Isaiah 21
1 This is the burden against the Desert by the Sea: Like whirlwinds sweeping through the Negev, an invader comes from the desert, from a land of terror.
Nkɔmhyɛ a ɛfa Nweatam a ɛda Po ho no ho: Te sɛ mfɛtɛ a ɛbɔ fa anafo fam asase so no, ɔtamfo bi fi nweatam so reba, ofi asase a ɛyɛ ahuabɔbrim so.
2 A dire vision is declared to me: “The traitor still betrays, and the destroyer still destroys. Go up, O Elam! Lay siege, O Media! I will put an end to all her groaning.”
Wɔde adaeso a ɛyɛ nwonwa akyerɛ me: Ɔfatwafo di huammɔ, ɔfomfo fa asade. Elam tow hyɛ so! Media bɔ pampim! Mede apinisi a ɔde bae no nyinaa bɛba awiei.
3 Therefore my body is filled with anguish. Pain grips me, like the pains of a woman in labor. I am bewildered to hear, I am dismayed to see.
Eyi ama ɔyaw bi abɛhyɛ me mu, ɔyaw aka me, te sɛ ɔbea a awo aka no; nea metee no nti mintumi nnyina me nan so, nea mihu no ama me ho adwiriw me.
4 My heart falters; fear makes me tremble. The twilight of my desire has turned to horror.
Me koma bɔ kitirikitiri, ehu ma me ho popo; na hann a mepɛɛ sɛ mihu no abɛyɛ aninyanne ama me.
5 They prepare a table, they lay out a carpet, they eat, they drink! Rise up, O princes, oil the shields!
Wɔto pon, wɔde kuntu akɛtɛ sesɛw fam, wodidi, na wɔnom! Monsɔre, mo asraafo mpanyimfo, momfa ngo nsrasra mo akatabo ho!
6 For this is what the Lord says to me: “Go, post a lookout and have him report what he sees.
Sɛɛ na Awurade ka kyerɛ me: “Fa ɔwɛmfo kogyina hɔ na ɔnka nea ohu nkyerɛ wo.
7 When he sees chariots with teams of horsemen, riders on donkeys, riders on camels, he must be alert, fully alert.”
Sɛ ohu nteaseɛnam ne apɔnkɔ akuwakuw, wɔn a wɔtete mfurum so ne wɔn a wɔtete yoma so a, ɔnwɛn nʼaso, nwɛn no pa ara.”
8 Then the lookout shouted: “Day after day, my lord, I stand on the watchtower; night after night I stay at my post.
Na ɔwɛmfo no teɛɛ mu se, “Me wura, da biara migyina ɔwɛn aban no so Anadwo biara, migyina hɔ.
9 Look, here come the riders, horsemen in pairs.” And one answered, saying: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon! All the images of her gods lie shattered on the ground!”
Hwɛ, ɔbarima bi a ɔte teaseɛnam mu na ɔreba yi ɔne apɔnkɔ dɔm. Na ɔwɛmfo no kae se, ‘Babilon ahwe ase, wahwe ase! Nʼanyame ne nʼahoni nyinaa abubu agu fam!’”
10 O my people, crushed on the threshing floor, I tell you what I have heard from the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel.
Ao, me nkurɔfo a, wɔadwerɛw mo wɔ awiporowbea ase meka nea mate kyerɛ mo nea efi Asafo Awurade, nea efi Israel Nyankopɔn hɔ.
11 This is the burden against Dumah: One calls to me from Seir, “Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left of the night?”
Adehu a ɛfa Duma ho: Obi frɛ me fi Seir, “Ɔwɛmfo, bere bɛn na ade bɛkyɛ? Ɔwɛmfo, aka nnɔnhwerew ahe ansa na ade akye?”
12 The watchman replies, “Morning has come, but also the night. If you would inquire, then inquire. Come back yet again.”
Ɔwɛmfo no bua se, “Ade rekye, nanso ade bɛsa. Sɛ wubebisa bio a san bra bebisa.”
13 This is the burden against Arabia: In the thickets of Arabia you must lodge, O caravans of Dedanites.
Adehu a ɛfa Arabia ho: Mo Dedan akwantufo a mosoɛ wɔ Arabia adɔtɔ ase,
14 Bring water for the thirsty, O dwellers of Tema; meet the refugees with food.
Momfa nsu mmrɛ wɔn a osukɔm de wɔn; mo a motete Tema, mommrɛ aguanfo no aduan.
15 For they flee from the sword— the sword that is drawn— from the bow that is bent, and from the stress of battle.
Woguan fi afoa a watwe tadua a wɔakuntun mu ne ɔko a egyina mu ano.
16 For this is what the Lord says to me: “Within one year, as a hired worker would count it, all the glory of Kedar will be gone.
Sɛɛ na Awurade ka kyerɛ me, “Afe baako mu, sɛnea ɔsomfo a wayɛ nhyehyɛe bebubu nna no, Kedar kɛseyɛ to betwa.
17 The remaining archers, the warriors of Kedar, will be few.” For the LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken.
Na agyantowfo a wɔbɛka ne Kedar akofo bɛyɛ kakraa bi.” Nea Awurade, Israel Nyankopɔn, aka ni.
