Isaiæ 21
1 Onus deserti maris. Sicut turbines ab Africo veniunt, de deserto venit, de terra horribili.
The prophecy concerning the desert of the sea. As storms which rush along through the south, So it cometh from the desert, From the 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 was revealed to me; The plunderer plundereth, and the destroyer destroyeth. “Go up, O Elam! Besiege, O Media! All sighing do I make 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 full of pain; Pangs have seized me, as the pangs of a woman in travail; For convulsions I cannot hear; For anguish I cannot see.
4 Emarcuit cor meum, tenebræ stupefecerunt me: Babylon dilecta mea posita est mihi in miraculum.
My heart panteth, Terror hath seized upon me; The evening of my desire is changed into horror.
5 Pone mensam, contemplare in specula comedentes et bibentes: surgite principes, arripite clypeum.
The table is prepared; the watch is set; They eat; they drink; “Arise, ye princes! Anoint the shield!”
6 Hæc enim dixit mihi Dominus: Vade, et pone speculatorem: et quodcumque viderit, annunciet.
For thus said the Lord unto me: “Go, set a watchman, Who shall declare what he seeth.”
7 Et vidit currum duorum equitum, ascensorem asini, et ascensorem cameli: et contemplatus est diligenter multo intuitu.
And he saw a troop, horsemen in pairs, Riders on asses, and riders on camels, And he watched with the utmost heed.
8 Et clamavit leo: Super speculam Domini ego sum, stans iugiter per diem: et super custodiam meam ego sum, stans totis noctibus.
Then he cried like a lion: “My Lord, I stand continually upon the watch-tower in the daytime, And keep my post all the night;
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 troop, Horsemen in pairs.” Again also he lifted up his voice, and said: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon, And all the graven images of her gods are cast broken to 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 from Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, That have I declared to you.
11 Onus Duma ad me clamat ex Seir: Custos quid de nocte? Custos quid de nocte?
The prophecy concerning Dumah. A voice came to me from 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 saith: “Morning cometh, and also night. If ye will inquire, inquire! Return, come!”
13 Onus in Arabia. In saltu ad vesperam dormietis, in semitis Dedanim.
The prophecy against the Arabians. In the thickets of Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye caravans of Dedan!
14 Occurrentes sitienti ferte aquam, qui habitatis terram Austri, cum panibus occurrite fugienti.
The inhabitants of the land of Tema Bring water to the thirsty; They come to meet the fugitive with bread.
15 A facie enim gladiorum fugerunt, a facie gladii imminentis, a facie arcus extenti, a facie gravis prælii:
For they flee from swords, From the drawn sword, And from the bent bow, And from the fury of war.
16 quoniam hæc dicit Dominus ad me: Adhuc in uno anno, quasi in anno mercenarii, et auferetur omnis gloria Cedar.
For thus saith the Lord to me: Within one year, according to the years of a hireling, Shall all the glory of Kedar be consumed.
17 Et reliquiæ numeri sagittariorum fortium de filiis Cedar imminuentur: Dominus enim Deus Israel locutus est.
The remainder of the mighty bowmen of the sons of Kedar shall be diminished; For Jehovah, the God of Israel, hath said it.
