Isaías 21
1 Carga sobre el Desierto del Mar: Como la tempestad del Neguev, así viene del desierto, de una tierra aterradora.
[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 Una visión dura me fue mostrada: El traidor traiciona, el destructor destruye. ¡Sube, Elam! ¡Asedia, Media! ¡Aplaqué todo gemido!
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 tanto mi cintura se llenó de dolor. Me vinieron angustias, como angustias de parturienta. Me agita oírlo, me espanta mirarlo.
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 Se me turba el corazón y el terror se apoderó de mí. El crepúsculo anhelado se me convirtió 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 Disponen la mesa y extienden el mantel: Comen y beben. ¡Levántense, capitanes! Aceiten los escudos,
[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 ʼAdonay me dice: Vé, pon un centinela, que informe 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 Si ve hombres montados, parejas de jinetes en asnos, jinetes en camellos, que preste atención, muy fija 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 Entonces el centinela clamó: ¡Oh ʼAdonay, estoy en pie continuamente de día en la torre del centinela, y en mi puesto de guardia sigo firme cada noche!
[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 ¡Ciertamente vienen hombres montados, parejas de jinetes! Después habló: ¡Cayó, cayó Babilonia, y todos los ídolos de sus ʼelohim quebrantó en 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 Pueblo mío, trillado en mi era, te anuncio lo que oí de parte de Yavé de las huestes, el ʼElohim de Israel.
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 Carga sobre Duma: De Seir alguien me grita: ¡Centinela! ¿Cuánto queda de la noche? ¡Centinela! ¿Cuánto queda 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 quieren preguntar, pregunten. Regresen, vuelvan 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 Carga sobre Arabia: En el bosque de Arabia pasarán la noche, oh caminantes 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 Oh habitantes de Tema, salgan con agua a encontrar al sediento. Socorran con pan al que huye.
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 desenvainada, del arco entesado y de la presión 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 Yavé me dijo: Dentro de un año de jornalero, todo el esplendor de Cedar terminará.
Yahweh said to me, “Exactly one year from now, all the greatness of the Kedar [area in Arabia] will end.
17 El resto del número de los arqueros, los hombres poderosos de los hijos de Cedar serán pocos. Lo dijo Yavé, ʼElohim de Israel.
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.”
