Isaías 21
1 La carga del desierto del mar. Como los torbellinos del Sur barren, viene del desierto, de una tierra imponente.
[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 Se me declara una visión penosa. El hombre traicionero trata con traición, y el destructor destruye. Sube, Elam; ¡ataca! He detenido todos los suspiros de Media.
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 eso mis muslos están llenos de angustia. Los dolores se han apoderado de mí, como los dolores de una mujer de parto. Tengo tanto dolor que no puedo oír. Estoy tan consternada que no puedo 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 se agita. El horror me ha asustado. El crepúsculo que deseaba se ha convertido en temblor para mí.
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 Preparan la mesa. Ponen el reloj. Comen. Beben. ¡Levántense, príncipes, engrasen 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 el Señor me dijo: “Ve, pon un vigilante. Que declare lo que ve.
Then Yahweh said to me, “Put a watchman [on the wall of Jerusalem], and tell him to shout/proclaim what he sees.
7 Cuando vea una tropa, jinetes de a dos, una tropa de asnos, una tropa de camellos, escuchará diligentemente con gran 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 Gritó como un león: “Señor, de día estoy continuamente en la atalaya, y cada noche permanezco 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 He aquí que viene una tropa de hombres, de a caballo, en parejas”. Él respondió: “Caída, caída está Babilonia; y todas las imágenes grabadas de sus dioses están rotas en el suelo.
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 ¡Tú eres mi trilla y el grano de mi suelo!” Lo que he oído de Yahvé de los Ejércitos, el Dios de Israel, te lo he declarado.
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 La carga de Dumah. Uno me llama desde Seir: “Vigilante, ¿qué hay de la noche? Vigilante, ¿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 El vigilante dijo: “Llega la mañana, y también la noche. Si quieres preguntar, pregunta. Vuelve otra vez”.
[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 El peso de Arabia. Os alojaréis en los matorrales de Arabia, vosotros, caravanas de dedanitas.
[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 Llevaron agua al que tenía sed. Los habitantes de la tierra de Tema salieron al encuentro de los fugitivos con su pan.
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 huyeron de las espadas, de la espada desenvainada, del arco doblado y del calor de la batalla.
They are fleeing in order not to be killed by [their enemies’] swords and not to be shot in battles by arrows.
16 Porque el Señor me dijo: “Dentro de un año, como lo contaría un obrero obligado por contrato, toda la gloria de Cedar se agotará,
Yahweh said to me, “Exactly one year from now, all the greatness of the Kedar [area in Arabia] will end.
17 y el resto del número de los arqueros, los hombres poderosos de los hijos de Cedar, será escaso; porque el Señor, el Dios de Israel, lo ha dicho.”
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.”
