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 sweep through, it comes from the wilderness, from an awesome 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 to me. The treacherous man deals treacherously, and the destroyer destroys. Go up, Elam; attack! I have stopped all of Media [Middle-land]’s sighing.
3 propterea repleti sunt lumbi mei dolore angustia possedit me sicut angustia parientis corrui cum audirem conturbatus sum cum viderem
Therefore my thighs are filled with anguish. Pains have taken hold on me, like the pains of a woman in labor. I am in so much pain that I can’t sh'ma ·hear obey·. I so am dismayed that I can’t see.
4 emarcuit cor meum tenebrae stupefecerunt me Babylon dilecta mea posita est mihi in miraculum
My heart flutters. Horror has frightened me. The twilight that I desired has been turned into trembling for me.
5 pone mensam contemplare in specula comedentes bibentes surgite principes arripite clypeum
They prepare the table. They set the watch. They eat. They drink. Rise up, you princes, oil the shield!
6 haec enim dixit mihi Dominus vade et pone speculatorem et quodcumque viderit adnuntiet
For the Lord said to me, “Go, set a watchman. Let him declare what he sees.
7 et vidit currum duorum equitum ascensorem asini et ascensorem cameli et contemplatus est diligenter multo intuitu
When he sees a troop, horsemen in pairs, a troop of donkeys, a troop of camels, he shall listen diligently with great attentiveness.”
8 et clamavit leo super specula Domini ego sum stans iugiter per diem et super custodiam meam ego sum stans totis noctibus
He cried like a lion: “Lord, I stand continually on the watchtower in the daytime, and every night I stay at my post.
9 ecce iste venit ascensor vir bigae equitum et respondit et dixit cecidit cecidit Babylon et omnia sculptilia deorum eius contrita sunt in terram
Behold, here comes a troop of men, horsemen in pairs.” He answered, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon [Confusion]; and all the engraved images of her deities are broken to the ground.
10 tritura mea et fili areae meae quae audivi a Domino exercituum Deo Israhel adnuntiavi vobis
You are my threshing, and the grain of my floor!” That which I have sh'ma ·heard obeyed· from Adonai Tzva'ot [Yahweh Commander of heaven’s armies], the God of Israel [God prevails], 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. One calls to 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 comes, and also the night. If you will inquire, inquire. Come back again.”
13 onus in Arabia in saltu ad vesperam dormietis in semitis Dodanim
The burden on Arabia. In the forest in Arabia you will lodge, you caravans of Dedanites.
14 occurrentes sitienti ferte aquam qui habitatis terram austri cum panibus occurrite fugienti
They brought water to him who was thirsty. The inhabitants of the land of Tema met the fugitives with their 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, from the bent bow, and from the heat of battle.
16 quoniam haec dicit Dominus ad me adhuc in uno anno quasi in anno mercennarii et auferetur omnis gloria Cedar
For the Lord said to me, “Within a year, as a worker bound by contract would count it, all the glory of Kedar will 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, will be few; for Yahweh, Elohim Isra'el [He sustains breathing, God of God prevails], has spoken it.”
