< Isaiæ 21 >
1 Onus deserti maris. Sicut turbines ab africo veniunt, de deserto venit, de terra horribili.
The word about the waste land. As storm-winds in the South go rushing through, it comes from the waste land, from the land greatly to be feared.
2 Visio dura nuntiata est mihi: qui incredulus est infideliter agit; et qui depopulator est vastat. Ascende, Ælam; obside, Mede; omnem gemitum ejus cessare feci.
A vision of fear comes before my eyes; the worker of deceit goes on in his false way, and the waster goes on making waste. Up! Elam; to the attack! Media; I have put an end to her sorrow.
3 Propterea repleti sunt lumbi mei dolore; angustia possedit me sicut angustia parturientis; corrui cum audirem, conturbatus sum cum viderem.
For this cause I am full of bitter grief; pains like the pains of a woman in childbirth have come on me: I am bent down with sorrow at what comes to my ears; I am shocked by what I see.
4 Emarcuit cor meum; tenebræ stupefecerunt me: Babylon dilecta mea posita est mihi in miraculum.
My mind is wandering, fear has overcome me: the evening of my desire has been turned into shaking for me.
5 Pone mensam, contemplare in specula comedentes et bibentes: surgite, principes, arripite clypeum.
They make ready the table, they put down the covers, they take food and drink. Up! you captains; put oil on your breastplates.
6 Hæc enim dixit mihi Dominus: Vade, et pone speculatorem, et quodcumque viderit annuntiet.
For so has the Lord said to me, Go, let a watchman be placed; let him give word of what he sees:
7 Et vidit currum duorum equitum, ascensorem asini, et ascensorem cameli; et contemplatus est diligenter multo intuitu.
And when he sees war-carriages, horsemen by twos, war-carriages with asses, war-carriages with camels, let him give special attention.
8 Et clamavit leo: Super speculam Domini ego sum, stans jugiter per diem; et super custodiam meam ego sum, stans totis noctibus.
And the watchman gave a loud cry, O my lord, I am on the watchtower all day, and am placed in my watch every night:
9 Ecce iste venit ascensor vir bigæ equitum; et respondit, et dixit: Cecidit, cecidit Babylon, et omnia sculptilia deorum ejus contrita sunt in terram.
See, here come war-carriages with men, horsemen by twos: and in answer he said, Babylon is made low, is made low, and all her images are broken on the earth.
10 Tritura mea et filii areæ meæ, quæ audivi a Domino exercituum, Deo Israël, annuntiavi vobis.
O my crushed ones, the grain of my floor! I have given you the word which came to me from the Lord of armies, the God of Israel.
11 Onus Duma. Ad me clamat ex Seir: Custos, quid de nocte? custos, quid de nocte?
The word about Edom. A voice comes to me from Seir, Watchman, how far gone is the night? how far gone is the night?
12 Dixit custos: Venit mane et nox; si quæritis, quærite; convertimini, venite.
The watchman says, The morning has come, but night is still to come: if you have questions to put, put them, and come back again.
13 Onus in Arabia. In saltu ad vesperam dormietis, in semitis Dedanim.
The word about Arabia. In the thick woods of Arabia will be your night's resting-place, O travelling bands of Dedanites!
14 Occurrentes sitienti ferte aquam, qui habitatis terram austri; cum panibus occurrite fugienti.
Give water to him who is in need of water; give bread, O men of the land of Tema, to those in flight.
15 A facie enim gladiorum fugerunt, a facie gladii imminentis, a facie arcus extenti, a facie gravis prælii.
For they are in flight from the sharp sword, and the bent bow, and from the trouble of war.
16 Quoniam hæc dicit Dominus ad me: Adhuc in uno anno, quasi in anno mercenarii, et auferetur omnis gloria Cedar.
For so has the Lord said to me, In a year, by the years of a servant working for payment, all the glory of Kedar will come to an end:
17 Et reliquiæ numeri sagittariorum fortium de filiis Cedar imminuentur; Dominus enim Deus Israël locutus est.
And the rest of the bowmen, the men of war of the children of Kedar, will be small in number: for the Lord, the God of Israel, has said it.