< Isaiæ 21 >

1 Onus deserti maris. Sicut turbines ab Aphrico veniunt, de deserto venit, de terra horribili.
A declaration about the desert by the sea. Like stormwinds sweeping through the Negev it comes passing through from the wilderness, 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 distressing vision has been given to me: the treacherous man deals treacherously, and the destroyer destroys. Go up and attack, Elam; besiege, Media; I will stop all her groaning.
3 Propterea repleti sunt lumbi mei dolore, angustia possedit me sicut angustia parturientis: corrui cum audirem, conturbatus sum cum viderem.
Therefore my loins are filled with pain; pains like the pains of a woman in labor have taken hold of me; I am bowed down by what I heard; I am disturbed by what I saw.
4 Emarcuit cor meum, tenebræ stupefecerunt me: Babylon dilecta mea posita est mihi in miraculum.
My heart pounds; I shake with fear. Twilight was my desire, but it brought me terror.
5 Pone mensam, contemplare in specula comedentes et bibentes: surgite principes, arripite clypeum.
They prepare the table, they spread rugs and eat and drink; arise, princes, anoint your shields with oil.
6 Hæc enim dixit mihi Dominus: Vade, et pone speculatorem: et quodcumque viderit, annunciet.
For this is what the Lord said to me, “Go, post a watchman; he must report what he sees.
7 Et vidit currum duorum equitum, ascensorem asini, et ascensorem cameli: et contemplatus est diligenter multo intuitu.
When he sees a chariot, a pair of horsemen, riders on donkeys, and riders on camels, then he must pay attention and be very alert.”
8 Et clamavit leo: Super speculam Domini ego sum, stans iugiter per diem: et super custodiam meam ego sum, stans totis noctibus.
The watchman cries out, “Lord, on the watchtower I stand all day, every day, and at my post I stand all night long.”
9 Ecce iste venit ascensor vir bigæ equitum, et respondit, et dixit: Cecidit, cecidit Babylon, et omnia sculptilia deorum eius contrita sunt in terram.
Here comes a chariot with a man and a pair of horsemen. He calls out, “Babylon has fallen, fallen, and all the carved figures of its gods are broken to the ground.”
10 Tritura mea, et filii areæ meæ, quæ audivi a Domino exercituum Deo Israel, annunciavi vobis.
My threshed and winnowed ones, children of my threshing floor! What I have heard from Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel, I have declared to you.
11 Onus Duma ad me clamat ex Seir: Custos quid de nocte? custos quid de nocte?
A declaration about Dumah. One calls to me from Seir, “Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left of the night?”
12 Dixit custos: Venit mane et nox: si quæritis, quærite: convertimini, venite.
The watchman said, “The morning comes and also the night. If you want to ask, then ask; and come back again.”
13 Onus in Arabia. In saltu ad vesperam dormietis, in semitis Dedanim.
A declaration about Arabia. In the wilderness of Arabia you spend the night, you caravans of Dedanites.
14 Occurrentes sitienti ferte aquam, qui habitatis terram Austri, cum panibus occurrite fugienti.
Bring water for the thirsty; inhabitants of the land of Tema, meet the fugitives with bread.
15 A facie enim gladiorum fugerunt, a facie gladii imminentis, a facie arcus extenti, a facie gravis prælii:
For they have fled from the sword, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow, and from the weight of war.
16 quoniam hæc dicit Dominus ad me: Adhuc in uno anno, quasi in anno mercenarii, et auferetur omnis gloria Cedar.
For this is what the Lord said to me, “Within a year, as a laborer hired for a year would see it, all the glory of Kedar will end.
17 Et reliquiæ numeri sagittariorum fortium de filiis Cedar imminuentur: Dominus enim Deus Israel locutus est.
Only a few of the archers, the warriors of Kedar will remain,” for Yahweh, the God of Israel, has spoken.

< Isaiæ 21 >