Ezayi 21
1 Maloba na Yawe na tina na esobe ya ebale monene: Ndenge mopepe makasi elekaka na somo na Negevi, monguna moko azali koya wuta na esobe, wuta na mokili moko ya somo.
[I received] this message [from Yahweh about Babylonia], [a land that is] near the [Persian] Gulf [but which will soon be] a desert. [An army] will soon come from the desert to invade that land; it is an army that causes its enemies to be terrified, an army that will come like a whirlwind from the south.
2 Namonaki emoniseli moko ya somo: Moteki baninga azali koteka baninga, mobebisi azali kobebisa. Elami, bundisa bango! Medi, zingela bango! Nakosukisa kolela nyonso oyo ayeisaki na bato.
Yahweh showed me a terrifying vision. [In the vision I saw an army] that will betray/deceive people and steal their possessions [after they conquer them]. [Yahweh said], “You armies from Elam and Media, surround [Babylon] and prepare to attack it! I will cause the groaning [and suffering] that Babylon caused to cease!”
3 Yango wana, loketo na ngai ekomi na pasi, pasi moko ya makasi penza ekangi ngai lokola mwasi oyo azali na pasi ya kobota. Makambo oyo nazali koyoka ezali kopesa ngai somo, mpe oyo nazali komona ezali kosilisa ngai mayele.
Because of that, my body is full of pain; my pain is like the pain that women who are giving birth experience. When I hear about and see [what God is planning to do], I am shocked.
4 Motema na ngai ezali kobeta noki-noki, nakomi kolenga na somo, mwa malili ya pokwa oyo nazelaka na esengo ekomeli ngai somo makasi.
I cannot think straight/correctly, and I tremble. I was eager for it to be nighttime, but now it is night, and I am horrified.
5 Mesa ebongisami, batandi bilamba ya mesa, bazali kolia mpe komela! Bino bakonzi ya basoda, bopakola banguba na bino mafuta!
[In the vision I saw that the leaders of Babylonia] were preparing a great feast. They had spread rugs [for people to sit on]; everyone was eating and drinking. [But] they should get up and prepare their shields, [because they are about to be attacked]!
6 Tala liloba oyo Nkolo alobi na ngai: « Kende, tia mokengeli; mpe tika ete aloba makambo oyo akomona.
Then Yahweh said to me, “Put a watchman [on the wall of Jerusalem], and tell him to shout/proclaim what he sees.
7 Soki amoni shar oyo bampunda mibale ezali kobenda, basoda oyo batambolaka likolo ya bampunda, bamoko bamati likolo ya ba-ane, bamosusu bamati likolo ya bashamo, tika ete asala keba, asala keba penza! »
Tell him to watch for chariots pulled by pairs of horses, and [men riding] camels and donkeys, [coming from Babylon]. Tell the watchman to watch and listen carefully!”
8 Boye, mokengeli agangaki lokola nkosi: « Nkolo, mokolo mobimba, natelemaka na likolo ya ndako molayi ya kokengela; mpe butu nyonso, natikalaka kaka se wana.
[So I did that], and one day the watchman called out, “Day after day I have stood on this watchtower, and I have continued to watch during the day and during the night.
9 Tala, moto moko azali koya awa na shar, oyo bampunda mibale ezali kobenda. Azongisaki eyano: ‹ Babiloni esili kokweya, ekweyi solo! Banzambe na yango nyonso ya bikeko elali-lali mpe epanzani na mabele! › »
Now, I saw a man riding in a chariot pulled by two horses. [I called out to him], and he answered/shouted, ‘Babylon has been destroyed! All the idols in Babylon lie in pieces on the ground!’”
10 Oh bato na ngai, babeti bino ndenge batutaka ble na libanda! Nazali koyebisa bino makambo oyo nayokaki wuta epai na Yawe, Mokonzi ya mampinga, wuta epai ya Nzambe ya Isalaele.
My people [in Judah], [the army of Babylon has caused] you to suffer greatly [as though] [MET] you were grain that was threshed and (winnowed/thrown up into the air for the wind to blow away the chaff). [But now] I have told you what the Commander of the armies of angels the God whom we Israelis [worship], told me [about Babylon].
11 Maloba na Yawe na tina na Duma. Moto moko azali kobelela Ngai wuta Seiri: « Mokengeli, olobi nini mpo na butu? Mokengeli olobi nini mpo na butu? »
[I received] this message [from Yahweh] about Edom: Someone from Edom has been calling/shouting to me saying, “Watchman, how long will it be before the night is ended? [DOU]”
12 Mokengeli azongisaki: Tongo elingi kotana, kasi butu mpe elingi koya. Soki bolingi kotuna mituna, botuna; bongo bozonga mpe boya lisusu.
[I], the watchman, replied, “It will [soon] be morning, but after that, it will [soon] be night again. If you want to inquire [again about what will happen in our country], come back and inquire again.”
13 Maloba na Yawe mpo na kotelemela Arabi: Oh bino bato ya mombongo ya Dedani, bokolala na esobe ya Arabi.
[I received] this message about Arabia: Give this message to people traveling in caravans from Dedan [town in northwest Arabia], who camp in the scrub there. Tell them to bring water for those who are thirsty.
14 Bopesa mayi na moto oyo azali na posa ya mayi; bino bavandi ya mokili ya Tema, bopesa bilei na bato oyo bazali kokima bitumba.
And you people who live in Tema [city in northwest Arabia], must bring food for the (refugees/people who are fleeing from their enemies).
15 Pamba te bazali nde kokima mopanga, mopanga oyo babimisi na ebombelo na yango, bazali nde kokima tolotolo oyo etelemi makasi mpe bitumba ya makasi.
They are fleeing in order not to be killed by [their enemies’] swords and not to be shot in battles by arrows.
16 Tala liloba oyo Nkolo alobaki na ngai: « Etikali kaka mobu moko, ndenge batangaka mikolo ya mowumbu, nkembo nyonso ya Kedari ekosuka.
Yahweh said to me, “Exactly one year from now, all the greatness of the Kedar [area in Arabia] will end.
17 Bongo, ekotikala kaka mwa ndambo moke ya basoda oyo babundaka na matolotolo mpe ya basoda ya mpiko kati na Kedari, » elobi Yawe, Nzambe ya Isalaele.
Only a few of their soldiers who know well how to shoot arrows will remain alive. [That will surely happen] because [I], Yahweh, have said it.”
