Isaiah 21
1 [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.
Oracle sur le désert de la mer. Comme les ouragans passent dans le midi, cela vient du désert, d’une terre redoutable.
2 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!”
Une vision terrible m’a été montrée: le pillard pille et le ravageur ravage! Monte, Elam! Assiège, Mède! Je fais cesser tous les gémissements.
3 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.
C’est pourquoi mes reins sont remplis d’angoisses; des douleurs me saisissent, comme les douleurs d’une femme qui enfante. Je me tords à entendre, je m’épouvante à voir;
4 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.
mon cœur s’égare, l’effroi me saisit; de la nuit que je désirais on a fait pour moi un temps de terreurs.
5 [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]!
On dresse la table, la sentinelle fait le guet, on mange, on boit. — « Debout, capitaines! Oignez le bouclier! »
6 Then Yahweh said to me, “Put a watchman [on the wall of Jerusalem], and tell him to shout/proclaim what he sees.
Car ainsi m’a parlé le Seigneur: « Va, établis une sentinelle; qu’elle annonce ce qu’elle verra.
7 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!”
Et elle verra des cavaliers, deux à deux, sur des chevaux, des cavaliers sur des ânes, des cavaliers sur des chameaux. Et elle regardera avec attention, avec grande attention. »
8 [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.
Et elle a crié comme un lion: « Sur la tour du guet, Seigneur, je me tiens, sans cesse tout le jour, et à mon poste je suis debout toutes les nuits.
9 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!’”
Voici qu’arrive de la cavalerie; des cavaliers deux à deux. » Et elle a repris et dit: « Elle est tombée, elle est tombée, Babylone, et toutes les statues de ses dieux, il les a brisées contre terre! »
10 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].
O mon froment qu’on foule, grain de mon aire, ce que j’ai entendu de Yahweh des armées, du Dieu d’Israël, je vous l’annonce.
11 [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]”
Oracle sur Duma. On me crie de Séir: « Sentinelle, où en est la nuit? Sentinelle, où en est la nuit? »
12 [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.”
La sentinelle répond: « Le matin vient et la nuit aussi. Si vous voulez m’interroger, interrogez; revenez une autre fois! »
13 [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.
Oracle en Arabie. Vous passerez la nuit dans les steppes en Arabie, caravanes de Dédan. —
14 And you people who live in Tema [city in northwest Arabia], must bring food for the (refugees/people who are fleeing from their enemies).
A la rencontre de celui qui a soif, apportez de l’eau! Les habitant du pays de Théma offrent du pain aux fugitifs.
15 They are fleeing in order not to be killed by [their enemies’] swords and not to be shot in battles by arrows.
Car ils ont fui devant l’épée, devant l’épée nue, devant l’arc bandé, devant la terrible bataille.
16 Yahweh said to me, “Exactly one year from now, all the greatness of the Kedar [area in Arabia] will end.
Car ainsi m’a parlé le Seigneur: Encore une année, comptée comme les années du mercenaire, et c’en est fait de toute la gloire de Cédar;
17 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.”
et des arcs nombreux des vaillants fils de Cédar il ne restera que peu de chose; car Yahweh, le Dieu d’Israël, a parlé.
