Isaiah 21
1 A message about the desert by the sea. Like storm winds passing through the Negev, something is coming 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 horrifying vision that has been explained to me. The betrayer still betrays; the destroyer still destroys. Elamites and Medes, go ahead, attack and lay siege to Babylon, for I'm putting a stop to all the pain it has caused.
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 As a result my body is filled with agony. I'm overwhelmed with pain, like the pain of a woman giving birth. I am confused by what I hear; I am distressed by what I 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 mind falters; I shake in panic. The night I looked forward to has become terrifying.
Me koma bɔ kitirikitiri, ehu ma me ho popo; na hann a mepɛɛ sɛ mihu no abɛyɛ aninyanne ama me.
5 They set the table, they spread out the rugs, they eat and drink… “Get up, officers! Prepare your shields for battle!”
Wɔto pon, wɔde kuntu akɛtɛ sesɛw fam, wodidi, na wɔnom! Monsɔre, mo asraafo mpanyimfo, momfa ngo nsrasra mo akatabo ho!
6 This is what the Lord told me: “Go! Have a lookout keep watch, and make sure he reports what he sees.
Sɛɛ na Awurade ka kyerɛ me: “Fa ɔwɛmfo kogyina hɔ na ɔnka nea ohu nkyerɛ wo.
7 When he sees chariots coming pulled by pairs of horses, riders on donkeys and on camels, he should watch very carefully, paying close attention.”
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 “Sir, I've stood here on the watchtower day after day; night after night I've remained at my post.
Na ɔwɛmfo no teɛɛ mu se, “Me wura, da biara migyina ɔwɛn aban no so Anadwo biara, migyina hɔ.
9 Now look! A man in a chariot with a pair of horses is coming.” Then he said, “Babylon has fallen, has fallen! All the idols of its gods lie smashed 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 My poor downtrodden people, so badly mistreated, I have told you what I have heard from the Lord Almighty, 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 A message about Edom. A voice is calling to me from Seir, asking, “Watchman, what time of night is it? Watchman, what time of night is it?”
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 is coming, but the night is coming again soon. If you want to ask again, then come back and ask.”
Ɔwɛmfo no bua se, “Ade rekye, nanso ade bɛsa. Sɛ wubebisa bio a san bra bebisa.”
13 A message about Arabia. Caravans from Dedan, spend the night in the bushes.
Adehu a ɛfa Arabia ho: Mo Dedan akwantufo a mosoɛ wɔ Arabia adɔtɔ ase,
14 People of Tema, take water to the thirsty, meet the refugees with food.
Momfa nsu mmrɛ wɔn a osukɔm de wɔn; mo a motete Tema, mommrɛ aguanfo no aduan.
15 They're running away from a fierce battle, from swords, drawn swords, from bows and arrows.
Woguan fi afoa a watwe tadua a wɔakuntun mu ne ɔko a egyina mu ano.
16 This is what the Lord told me: “Within one year, just as a contract worker precisely counts years, 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 There will only be a few left of the archers, the warriors of Kedar.” The Lord, the God of Israel, has spoken.
Na agyantowfo a wɔbɛka ne Kedar akofo bɛyɛ kakraa bi.” Nea Awurade, Israel Nyankopɔn, aka ni.
