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.
Weissagung über die Meereswüste: Wie ein Sturm im Mittagslande braust es daher aus der Wüste, aus dem schrecklichen Land!
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!”
Mir ist eine inhaltsschwere Offenbarung kundgetan worden: Der Räuber raubt, der Zerstörer zerstört. Brecht auf, ihr Perser, hebt die Belagerung an, ihr Meder! Denn alles von ihr verursachte Seufzen will ich stillen.
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.
Darum sind meine Lenden voll Schmerz; Wehen haben mich ergriffen, gleich den Wehen einer Mutter; ich krümme mich vor dem, was ich hören muß, bin erschrocken von dem, was ich sehen muß.
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.
Mein Herz klopft; Beben hat mich überfallen; die Dämmerung, die mir lieb ist, hat er mir in Schrecken verwandelt.
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]!
Man deckt den Tisch, stellt die Wache aus, ißt und trinkt: «Auf ihr Fürsten, salbet den Schild!»
6 Then Yahweh said to me, “Put a watchman [on the wall of Jerusalem], and tell him to shout/proclaim what he sees.
Denn also hat mir der Herr befohlen: Gehe, bestelle den Wächter; er soll anzeigen, was er sieht!
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!”
Da sah er Reiter, Doppelgespanne, Reiter auf Eseln und Reiter auf Kamelen; und er beobachtete scharf, mit größter Aufmerksamkeit.
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.
Und er schrie wie ein Löwe: Herr, ich stehe täglich immer auf meiner Warte und bin alle Nächte auf meinem Posten gestanden!
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!’”
Siehe, da kam ein Reiter, ein Mann mit einem Doppelgespann, der hob an und sprach: Gefallen, gefallen ist Babel, und alle ihre Götzenbilder hat er zu Boden geschmettert!
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 mein zerdroschenes [Volk], mein Tennensohn! Was ich von dem HERRN der Heerscharen, dem Gott Israels, gehört habe, das verkündige ich euch!
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]”
Weissagung über Duma: Aus Seir ruft man mir zu: Wächter, ist die Nacht bald hin? Wächter, ist die Nacht bald hin?
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.”
Der Wächter spricht: Der Morgen ist angebrochen, und doch ist es noch Nacht! Wenn ihr fragen wollt, so fragt; kommt bald wieder!
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.
Weissagung über Arabien: In der Wildnis von Arabien müßt ihr übernachten, ihr Karawanen der Dedaniter!
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).
Bringet dem Durstigen Wasser entgegen, ihr Bewohner des Landes Tema! Bietet den Flüchtlingen Brot an!
15 They are fleeing in order not to be killed by [their enemies’] swords and not to be shot in battles by arrows.
Denn vor den Schwertern sind sie geflohen, vor dem gezückten Schwerte, vor dem gespannten Bogen und vor dem harten Kriege.
16 Yahweh said to me, “Exactly one year from now, all the greatness of the Kedar [area in Arabia] will end.
Denn also hat der Herr zu mir gesprochen: Noch ein Jahr, wie die Jahre eines Tagelöhners, so ist alle Herrlichkeit Kedars dahin;
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.”
und der übriggebliebenen tapfern Bogenschützen Kedars werden sehr wenige sein. Der HERR, der Gott Israels, hat es geredet.
