Isaías 21

1 La profecía sobre el desierto. A medida que los vientos de tormenta en el sur se precipitan, proviene del desierto, de la tierra que hay que temer.

[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 de miedo se presenta ante mis ojos; el engañador sigue su camino falso, y el destructor sigue haciendo destrucción. ¡Arriba! Elam; al ataque! Medos; He puesto fin a su pena.

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 esta causa estoy lleno de amargo dolor; dolores como los dolores de una mujer en el parto me han llegado; estoy agobiado por el dolor que llega a mis oídos; Me ha espantado lo que veo.

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 pasmó, el miedo me ha vencido; la Aurora que anhelaba se ha convertido en un estremecimiento 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, bajan las mantas, comen y beben. ¡Levántense! ustedes capitanes, ungan 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 así me ha dicho el Señor: Ve, que se ponga un vigilante; que te avise de todo lo que vea.

Then Yahweh said to me, “Put a watchman [on the wall of Jerusalem], and tell him to shout/proclaim what he sees.

7 Y cuando vea los carruajes de guerra, los jinetes de dos en dos, los carruajes de guerra con asnos, filas de camellos, presten especial 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 Y el vigilante dio un fuerte grito: ¡Oh, mi señor! Estoy en la atalaya todo el día, y estoy en mi guardia todas las noches.

[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 Mira, aquí vienen los carruajes de guerra con hombres, jinetes de dos en dos: y en respuesta él dijo: Babilonia cayó, cayó, y todas sus imágenes están rotas en la 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 mi pueblo oprimido, como el grano de mi piso! Te he dado la palabra que me vino del Señor de los ejércitos, el Dios 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 La palabra acerca de Edom. Una voz me viene de Seir, centinela, ¿qué horas de la noche son? ¿Qué horas de la noche son?

[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 dice: ha llegado la mañana, pero aún no ha llegado la noche. Si tienes preguntas pregunten, 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 La palabra sobre Arabia. En el espeso bosque de Arabia será el lugar de descanso de tu noche, ¡oh, caravanas viajeras 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 Dale agua al que necesita agua; da pan, oh hombres de la tierra de Tema, a los que huyen.

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 afilada, del arco doblado y de la angustia 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 Porque así me ha dicho el Señor: En un año, como lo cuenta un jornalero, toda la gloria de Cedar llegará a su fin.

Yahweh said to me, “Exactly one year from now, all the greatness of the Kedar [area in Arabia] will end.

17 Y el resto de los arqueros, los hombres de guerra de los hijos de Cedar, serán pocos. 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.”