Isaiæ 21
1 onus deserti maris sicut turbines ab africo veniunt de deserto venit de terra horribili
A declaration about the desert by the sea. Like stormwinds sweeping through the Negev it comes passing through from the wilderness, from a terrible 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 distressing vision has been given to me: the treacherous man deals treacherously, and the destroyer destroys. Go up and attack, Elam; besiege, Media; I will stop all her groaning.
3 propterea repleti sunt lumbi mei dolore angustia possedit me sicut angustia parientis corrui cum audirem conturbatus sum cum viderem
Therefore my loins are filled with pain; pains like the pains of a woman in labor have taken hold of me; I am bowed down by what I heard; I am disturbed by what I saw.
4 emarcuit cor meum tenebrae stupefecerunt me Babylon dilecta mea posita est mihi in miraculum
My heart pounds; I shake with fear. Twilight was my desire, but it brought me terror.
5 pone mensam contemplare in specula comedentes bibentes surgite principes arripite clypeum
They prepare the table, they spread rugs and eat and drink; arise, princes, anoint your shields with oil.
6 haec enim dixit mihi Dominus vade et pone speculatorem et quodcumque viderit adnuntiet
For this is what the Lord said to me, “Go, post a watchman; he must report what he sees.
7 et vidit currum duorum equitum ascensorem asini et ascensorem cameli et contemplatus est diligenter multo intuitu
When he sees a chariot, a pair of horsemen, riders on donkeys, and riders on camels, then he must pay attention and be very alert.”
8 et clamavit leo super specula Domini ego sum stans iugiter per diem et super custodiam meam ego sum stans totis noctibus
The watchman cries out, “Lord, on the watchtower I stand all day, every day, and at my post I stand all night long.”
9 ecce iste venit ascensor vir bigae equitum et respondit et dixit cecidit cecidit Babylon et omnia sculptilia deorum eius contrita sunt in terram
Here comes a chariot with a man and a pair of horsemen. He calls out, “Babylon has fallen, fallen, and all the carved figures of its gods are broken to the ground.”
10 tritura mea et fili areae meae quae audivi a Domino exercituum Deo Israhel adnuntiavi vobis
My threshed and winnowed ones, children of my threshing floor! What I have heard from Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel, I have declared to you.
11 onus Duma ad me clamat ex Seir custos quid de nocte custos quid de nocte
A declaration about Dumah. One calls to me from Seir, “Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left 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 want to ask, then ask; and come back again.”
13 onus in Arabia in saltu ad vesperam dormietis in semitis Dodanim
A declaration about Arabia. In the wilderness of Arabia you spend the night, you caravans of Dedanites.
14 occurrentes sitienti ferte aquam qui habitatis terram austri cum panibus occurrite fugienti
Bring water for the thirsty; inhabitants of the land of Tema, meet the fugitives with bread.
15 a facie enim gladiorum fugerunt a facie gladii inminentis a facie arcus extenti a facie gravis proelii
For they have fled from the sword, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow, and from the weight of war.
16 quoniam haec dicit Dominus ad me adhuc in uno anno quasi in anno mercennarii et auferetur omnis gloria Cedar
For this is what the Lord said to me, “Within a year, as a laborer hired for a year would see it, all the glory of Kedar will end.
17 et reliquiae numeri sagittariorum fortium de filiis Cedar inminuentur Dominus enim Deus Israhel locutus est
Only a few of the archers, the warriors of Kedar will remain,” for Yahweh, the God of Israel, has spoken.
