Isaías 21
1 Oráculo contra el desierto del mar: Como los huracanes vienen del sur, así viene esto del desierto, de una tierra terrible.
[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 Me ha sido mostrada dura visión: El saqueador sigue saqueando, y el devastador devasta aún. ¡Sube, Elam! ¡Asedia, oh medo! Suprimiré todos los gemidos de ella.
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 Por esto mis entrañas están llenas de angustia; dolores se han apoderado de mí, como dolores de una mujer que da a luz. Demasiado aturdido estoy para oír, demasiado aterrado para ver.
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 Mi corazón tambalea, me sobrecoge el horror. La noche que era mi deleite se me ha trocado en espanto.
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 (En vez de) poner la mesa, tender el mantel, comer y beber, ¡levantaos, oh príncipes, engrasad el escudo!
[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 Porque así me ha dicho el Señor: “Ve y pon un atalaya que diga lo que viere.”
Then Yahweh said to me, “Put a watchman [on the wall of Jerusalem], and tell him to shout/proclaim what he sees.
7 El cual vio a jinetes, de dos en dos montados en caballos, montados en asnos, montados en camellos. Y mirando con mayor atención,
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 clamó como león: “Señor, estoy de centinela, sin cesar, todo el día, y todas las noches me quedo en mi puesto.”
[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 Y he aquí que vinieron jinetes, de dos en dos, montados en caballos, y empezó a gritar y dijo: “Cayó, cayó Babilonia, y todas las estatuas de sus dioses yacen destrozadas por tierra.”
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 trilladura mía, oh pueblo de mi ira. Lo que he oído de parte de Yahvé de los ejércitos, el Dios de Israel, esto os he anunciado.
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 Oráculo contra Duma: Me llegan voces desde Seír: “Centinela ¿qué hay de la noche? Centinela ¿qué hay de la noche?”
[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 Responde el centinela: “Viene la mañana y también la noche. Si queréis preguntar, preguntad. Volved a venir.”
[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 Oráculo contra Arabia: En las estepas de Arabia pasáis la noche, oh caravanas de Dedán.
[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 Al encontrar a un sediento, traedle agua, habitantes de la tierra de Tema, ofreced pan al fugitivo.
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 Porque huyen de la espada, de la espada desenvainada, del arco entesado, y del furor de la guerra.
They are fleeing in order not to be killed by [their enemies’] swords and not to be shot in battles by arrows.
16 Pues así me ha dicho el Señor: “Dentro de un año, año como de jornalero, habrá desaparecido toda la gloria de Cedar;
Yahweh said to me, “Exactly one year from now, all the greatness of the Kedar [area in Arabia] will end.
17 y del resto de los arcos de los valientes hijos de Cedar, quedarán pocos; porque Yahvé, el Dios de Israel, ha hablado.”
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.”
