Isaiah 21
1 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.
Onus deserti maris. Sicut turbines ab africo veniunt, de deserto venit, de terra horribili.
2 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.
Visio dura nuntiata est mihi: qui incredulus est infideliter agit; et qui depopulator est vastat. Ascende, Ælam; obside, Mede; omnem gemitum ejus cessare feci.
3 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.
Propterea repleti sunt lumbi mei dolore; angustia possedit me sicut angustia parturientis; corrui cum audirem, conturbatus sum cum viderem.
4 My mind is wandering, fear has overcome me: the evening of my desire has been turned into shaking for me.
Emarcuit cor meum; tenebræ stupefecerunt me: Babylon dilecta mea posita est mihi in miraculum.
5 They make ready the table, they put down the covers, they take food and drink. Up! you captains; put oil on your breastplates.
Pone mensam, contemplare in specula comedentes et bibentes: surgite, principes, arripite clypeum.
6 For so has the Lord said to me, Go, let a watchman be placed; let him give word of what he sees:
Hæc enim dixit mihi Dominus: Vade, et pone speculatorem, et quodcumque viderit annuntiet.
7 And when he sees war-carriages, horsemen by twos, war-carriages with asses, war-carriages with camels, let him give special attention.
Et vidit currum duorum equitum, ascensorem asini, et ascensorem cameli; et contemplatus est diligenter multo intuitu.
8 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:
Et clamavit leo: Super speculam Domini ego sum, stans jugiter per diem; et super custodiam meam ego sum, stans totis noctibus.
9 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.
Ecce iste venit ascensor vir bigæ equitum; et respondit, et dixit: Cecidit, cecidit Babylon, et omnia sculptilia deorum ejus contrita sunt in terram.
10 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.
Tritura mea et filii areæ meæ, quæ audivi a Domino exercituum, Deo Israël, annuntiavi vobis.
11 The word about Edom. A voice comes to me from Seir, Watchman, how far gone is the night? how far gone is the night?
Onus Duma. Ad me clamat ex Seir: Custos, quid de nocte? custos, quid de nocte?
12 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.
Dixit custos: Venit mane et nox; si quæritis, quærite; convertimini, venite.
13 The word about Arabia. In the thick woods of Arabia will be your night's resting-place, O travelling bands of Dedanites!
Onus in Arabia. In saltu ad vesperam dormietis, in semitis Dedanim.
14 Give water to him who is in need of water; give bread, O men of the land of Tema, to those in flight.
Occurrentes sitienti ferte aquam, qui habitatis terram austri; cum panibus occurrite fugienti.
15 For they are in flight from the sharp sword, and the bent bow, and from the trouble of war.
A facie enim gladiorum fugerunt, a facie gladii imminentis, a facie arcus extenti, a facie gravis prælii.
16 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:
Quoniam hæc dicit Dominus ad me: Adhuc in uno anno, quasi in anno mercenarii, et auferetur omnis gloria Cedar.
17 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.
Et reliquiæ numeri sagittariorum fortium de filiis Cedar imminuentur; Dominus enim Deus Israël locutus est.
