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.
[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 Nfunye okwolesebwa okw’entiisa: alyamu olukwe akola omulimu gwe, n’omunyazi anyaga. Eramu, lumba! Obumeedi zingiza! Ndikomya okusinda kwonna kwe yaleeta.
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 Omubiri gwange kyeguvudde gulumwa, n’obulumi bunkwata, ng’omukazi alumwa okuzaala; nnyiize olw’ebyo bye mpulira, bye ndaba bimazeemu amaanyi.
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 Omutima gwange gutya, Entiisa endetera okukankana; Akasendabazaana ke nnali njayaanira, kanfukidde ekikankano.
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 Bateekateeka olujjuliro, bayalirira ebiwempe, ne balya, ne banywa! Mugolokoke mmwe abakulembeze, musiige engabo amafuta.
[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 Kino Mukama ky’aŋŋamba nti, “Genda ofune omukuumi akuleetere amawulire ku ebyo by’alaba.
Then Yahweh said to me, “Put a watchman [on the wall of Jerusalem], and tell him to shout/proclaim what he sees.
7 Bw’alaba amagaali n’ebibinja by’embalaasi, n’abeebagazi ku ndogoyi oba abeebagazi ku ŋŋamira yeekuume, era yeegendereze.”
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 Awo omukuumi n’ayogera mu ddoboozi ery’omwanguka ng’agamba nti, “Mukama wange, buli lunaku nnyimirira ku munaala, buli kiro mbeera ku mulimu gwange.
[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 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.’”
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 Abantu bange, abasesebbuddwa ku gguuliro, mbategeeza kyempulidde okuva eri Mukama Katonda ow’Eggye, Katonda wa Isirayiri.
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 Obunnabbi obukwata ku Duuma: Waliwo ankowoola okuva mu Seyiri ng’ayogera nti, “Omukuumi, bunaakya ddi? Omukuumi, bunaakya ddi?”
[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 Omukuumi ayanukula bw’ati nti, “Bulikya, era buliziba. Bw’obaako ne ky’obuuza kibuuze okomewo nate.”
[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 Obunnabbi obukwata ku Buwalabu: Mmwe Abadedeni abatambulira mu bibinja, abasiisira mu bisaka bya Buwalabu,
[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 muleetere abalumwa ennyonta amazzi; mmwe ababeera mu Teema, muleetere abanoonyi b’obubudamu emmere.
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 Badduka ekitala, badduka ekitala ekisowole, badduka omutego ogunaanuddwa, badduka n’akabi k’entalo.
They are fleeing in order not to be killed by [their enemies’] swords and not to be shot in battles by arrows.
16 Bw’ati Mukama bw’aŋŋamba nti, “Mu mwaka gumu, ng’endagaano gye bakolera omukozi bw’eba, ekitiibwa kyonna ekya Kedali kirikoma.
Yahweh said to me, “Exactly one year from now, all the greatness of the Kedar [area in Arabia] will end.
17 Ku b’obusaale abaliwona, ne ku basajja abalwanyi abazira ab’e Kedali, walisigalawo batono.” Mukama Katonda wa Isirayiri ayogedde.
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.”
