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.
Prophétie sur le désert de la mer. Pareil aux ouragans du midi quand ils passent, il vient du désert, du pays 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 révélée. Le perfide agit avec perfidie, et le dévastateur dévaste. Élamites, montez! Mèdes, assiégez! Je fais cesser tous ses 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 de douleur; des angoisses m'ont saisi, comme les angoisses de celle qui enfante; les douleurs m'empêchent d'entendre, l'épouvante m'empêche de 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 est troublé; la terreur me saisit; la nuit de mes plaisirs est changée en nuit d'épouvante.
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 veille; on mange, on boit. Levez-vous, capitaines! Huilez 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 la 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!”
Elle voit de la cavalerie, des cavaliers à cheval, deux à deux; des cavaliers sur des ânes, des cavaliers sur des chameaux; elle observe 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.
Puis elle s'écrie, comme un lion: Seigneur, je me tenais en sentinelle sur la tour toute la journée, j'étais debout à mon poste toute la nuit;
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 venir de la cavalerie, des cavaliers deux à deux! Elle prend encore la parole, et dit: Elle est tombée, elle est tombée, Babylone! 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].
O mon peuple, froment battu, foulé dans mon aire! ce que j'ai entendu de la part de l'Éternel des armées, Dieu d'Israël, je vous l'ai annoncé.
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]”
Prophétie sur Duma. On me crie de Séir: Sentinelle, qu'en est-il de la nuit? Sentinelle, qu'en est-il de 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 la nuit aussi. Si vous voulez interroger, interrogez; revenez encore.
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.
Prophétie sur l'Arabie. Vous passerez la nuit dans les bois, en Arabie, troupes errantes 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).
Venez apporter de l'eau à ceux qui ont soif, habitants du pays de Théma. Venez au-devant du fugitif avec son pain.
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 nue, devant l'arc tendu, devant le fort de la 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 dit le Seigneur: Encore une année comme les années d'un mercenaire, et toute la gloire de Kédar prendra 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 nombre des vaillants archers, fils de Kédar, sera réduit à un faible reste. Car l'Éternel, le Dieu d'Israël, a parlé.
