Isaya 21
1 Chirevo pamusoro peRenje riri pedyo neGungwa: Kufanana nechamupupuri chinovhuvhuta nomunyika yezasi, mupambi anouya achibva kurenje, kubva kunyika inotyisa.
[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 Ndaratidzwa chiratidzo chinorwadza. Mupanduki anopanduka, muparadzi anotora zvokupamba Eramu, rwisa! Medhia, vandira! Ndichagumisa kugomera kwose kwaakaita kuti kuvepo.
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 Naizvozvo muviri wangu wakazara nokurwadziwa; marwadzo akandibata, kufanana nomukadzi ari kusununguka; ndiri kudzedzereka nezvandinonzwa, ndakanganisika nezvandinoona.
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 Mwoyo wangu woziya, kutya kwondidederesa; rubvunzavaeni rwandaishuva rwava chinyangadzo kwandiri.
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 Vanogadzira matafura, vanowaridza micheka pasi, vanodya, vanonwa! Simukai, imi machinda, zodzai nhoo!
[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 Zvanzi naIshe kwandiri: “Endai, mundogadza nharirire uye muite kuti azivise zvaanoona.
Then Yahweh said to me, “Put a watchman [on the wall of Jerusalem], and tell him to shout/proclaim what he sees.
7 Kana achiona ngoro namapoka amabhiza, navatasvi vari pamusoro pembongoro kana vatasvi vari pamusoro pengamera, ngaave akachenjera, akachenjera zvizere.”
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 Ipapo nharirire yakadanidzira ichiti, “Zuva nezuva, tenzi wangu, ndinomira pamusoro peshongwe yomurindi; usiku hwoga hwoga ndinogara panzvimbo yangu.
[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 Tarirai, hoyo murume ari kuuya ari mungoro neboka ramabhiza. Uye anopa mhinduro achiti, ‘Bhabhironi rawa, rawa! Zvifananidzo zvose zvavamwari varo zvaputsirwa pasi!’”
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 Haiwa, vanhu vangu vapwanyirwa paburiro, ndinokuudzai zvandanzwa kubva kuna Jehovha Wamasimba Ose, kubva kuna Mwari waIsraeri.
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 Chirevo pamusoro peDhuma: Mumwe anodana kwandiri ari kuSeiri, achiti, “Nharirire iwe, inguvaiko ino yousiku? Nharirire iwe, inguvaiko ino yousiku?”
[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 Nharirire inopindura ichiti, “Mambakwedza achauya, asi nousikuwo. Zvino kana uchida kubvunza, bvunza; uye ugodzokazve.”
[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 Chirevo pamusoro peArabhia: Imi ngoro dzavaDhedhani, munodzika misasa mumatenhere eArabhia,
[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 vigirai vane nyota mvura; imi munogara muTema, uyai nezvokudya zvavanotiza.
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 Vari kutiza munondo, kubva kumunondo wavhomorwa, nokuuta hwawemburwa, uye nokupisa kwehondo.
They are fleeing in order not to be killed by [their enemies’] swords and not to be shot in battles by arrows.
16 Zvanzi naJehovha kwandiri: “Pachinguva chegore rimwe chete, sokuverenga kungaita mushandi akabatwa nechibvumirano, kuzvikudza kwose kweKedhari kuchapera.
Yahweh said to me, “Exactly one year from now, all the greatness of the Kedar [area in Arabia] will end.
17 Varume vouta vachapunyuka, ivo mhare dzeKedhari vachava vashoma.” Jehovha, Mwari weIsraeri ataura.
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.”
