Isaiæ 23
1 Onus Tyri. [Ululate, naves maris, quia vastata est domus unde venire consueverant: de terra Cethim revelatum est eis.
A message about Tyre. Howl, people on the ships of Tarshish! Tyre has been destroyed—nothing is left of the houses and the harbor. They heard the news from the people of Cyprus.
2 Tacete, qui habitatis in insula; negotiatores Sidonis, transfretantes mare, repleverunt te.
Stay shocked into silence, people of the coastlands, merchants of Sidon, and sailors.
3 In aquis multis semen Nili; messis fluminis fruges ejus: et facta est negotiatio gentium.
Egyptian grain came across the wide oceans. The Nile's harvest was what made Tyre money; she was the merchant to the nations.
4 Erubesce, Sidon; ait enim mare, fortitudo maris, dicens: Non parturivi, et non peperi, et non enutrivi juvenes, nec ad incrementum perduxi virgines.
Feel the shame, Sidon! For the fortress of the sea says, “I have no children, having never been in labor or given birth. I have not brought up young men or brought up young women.”
5 Cum auditum fuerit in Ægypto, dolebunt cum audierint de Tiro.
When the news about Tyre reaches Egypt they will be in agony.
6 Transite maria, ululate, qui habitatis in insula!
Sail across to Tarshish! Howl, people of the coastlands!
7 Numquid non vestra hæc est, quæ gloriabatur a diebus pristinis in antiquitate sua? Ducent eam pedes sui longe ad peregrinandum.
Is this really your triumphant city, whose beginnings are from the distant past, who has sent out people to colonize faraway places?
8 Quis cogitavit hoc super Tyrum quondam coronatam, cujus negotiatores principes, institores ejus inclyti terræ?
Who planned this attack on Tyre? Tyre, who created kingdoms, whose merchants were princes, whose traders were honored around the world!
9 Dominus exercituum cogitavit hoc, ut detraheret superbiam omnis gloriæ, et ad ignominiam deduceret universos inclytos terræ.
The Lord Almighty planned it, to humble its pride in all its glory, and to bring down all who receive worldly honor.
10 Transi terram tuam quasi flumen, filia maris! non est cingulum ultra tibi.
Work your land, people of Tarshish, as they do beside the Nile, for you don't have a harbor anymore.
11 Manum suam extendit super mare; conturbavit regna. Dominus mandavit adversus Chanaan, ut contereret fortes ejus;
The Lord held his hand out over the sea and shook kingdoms. He has condemned Phoenicia, giving the order to destroy their fortresses.
12 et dixit: Non adjicies ultra ut glorieris, calumniam sustinens virgo filia Sidonis: in Cethim consurgens transfreta: ibi quoque non erit requies tibi.
He said, “Don't celebrate any more, mistreated virgin daughter of Sidon. Go and sail over to Cyprus—however, even there you won't find rest.”
13 Ecce terra Chaldæorum, talis populus non fuit: Assur fundavit eam; in captivitatem traduxerunt robustos ejus, suffoderunt domos ejus, posuerunt eam in ruinam.
Look at the country of the Babylonians, this people that are not as they used to be! The Assyrians have turned it into a place for desert animals. They set up their siege towers, they demolished the fortresses, and ruined the country.
14 Ululate, naves maris, quia devastata est fortitudo vestra.]
Howl, people on the ships of Tarshish because your fortress is destroyed!
15 Et erit in die illa: in oblivione eris, o Tyre! septuaginta annis, sicut dies regis unius; post septuaginta autem annos erit Tyro quasi canticum meretricis:
At that time Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years, a king's lifetime, as it were. But at the end of these seventy years, Tyre will be like the song about a prostitute,
16 [Sume citharam, circui civitatem, meretrix oblivioni tradita: bene cane, frequenta canticum, ut memoria tui sit.
“Take a lyre and walk around the city, forgotten prostitute! Play and sing so people will remember you!”
17 Et erit post septuaginta annos: visitabit Dominus Tyrum, et reducet eam ad mercedes suas, et rursum fornicabitur cum universis regnis terræ super faciem terræ;
After seventy years, the Lord will restore Tyre. But then she will go back to hiring herself out as a prostitute, selling herself to all the kingdoms of the world.
18 et erunt negotiationes ejus et mercedes ejus sanctificatæ Domino: non condentur neque reponentur, quia his qui habitaverint coram Domino erit negotiatio ejus, ut manducent in saturitatem, et vestiantur usque ad vetustatem.]
However, her profits and what she earns will consecrated to the Lord. They won't be kept or saved up, for her business earnings will go to those who worship the Lord, to provide them with plenty of food and good clothes.
