Isaiæ 21
1 Onus deserti maris. Sicut turbines ab Aphrico veniunt, de deserto venit, de terra horribili.
The doom of the desert by the sea. As tempests in the south blow with fury; so doth it come from the desert, from a terrible land.
2 Visio dura nunciata est mihi: qui incredulus est, infideliter agit: et qui depopulator est, vastat. Ascende Aelam, obside Mede: omnem gemitum eius cessare feci.
A hard vision hath been told unto me; the traitor dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. “Go up, O 'Elam; besiege, O Media;” all sighing have I caused 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; pangs have seized me, like the pangs of a woman that travaileth: I am too much cramped to hear; I am too much dismayed to see.
4 Emarcuit cor meum, tenebrae stupefecerunt me: Babylon dilecta mea posita est mihi in miraculum.
My heart wandereth astray, dread affrighteth me: the evening of my pleasure hath he turned unto me into terror.
5 Pone mensam, contemplare in specula comedentes et bibentes: surgite principes, arripite clypeum.
Prepare the table, put on the candlesticks, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield.
6 Haec enim dixit mihi Dominus: Vade, et pone speculatorem: et quodcumque viderit, annunciet.
For thus hath said unto me the Lord, Go, set the watchman, what he seeth let him tell.
7 Et vidit currum duorum equitum, ascensorem asini, et ascensorem cameli: et contemplatus est diligenter multo intuitu.
And he will see chariots, horsemen in couples, riders on asses, riders on camels; and he shall listen 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 calleth [like] a lion, Upon the watchtower, O Lord, do I stand continually in the daytime, and on my ward am I set all the nights.
9 Ecce iste venit ascensor vir bigae equitum, et respondit, et dixit: Cecidit, cecidit Babylon, et omnia sculptilia deorum eius contrita sunt in terram.
And, behold, here cometh a chariot with men, horsemen in couples, and he commenceth and saith, Fallen, fallen is Babylon; and all the graven images of her gods hath he shivered unto the ground.
10 Tritura mea, et filia areae meae, quae audivi a Domino exercituum Deo Israel, annunciavi vobis.
O my down-trodden [people, ] and the son of my threshingfloor: that which I have heard from the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have I told unto you.
11 Onus Duma ad me clamat ex Seir: Custos quid de nocte? custos quid de nocte?
The doom of Dumah. Unto me one calleth out of Se'ir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?
12 Dixit custos: Venit mane et nox: si quaeritis, quaerite: convertimini, venite.
The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will desire, desire ye; return, come again.
13 Onus in Arabia. In saltu ad vesperam dormietis, in semitis Dedanim.
The doom upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye caravans of Dedanim.
14 Occurrentes sitienti ferte aquam, qui habitatis terram Austri, cum panibus occurrite fugienti.
Toward him that is thirsty they bring water; the inhabitants of the land of Thema meet with suitable bread the fugitive.
15 A facie enim gladiorum fugerunt, a facie gladii imminentis, a facie arcus extenti, a facie gravis praelii:
Because from the swords are they fled, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the pressure of war.
16 quoniam haec dicit Dominus ad me: Adhuc in uno anno, quasi in anno mercenarii, et auferetur omnis gloria Cedar.
For thus hath said the Lord unto me, Within yet one year, like the years of a hired laborer, shall all the glory of Kedar be at an end:
17 Et reliquiae numeri sagittariorum fortium de filiis Cedar imminuentur: Dominus enim Deus Israel locutus est.
And the residue of the number of bows of the mighty men of the children of Kedar shall be small; for the Lord the God of Israel hath spoken it.
