Isaiæ 21
1 onus deserti maris sicut turbines ab africo veniunt de deserto venit de terra horribili
The burden of the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the South sweeping on, it cometh from the wilderness, from a dreadful land.
2 visio dura nuntiata est mihi qui incredulus est infideliter agit et qui depopulator est vastat ascende Aelam obside Mede omnem gemitum eius cessare feci
A grievous vision is declared unto me: 'The treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. Go up, O Elam! besiege, O Media! All the sighing thereof have I made to cease.'
3 propterea repleti sunt lumbi mei dolore angustia possedit me sicut angustia parientis corrui cum audirem conturbatus sum cum viderem
Therefore are my loins filled with convulsion; pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman in travail; I am bent so that I cannot hear; I am affrighted so that I cannot see.
4 emarcuit cor meum tenebrae stupefecerunt me Babylon dilecta mea posita est mihi in miraculum
My heart is bewildered, terror hath overwhelmed me; the twilight that I longed for hath been turned for me into trembling.
5 pone mensam contemplare in specula comedentes bibentes surgite principes arripite clypeum
They prepare the table, they light the lamps, they eat, they drink — 'Rise up, ye princes, anoint the shield.'
6 haec enim dixit mihi Dominus vade et pone speculatorem et quodcumque viderit adnuntiet
For thus hath the Lord said unto me: Go, set a watchman; let him declare what he seeth!
7 et vidit currum duorum equitum ascensorem asini et ascensorem cameli et contemplatus est diligenter multo intuitu
And when he seeth a troop, horsemen by pairs, a troop of asses, a troop of camels, he shall hearken diligently with much heed.
8 et clamavit leo super specula Domini ego sum stans iugiter per diem et super custodiam meam ego sum stans totis noctibus
And he cried as a lion: 'Upon the watch-tower, O Lord, I stand continually in the daytime, and I am set in my ward 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, there came a troop of men, horsemen by pairs. And he spoke and said: 'Fallen, fallen is Babylon; and all the graven images of her gods are broken unto the ground.'
10 tritura mea et fili areae meae quae audivi a Domino exercituum Deo Israhel adnuntiavi vobis
O thou my threshing, and the winnowing of my floor, that which I have heard from the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto you.
11 onus Duma ad me clamat ex Seir custos quid de nocte custos quid de nocte
The burden of Dumah. One calleth unto me out of 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 said: 'The morning cometh, and also the night — if ye will inquire, inquire ye; return, come.'
13 onus in Arabia in saltu ad vesperam dormietis in semitis Dodanim
The burden upon Arabia. In the thickets in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye caravans of Dedanites.
14 occurrentes sitienti ferte aquam qui habitatis terram austri cum panibus occurrite fugienti
Unto him that is thirsty bring ye water! The inhabitants of the land of Tema did meet the fugitive with his bread.
15 a facie enim gladiorum fugerunt a facie gladii inminentis a facie arcus extenti a facie gravis proelii
For they fled away from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.
16 quoniam haec dicit Dominus ad me adhuc in uno anno quasi in anno mercennarii et auferetur omnis gloria Cedar
For thus hath the Lord said unto me: 'Within a year, according to the years of a hireling, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail;
17 et reliquiae numeri sagittariorum fortium de filiis Cedar inminuentur Dominus enim Deus Israhel locutus est
and the residue of the number of the archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be diminished; for the LORD, the God of Israel, hath spoken it.'
