Yesaia 21
1 Nkɔmhyɛ a ɛfa Babilonia, anweatam no a ɛda Po no ho: Sɛdeɛ twahoframa a ɛbɔ fa anafoɔ fam asase so no yɛ no, saa ara na ɔtohyɛsoɔni bi firi anweatam so reba. Ɔfiri asase a ɛyɛ hunabɔbrim so.
A message about the desert by the sea. Like storm winds passing through the Negev, something is coming from the desert, from a land of terror—
2 Wɔde anisoadehunu a ɛyɛ nwanwa akyerɛ me: Ɔfatwafoɔ bi redi hwammɔ. Ɔfomfoɔ bi refa afodeɛ. Elam reto ahyɛ ɔman bi so! Media rebɔ pampim! Mede apinisie a Babilonia de baeɛ no nyinaa bɛba awieeɛ.
a horrifying vision that has been explained to me. The betrayer still betrays; the destroyer still destroys. Elamites and Medes, go ahead, attack and lay siege to Babylon, for I'm putting a stop to all the pain it has caused.
3 Yei ama ɔyea bi abɛhyɛ me mu, ɔyea aka me, te sɛ ɔbaa a awoɔ aka no; deɛ meteɛ no enti mentumi nnyina me nan so, deɛ mehunu no ama me ho adwiri me.
As a result my body is filled with agony. I'm overwhelmed with pain, like the pain of a woman giving birth. I am confused by what I hear; I am distressed by what I see.
4 Mʼakoma bɔ paripari, ehu ma me ho popo; na ɛhan a mepɛɛ sɛ mehunu no abɛyɛ adeɛ a ɛbɔ me hu.
My mind falters; I shake in panic. The night I looked forward to has become terrifying.
5 Wɔto ɛpono, wɔde kuntu akɛtɛ sesɛ fam, wɔdidi, na wɔnom! Monsɔre mo asraafoɔ mpanimfoɔ, momfa ngo nsrasra mo akyɛm ho!
They set the table, they spread out the rugs, they eat and drink… “Get up, officers! Prepare your shields for battle!”
6 Yei ne deɛ Awurade ka kyerɛ me: “Fa ɔwɛmfoɔ kɔgyina hɔ na ɔnka deɛ ɔhunu nkyerɛ wo.
This is what the Lord told me: “Go! Have a lookout keep watch, and make sure he reports what he sees.
7 Sɛ ɔhunu nteaseɛnam ne apɔnkɔ akuakuo, wɔn a wɔtete mfunumu so ne wɔn a wɔtete nyoma so a, ɔnwɛn nʼaso wɛn pa ara.”
When he sees chariots coming pulled by pairs of horses, riders on donkeys and on camels, he should watch very carefully, paying close attention.”
8 Na ɔwɛmfoɔ no teaam sɛ, “Me wura da biara megyina ɔwɛn aban no so anadwo biara, megyina hɔ.
Then the lookout shouted “Sir, I've stood here on the watchtower day after day; night after night I've remained at my post.
9 Hwɛ, ɔbarima bi a ɔte teaseɛnam mu na ɔreba yi ɔne apɔnkɔ dɔm. Na ɔwɛmfoɔ no kaa sɛ, ‘Babilonia ahwe ase, wahwe ase! Nʼanyame ne nʼahoni nyinaa abubu agu fam!’”
Now look! A man in a chariot with a pair of horses is coming.” Then he said, “Babylon has fallen, has fallen! All the idols of its gods lie smashed on the ground!”
10 Ao, me nkurɔfoɔ a wɔadwera mo wɔ ayuporeeɛ ase meka deɛ mateɛ kyerɛ mo, deɛ ɛfiri Asafo Awurade, deɛ ɛfiri Israel Onyankopɔn hɔ.
My poor downtrodden people, so badly mistreated, I have told you what I have heard from the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel.
11 Nkɔmhyɛ a ɛfa Duma ho: Obi frɛ me firi Seir, “Ɔwɛmfoɔ, berɛ bɛn na adeɛ bɛkye? Ɔwɛmfoɔ, aka nnɔnhwere ahe ansa na adeɛ akye?”
A message about Edom. A voice is calling to me from Seir, asking, “Watchman, what time of night is it? Watchman, what time of night is it?”
12 Ɔwɛmfoɔ no bua sɛ, “Adeɛ rekye, nanso adeɛ bɛsa. Sɛ wobɛbisa bio a sane bra bɛbisa.”
The watchman replies, “Morning is coming, but the night is coming again soon. If you want to ask again, then come back and ask.”
13 Adehunu a ɛfa Arabia ho: Mo Dedan akwantufoɔ a mosoɛ wɔ Arabia adɔtɔ ase,
A message about Arabia. Caravans from Dedan, spend the night in the bushes.
14 Momfa nsuo mmrɛ wɔn a sukɔm de wɔn; mo a motete Tema, mommrɛ adwanefoɔ aduane.
People of Tema, take water to the thirsty, meet the refugees with food.
15 Wɔdwane firi akofena a watwe tadua a wɔakuntun mu ne ɔko a ɛgyina mu ano.
They're running away from a fierce battle, from swords, drawn swords, from bows and arrows.
16 Yei ne deɛ Awurade ka kyerɛ me, “Afe baako mu no, sɛdeɛ wɔkan ɔpaani mfeɛ no, Kedar kɛseyɛ to bɛtwa.
This is what the Lord told me: “Within one year, just as a contract worker precisely counts years, all the glory of Kedar will be gone.
17 Na agyantofoɔ a wɔbɛka ne Kedar akofoɔ bɛyɛ kakraa bi.” Deɛ Awurade, Israel Onyankopɔn, aka nie.
There will only be a few left of the archers, the warriors of Kedar.” The Lord, the God of Israel, has spoken.
