Isaaya 21
1 Obunnabbi obukwata ku Ddungu eririraanye ennyanja: Ng’embuyaga bwe zikunta nga ziyita mu nsi ey’obukiikaddyo, bw’atyo alumba bw’ava mu ddungu eririraanye ensi etiisa.
The word about the waste land. As storm-winds in the South go rushing through, it comes from the waste land, from the land greatly to be feared.
2 Nfunye okwolesebwa okw’entiisa: alyamu olukwe akola omulimu gwe, n’omunyazi anyaga. Eramu, lumba! Obumeedi zingiza! Ndikomya okusinda kwonna kwe yaleeta.
A vision of fear comes before my eyes; the worker of deceit goes on in his false way, and the waster goes on making waste. Up! Elam; to the attack! Media; I have put an end to her sorrow.
3 Omubiri gwange kyeguvudde gulumwa, n’obulumi bunkwata, ng’omukazi alumwa okuzaala; nnyiize olw’ebyo bye mpulira, bye ndaba bimazeemu amaanyi.
For this cause I am full of bitter grief; pains like the pains of a woman in childbirth have come on me: I am bent down with sorrow at what comes to my ears; I am shocked by what I see.
4 Omutima gwange gutya, Entiisa endetera okukankana; Akasendabazaana ke nnali njayaanira, kanfukidde ekikankano.
My mind is wandering, fear has overcome me: the evening of my desire has been turned into shaking for me.
5 Bateekateeka olujjuliro, bayalirira ebiwempe, ne balya, ne banywa! Mugolokoke mmwe abakulembeze, musiige engabo amafuta.
They make ready the table, they put down the covers, they take food and drink. Up! you captains; put oil on your breastplates.
6 Kino Mukama ky’aŋŋamba nti, “Genda ofune omukuumi akuleetere amawulire ku ebyo by’alaba.
For so has the Lord said to me, Go, let a watchman be placed; let him give word of what he sees:
7 Bw’alaba amagaali n’ebibinja by’embalaasi, n’abeebagazi ku ndogoyi oba abeebagazi ku ŋŋamira yeekuume, era yeegendereze.”
And when he sees war-carriages, horsemen by twos, war-carriages with asses, war-carriages with camels, let him give special attention.
8 Awo omukuumi n’ayogera mu ddoboozi ery’omwanguka ng’agamba nti, “Mukama wange, buli lunaku nnyimirira ku munaala, buli kiro mbeera ku mulimu gwange.
And the watchman gave a loud cry, O my lord, I am on the watchtower all day, and am placed in my watch every night:
9 Laba omusajja wuuno ajjira mu ggaali, ng’alina n’ekibinja ky’embalaasi. Era ayanukula bw’ati nti, ‘Babulooni kigudde, weewaawo kigudde. Ebifaananyi bya bakatonda baakyo byonna bibetenteddwa wansi ku ttaka.’”
See, here come war-carriages with men, horsemen by twos: and in answer he said, Babylon is made low, is made low, and all her images are broken on the earth.
10 Abantu bange, abasesebbuddwa ku gguuliro, mbategeeza kyempulidde okuva eri Mukama Katonda ow’Eggye, Katonda wa Isirayiri.
O my crushed ones, the grain of my floor! I have given you the word which came to me from the Lord of armies, the God of Israel.
11 Obunnabbi obukwata ku Duuma: Waliwo ankowoola okuva mu Seyiri ng’ayogera nti, “Omukuumi, bunaakya ddi? Omukuumi, bunaakya ddi?”
The word about Edom. A voice comes to me from Seir, Watchman, how far gone is the night? how far gone is the night?
12 Omukuumi ayanukula bw’ati nti, “Bulikya, era buliziba. Bw’obaako ne ky’obuuza kibuuze okomewo nate.”
The watchman says, The morning has come, but night is still to come: if you have questions to put, put them, and come back again.
13 Obunnabbi obukwata ku Buwalabu: Mmwe Abadedeni abatambulira mu bibinja, abasiisira mu bisaka bya Buwalabu,
The word about Arabia. In the thick woods of Arabia will be your night's resting-place, O travelling bands of Dedanites!
14 muleetere abalumwa ennyonta amazzi; mmwe ababeera mu Teema, muleetere abanoonyi b’obubudamu emmere.
Give water to him who is in need of water; give bread, O men of the land of Tema, to those in flight.
15 Badduka ekitala, badduka ekitala ekisowole, badduka omutego ogunaanuddwa, badduka n’akabi k’entalo.
For they are in flight from the sharp sword, and the bent bow, and from the trouble of war.
16 Bw’ati Mukama bw’aŋŋamba nti, “Mu mwaka gumu, ng’endagaano gye bakolera omukozi bw’eba, ekitiibwa kyonna ekya Kedali kirikoma.
For so has the Lord said to me, In a year, by the years of a servant working for payment, all the glory of Kedar will come to an end:
17 Ku b’obusaale abaliwona, ne ku basajja abalwanyi abazira ab’e Kedali, walisigalawo batono.” Mukama Katonda wa Isirayiri ayogedde.
And the rest of the bowmen, the men of war of the children of Kedar, will be small in number: for the Lord, the God of Israel, has said it.
