Isaiæ 21
1 Onus deserti maris. Sicut turbines ab Aphrico veniunt, de deserto venit, de terra horribili.
The burden of the wilderness of the sea. 'Like hurricanes in the south for passing through, From the wilderness it hath come, From a fearful 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 declared to me, The treacherous dealer is dealing treacherously, And the destroyer is destroying. Go up, O Elam, besiege, O Media, All its sighing I have caused to cease.
3 Propterea repleti sunt lumbi mei dolore, angustia possedit me sicut angustia parturientis: corrui cum audirem, conturbatus sum cum viderem.
Therefore filled have been my loins [with] great pain, Pangs have seized me as pangs of a travailing woman, I have been bent down by hearing, I have been troubled by seeing.
4 Emarcuit cor meum, tenebrae stupefecerunt me: Babylon dilecta mea posita est mihi in miraculum.
Wandered hath my heart, trembling hath terrified me, The twilight of my desire He hath made a fear to me,
5 Pone mensam, contemplare in specula comedentes et bibentes: surgite principes, arripite clypeum.
Arrange the table, watch in the watch-tower, Eat, drink, rise, ye heads, anoint the shield,
6 Haec enim dixit mihi Dominus: Vade, et pone speculatorem: et quodcumque viderit, annunciet.
For thus said the Lord unto me: 'Go, station the watchman, That which he seeth let him declare.'
7 Et vidit currum duorum equitum, ascensorem asini, et ascensorem cameli: et contemplatus est diligenter multo intuitu.
And he hath seen a chariot — a couple of horsemen, The rider of an ass, the rider of a camel, And he hath given attention — He hath increased attention!
8 Et clamavit leo: Super speculam Domini ego sum, stans iugiter per diem: et super custodiam meam ego sum, stans totis noctibus.
And he crieth — a lion, 'On a watch-tower my lord, I am standing continually by day, And on my ward I am stationed whole 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 lo, this, the chariot of a man is coming, A couple of horsemen.' And he answereth and saith: 'Fallen, fallen hath Babylon, And all the graven images of her gods He hath broken to the earth.
10 Tritura mea, et filia areae meae, quae audivi a Domino exercituum Deo Israel, annunciavi vobis.
O my threshing, and the son of my floor, That which I heard from Jehovah of Hosts, God of Israel, I have declared to you!'
11 Onus Duma ad me clamat ex Seir: Custos quid de nocte? custos quid de nocte?
The burden of Dumah. Unto me is [one] calling from Seir 'Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?'
12 Dixit custos: Venit mane et nox: si quaeritis, quaerite: convertimini, venite.
The watchman hath said, 'Come hath morning, and also night, If ye inquire, inquire ye, turn back, come.'
13 Onus in Arabia. In saltu ad vesperam dormietis, in semitis Dedanim.
The burden on Arabia. In a forest in Arabia ye lodge, O travellers of Dedanim.
14 Occurrentes sitienti ferte aquam, qui habitatis terram Austri, cum panibus occurrite fugienti.
To meet the thirsty brought water have Inhabitants of the land of Tema, With his bread they came before a fugitive.
15 A facie enim gladiorum fugerunt, a facie gladii imminentis, a facie arcus extenti, a facie gravis praelii:
For from the face of destructions they fled, From the face of a stretched-out sword, And from the face of a trodden bow, And from the face of the grievousness of battle.
16 quoniam haec dicit Dominus ad me: Adhuc in uno anno, quasi in anno mercenarii, et auferetur omnis gloria Cedar.
For thus said the Lord unto me: 'Within a year, as years of a hireling, Consumed hath been all the honour of Kedar.
17 Et reliquiae numeri sagittariorum fortium de filiis Cedar imminuentur: Dominus enim Deus Israel locutus est.
And the remnant of the number of bow-men, The mighty of the sons of Kedar are few, For Jehovah, God of Israel, hath spoken!'
