Isaiæ 21
1 Onus deserti maris. Sicut turbines ab Africo veniunt, de deserto venit, de terra horribili.
The burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds in the south pass through, so it cometh from the desert, from a terrible land.
2 Visio dura nunciata est mihi: qui incredulus est, infideliter agit: et qui depopulator est, vastat. Ascende Ælam, obside Mede: omnem gemitum eius cessare feci.
A grievous vision is declared unto me: the treacherous dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. Go up, Elam! besiege, Media! All the sighing thereof have I made to cease.
3 Propterea repleti sunt lumbi mei dolore, angustia possedit me sicut angustia parturientis: corrui cum audirem, conturbatus sum cum viderem.
Therefore are my loins filled with pain; anguish hath taken hold upon me, as the anguish of a woman in travail: I am bowed down so as not to hear, I am dismayed so as not to see.
4 Emarcuit cor meum, tenebræ stupefecerunt me: Babylon dilecta mea posita est mihi in miraculum.
My heart panteth, horror affrighteth me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into trembling unto me.
5 Pone mensam, contemplare in specula comedentes et bibentes: surgite principes, arripite clypeum.
Prepare the table, appoint the watch; eat, drink: arise, ye princes, anoint the shield.
6 Hæc enim dixit mihi Dominus: Vade, et pone speculatorem: et quodcumque viderit, annunciet.
For thus hath the Lord said unto me: Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth.
7 Et vidit currum duorum equitum, ascensorem asini, et ascensorem cameli: et contemplatus est diligenter multo intuitu.
And he saw chariots, horsemen by pairs, a chariot with asses, a chariot with camels; and he hearkened diligently with much heed.
8 Et clamavit leo: Super speculam Domini ego sum, stans iugiter per diem: et super custodiam meam ego sum, stans totis noctibus.
And he cried [as] a lion, Lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward whole nights.
9 Ecce iste venit ascensor vir bigæ equitum, et respondit, et dixit: Cecidit, cecidit Babylon, et omnia sculptilia deorum eius contrita sunt in terram.
— And behold, there cometh a chariot of men; horsemen by pairs. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground.
10 Tritura mea, et filii areæ meæ, quæ audivi a Domino exercituum Deo Israel, annunciavi vobis.
O my threshing, and the corn of my floor! What I have heard of Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto you.
11 Onus Duma ad me clamat ex Seir: Custos quid de nocte? Custos quid de nocte?
The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?
12 Dixit custos: Venit mane et nox: si quæritis, quærite: convertimini, venite.
The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will inquire, inquire; return, come.
13 Onus in Arabia. In saltu ad vesperam dormietis, in semitis Dedanim.
The burden against Arabia. In the forest of Arabia shall ye lodge, [ye] caravans of Dedanites.
14 Occurrentes sitienti ferte aquam, qui habitatis terram Austri, cum panibus occurrite fugienti.
Bring ye water to meet the thirsty! The inhabitants of the land of Tema come forth with their bread for him that fleeth.
15 A facie enim gladiorum fugerunt, a facie gladii imminentis, a facie arcus extenti, a facie gravis prælii:
For they flee from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.
16 quoniam hæc dicit Dominus ad me: Adhuc in uno anno, quasi in anno mercenarii, et auferetur omnis gloria Cedar.
For thus hath the Lord said unto me: Within a year, according to the years of a hired servant, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail;
17 Et reliquiæ numeri sagittariorum fortium de filiis Cedar imminuentur: Dominus enim Deus Israel locutus est.
and the residue of the number of the archers, the mighty men of the sons of Kedar, shall be diminished: for Jehovah, the God of Israel, hath spoken.
