Isaïe 21
1 Vision du désert. Comme une tempête venant de la terre passe de désert en désert, ainsi terrible
[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.
2 Et épouvantable une vision m'a été révélée: Le prévaricateur marche à ses prévarications, l'homme inique à ses iniquités. Sur moi viennent les Élamites, sur moi les anciens des Perses. Maintenant je gémirai et je me consolerai moi - même.
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!”
3 Voilà pourquoi mes reins ont défailli, et des douleurs comme celles de l'enfantement m'ont saisi. Ce que j'entends me fait mal, et je fais tout pour ne pas voir.
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.
4 Mon cœur s'égare, l'iniquité m'inonde, mon âme succombe dans la terreur.
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.
5 Dressez la table, mangez, buvez. Levez-vous, princes, préparez vos boucliers;
[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]!
6 Car voici ce que m'a dit le Seigneur: Va, place-toi en sentinelle, et ce que tu verras, publie-le.
Then Yahweh said to me, “Put a watchman [on the wall of Jerusalem], and tell him to shout/proclaim what he sees.
7 Et je vis deux cavaliers: un cavalier monté sur un âne, un autre sur un chameau. Écoute avec une grande attention,
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!”
8 Et appelle Urie au lieu d'observation. Ainsi dit le Seigneur. Et moi je me tins debout tout le jour, et je surveillai le camp toute la nuit.
[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.
9 Et voilà que vint à moi un homme sur un char à deux chevaux. Et, répondant à ma demande, il dit: Elle est tombée, elle est tombée, Babylone; et toutes ses statues et toutes les œuvres de ses mains sont brisées contre terre.
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!’”
10 Écoutez, ô vous qui êtes délaissés; et vous qui pleurez, écoutez ce que j'ai appris du Seigneur Dieu des armées, ce que m'a annoncé le Dieu d'Israël.
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].
11 On me crie de Séir: Gardez les créneaux!
[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]”
12 Je les garde dès le matin et durant la nuit. Si tu cherches un secours, cherche-le bien, et demeure près de moi.
[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.”
13 Tu dormiras le soir dans la forêt sur le chemin de Daidan.
[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.
14 Portez de l'eau à la rencontre de l'homme qui a soif; et vous qui habitez la terre de Théman, portez des pains au-devant de ceux qui fuient;
And you people who live in Tema [city in northwest Arabia], must bring food for the (refugees/people who are fleeing from their enemies).
15 Multitude d'hommes massacrés, multitude d'égarés, multitude de glaives et d'arcs tendus, multitude de guerriers tombés dans le combat.
They are fleeing in order not to be killed by [their enemies’] swords and not to be shot in battles by arrows.
16 Car voici ce que m'a dit le Seigneur: Encore une année, une année de mercenaire, et la gloire des fils de Cédar sera effacée,
Yahweh said to me, “Exactly one year from now, all the greatness of the Kedar [area in Arabia] will end.
17 Et il ne restera qu'un petit nombre des vaillants archers de Cédar. Ainsi dit le Seigneur, Dieu d'Israël.
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.”
