Esaias 21
1 Utsagn om Havørkenen. Som stormvinder i ørkenen farer frem, kommer det fra ørkenen, fra det forferdelige land.
[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 Et hårdt syn er mig kunngjort: Røveren røver og ødeleggeren ødelegger. Dra op, Elam! Treng på, Media! Hvert sukk gjør jeg ende på.
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 Derfor er mine lender fulle av smerte, veer har grepet mig, som den fødendes veer; jeg vrir mig så jeg ikke kan høre; jeg er forferdet så jeg ikke kan se.
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 Mitt sinn er forvirret, redsel har forferdet mig; aftenen, som var min lyst, har han gjort til redsel for mig.
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 De dekker bordet, vakten våker, de eter og drikker - op, I høvdinger, smør skjoldene!
[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 For så sa Herren til mig: Gå og still vaktmannen ut! Det han ser, skal han melde.
Then Yahweh said to me, “Put a watchman [on the wall of Jerusalem], and tell him to shout/proclaim what he sees.
7 Og ser han et tog av ryttere, par efter par, et tog av asener, et tog av kameler, da skal han gi akt, gi nøie akt.
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 Da ropte han som en løve: Herre, på vakt står jeg alltid om dagen, og på min post er jeg stilt hver en natt;
[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 men se der! Der kommer et tog av ridende menn, par av ryttere! - Og han tok til orde og sa: Falt, falt er Babel, og alle dets guders billeder har han knust og kastet til jorden.
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 Du mitt knuste, mitt gjennemtreskede folk! Det jeg har hørt av Herren, hærskarenes Gud, Israels Gud, har jeg kunngjort for eder.
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 Utsagn om Duma. Til mig roper de fra Se'ir: Vekter! Hvor langt er det på natten? Vekter! Hvor langt er det på natten?
[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 Vekteren svarer: Det kommer morgen, men også natt; vil I spørre, så spør - kom igjen!
[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 Utsagn mot Arabia. I skogen i Arabia skal I overnatte, I karavaner av dedanitter!
[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 Ut til de tørste fører de vann; de som bor i Temas land, kommer de flyktende i møte med brød;
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 for de flykter for sverdet, for det dragne sverd og den spente bue og for krigens trykk.
They are fleeing in order not to be killed by [their enemies’] swords and not to be shot in battles by arrows.
16 For så har Herren sagt til mig: Om et år, således som en dagarbeider regner året, skal det være forbi med all Kedars herlighet.
Yahweh said to me, “Exactly one year from now, all the greatness of the Kedar [area in Arabia] will end.
17 Og tallet på de buer som levnes Kedars helter, skal bli lite; for Herren, Israels Gud, har talt.
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.”
