who are thirsty.
14 Bring de tørstige Vand i Møde, I, som bor i Temas Land, mød de flyende med Brød!
And you people who live in Tema [city in northwest Arabia], must bring food for the (refugees/people who are fleeing from their enemies).
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.
They are fleeing in order not to be killed by [their enemies’] swords and not to be shot in battles by arrows.
16 Thi saa sagde Herren til mig: »Et Aar endnu, som Daglejeren regner Aaret, og det er ude med al Kedars Herlighed.
Yahweh said to me, “Exactly one year from now, all the greatness of the Kedar [area in Arabia] will end.
17 Resten af Kedars Heltes Buer skal være ringe, saa sandt HERREN, Israels Gud, har talet.«
Only a few of their soldiers who know well how to shoot arrows will remain alive. [That will surely happen] because [I], Yahweh, have said it.”
