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 Babilonia, anweatam no a ɛda Po no ho: Sɛdeɛ twahoframa a ɛbɔ fa anafoɔ fam asase so no yɛ no, saa ara na ɔtohyɛsoɔni bi firi anweatam so reba. Ɔfiri asase a ɛyɛ hunabɔbrim 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 anisoadehunu a ɛyɛ nwanwa akyerɛ me: Ɔfatwafoɔ bi redi hwammɔ. Ɔfomfoɔ bi refa afodeɛ. Elam reto ahyɛ ɔman bi so! Media rebɔ pampim! Mede apinisie a Babilonia de baeɛ no nyinaa bɛba awieeɛ.
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.
Yei ama ɔyea bi abɛhyɛ me mu, ɔyea aka me, te sɛ ɔbaa a awoɔ aka no; deɛ meteɛ no enti mentumi nnyina me nan so, deɛ mehunu no ama me ho adwiri me.
4 My heart falters; fear makes me tremble. The twilight of my desire has turned to horror.
Mʼakoma bɔ paripari, ehu ma me ho popo; na ɛhan a mepɛɛ sɛ mehunu no abɛyɛ adeɛ a ɛbɔ me hu.
5 They prepare a table, they lay out a carpet, they eat, they drink! Rise up, O princes, oil the shields!
Wɔto ɛpono, wɔde kuntu akɛtɛ sesɛ fam, wɔdidi, na wɔnom! Monsɔre mo asraafoɔ mpanimfoɔ, momfa ngo nsrasra mo akyɛm ho!
6 For this is what the Lord says to me: “Go, post a lookout and have him report what he sees.
Yei ne deɛ Awurade ka kyerɛ me: “Fa ɔwɛmfoɔ kɔgyina hɔ na ɔnka deɛ ɔhunu nkyerɛ wo.
7 When he sees chariots with teams of horsemen, riders on donkeys, riders on camels, he must be alert, fully alert.”
Sɛ ɔhunu nteaseɛnam ne apɔnkɔ akuakuo, wɔn a wɔtete mfunumu so ne wɔn a wɔtete nyoma so a, ɔnwɛn nʼaso wɛn 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 ɔwɛmfoɔ no teaam sɛ, “Me wura da biara megyina ɔwɛn aban no so anadwo biara, megyina 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 ɔwɛmfoɔ no kaa sɛ, ‘Babilonia 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 nkurɔfoɔ a wɔadwera mo wɔ ayuporeeɛ ase meka deɛ mateɛ kyerɛ mo, deɛ ɛfiri Asafo Awurade, deɛ ɛfiri Israel Onyankopɔn 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?”
Nkɔmhyɛ a ɛfa Duma ho: Obi frɛ me firi Seir, “Ɔwɛmfoɔ, berɛ bɛn na adeɛ bɛkye? Ɔwɛmfoɔ, aka nnɔnhwere ahe ansa na adeɛ akye?”
12 The watchman replies, “Morning has come, but also the night. If you would inquire, then inquire. Come back yet again.”
Ɔwɛmfoɔ no bua sɛ, “Adeɛ rekye, nanso adeɛ bɛsa. Sɛ wobɛbisa bio a sane bra bɛbisa.”
13 This is the burden against Arabia: In the thickets of Arabia you must lodge, O caravans of Dedanites.
Adehunu a ɛfa Arabia ho: Mo Dedan akwantufoɔ a mosoɛ wɔ Arabia adɔtɔ ase,
14 Bring water for the thirsty, O dwellers of Tema; meet the refugees with food.
Momfa nsuo mmrɛ wɔn a sukɔm de wɔn; mo a motete Tema, mommrɛ adwanefoɔ aduane.
15 For they flee from the sword— the sword that is drawn— from the bow that is bent, and from the stress of battle.
Wɔdwane firi akofena a watwe tadua a wɔakuntun mu ne ɔko a ɛgyina 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.
Yei ne deɛ Awurade ka kyerɛ me, “Afe baako mu no, sɛdeɛ wɔkan ɔpaani mfeɛ no, Kedar kɛseyɛ to bɛtwa.
17 The remaining archers, the warriors of Kedar, will be few.” For the LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken.
Na agyantofoɔ a wɔbɛka ne Kedar akofoɔ bɛyɛ kakraa bi.” Deɛ Awurade, Israel Onyankopɔn, aka nie.
