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.
Oracolo contro il deserto marittimo. Come gli uragani del mezzodì quando si scatenano, ei viene dal deserto, da un paese spaventoso.
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!”
Una visione terribile m’è stata data: “Il perfido agisce con perfidia, il devastatore devasta. Sali, o Elam! Metti l’assedio o Media! Io fo cessare ogni gemito”.
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.
Perciò i miei fianchi son pieni si dolori; delle doglie m’han còlto, pari alle doglie d’una donna di parto; io mi contorco, per quel che sento; sono spaventato da quel che vedo.
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.
Il mio cuore si smarrisce, il terrore s’impossessa di me; la sera, alla quale anelavo, è diventato per me uno spavento.
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]!
Si prepara la mensa, veglian le guardie, si mangia, si beve… “In piedi, o capi! ungete lo scudo!”
6 Then Yahweh said to me, “Put a watchman [on the wall of Jerusalem], and tell him to shout/proclaim what he sees.
Poiché così m’ha parlato il Signore: “Va, metti una sentinella; ch’essa annunzi quel che vedrà!”
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!”
Essa vide della cavalleria, de’ cavalieri a due a due, della truppa a dorso d’asini, della truppa a dorso di cammelli; e quella ascoltava, ascoltava attentamente.
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.
Poi gridò come un leone: “O Signore, di giorni io sto del continuo sulla torre di vedetta, e tutte le notti sono in piè nel mio posto di guardia.
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!’”
Ed ecco venir della cavalleria, dei cavalieri a due a due”. E quella riprese a dire: “Caduta, caduta è Babilonia! e tutte le immagini scolpite de’ suoi dèi giaccion frantumate al suolo”.
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 popolo mio, che ti sei trebbiato come il grano della mia aia, ciò che ho udito dall’Eterno degli eserciti, dall’Iddio d’Israele, io te l’ho annunziato!
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]”
Oracolo contro Duma. Mi si grida da Seir: “Sentinella, a che punto è la notte? Sentinella, a che punto è la notte?”
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 sentinella risponde: “Vien la mattina, e vien anche la notte. Se volete interrogare, interrogate pure; tornate un’altra volta”.
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.
Oracolo contro l’Arabia. Passerete la notte nelle foreste, in Arabia, o carovane dei Dedaniti!
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).
Venite incontro all’assetato con dell’acqua, o abitanti del paese di Tema; recate del pane ai fuggiaschi.
15 They are fleeing in order not to be killed by [their enemies’] swords and not to be shot in battles by arrows.
Poich’essi fuggon dinanzi alle spade, dinanzi alla spada snudata, dinanzi all’arco teso, dinanzi al furor della battaglia.
16 Yahweh said to me, “Exactly one year from now, all the greatness of the Kedar [area in Arabia] will end.
Poiché così m’ha parlato il Signore: “Fra un anno, contato come quello d’un mercenario, tutta la gloria di Kedar sarà venuta meno,
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.”
e ciò che resterà del numero dei valorosi arcieri di Kedar sarà poca cosa; poiché l’Eterno, l’Iddio d’Israele, l’ha detto”.
