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.
L’oracle touchant le désert de la mer. Comme des tourbillons dans le midi quand ils passent, il vient du désert, du pays terrible.
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 cruelle vision m’est révélée: Le perfide agit perfidement, et le destructeur détruit. Monte, Élam! assiège, Médie! J’ai fait cesser tout son gémissement.
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 de douleur; des angoisses m’ont saisi comme les angoisses de celle qui enfante; je suis courbé, à ne pas entendre; je suis terrifié, à n’y pas 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 bat; le tremblement s’est emparé de moi; la nuit de mon plaisir, il me l’a changée en effroi.
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]!
Dresse la table; fais le guet; mange, bois… Princes, levez-vous, 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 dit le Seigneur: Va, place une sentinelle; qu’elle déclare ce qu’elle voit.
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 vit un char, une paire de cavaliers, un char [attelé] d’ânes, un char [attelé] de chameaux. Et elle écouta diligemment, 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 cria [comme] un lion: Seigneur, je me tiens dans le poste d’observation constamment, de jour, et je suis là faisant ma garde 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!’”
Et voici, il vient un char d’hommes, une paire de cavaliers! Et il répondit, et dit: Babylone est tombée, elle est tombée, et toutes les images de ses dieux sont brisées par 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].
Ô vous, mon blé battu, et le fruit de mon aire! ce que j’ai entendu de l’Éternel des armées, le Dieu d’Israël, je vous l’ai rapporté.
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]”
L’oracle touchant Duma. Il me crie de Séhir: Sentinelle, à quoi en est la nuit? Sentinelle, à quoi 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 dit: Le matin vient, et aussi la nuit. Si vous voulez vous enquérir, enquérez-vous; revenez, venez.
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.
L’oracle contre l’Arabie. Vous logerez dans la forêt de l’Arabie, caravanes des Dedanites.
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).
À la rencontre de celui qui a soif apportez de l’eau! Les habitants du pays de Théma viennent avec leur pain au-devant de celui qui fuit;
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 s’enfuient devant les épées, devant l’épée dégainée, et devant l’arc tendu, et devant le poids de la guerre.
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 dit le Seigneur: Encore une année comme les années d’un mercenaire, et toute la gloire de Kédar aura pris fin,
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 le reste du nombre des archers des hommes forts des fils de Kédar sera amoindri; car l’Éternel, le Dieu d’Israël, a parlé.
