Isaiah 21
1 [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.
Ausspruch über die Meereswüste. Gleich Stürmen im Mittagslande, die heranjagen, kommt es aus der Wüste, aus furchtbarem Lande.
2 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!”
Ein hartes Gesicht ist mir kund geworden: der Gewaltthätige vergewaltigt noch immer, und der Verwüster verwüstet noch immer! Ziehe heran, Elam! Belagere, Medien! All' ihrem Seufzen mach' ich ein Ende!
3 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.
Deshalb liegen meine Hüften in Zuckungen, packen mich Wehen wie die Wehen einer Gebärenden, bin ich schwindelig, daß ich nicht höre, bestürzt, daß ich nicht sehe.
4 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.
Es taumeln meine Sinne, Entsetzen verstört mich; die Dämmerung, die mir so lieb, hat es mir in Beben verwandelt!
5 [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]!
man bereitet den Tisch, legt die Teppiche, man ißt, man trinkt - auf, ihr Fürsten, salbt den Schild!
6 Then Yahweh said to me, “Put a watchman [on the wall of Jerusalem], and tell him to shout/proclaim what he sees.
Denn so sprach der Herr zu mir: Auf, bestelle einen Späher! Was er sieht, soll er melden!
7 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!”
Und sieht er Berittene, Gespanne von Rossen, Eselreiter oder Kamelreiter, so soll er aufhorchen, gespannt aufhorchen!
8 [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.
Er aber rief: Auf der Warte stehe ich, o Herr, beständig bei Tage und verharre auf meiner Wacht alle Nächte hindurch!
9 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!’”
Siehe, da kamen berittene Männer, Gespanne von Rossen. Die hoben an und sprachen: Gefallen, gefallen ist Babel, und alle seine Götterbilder hat er zu Boden geschmettert!
10 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].
O mein zermalmtes und zerdroschenes Volk! Was ich von Jahwe der Heerscharen, dem Gott Israels, vernommen habe, habe ich euch verkündigt!
11 [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]”
Ausspruch über Duma. Aus Seir ruft man mir zu: Wächter, wie spät ist's in der Nacht? Wächter, wie spät ist's in der Nacht?
12 [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.”
Der Wächter spricht: Es kommt der Morgen, aber auch Nacht. Wenn ihr fragen wollt, so kommt nur wieder und fragt!
13 [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.
Ausspruch “Am Abend”. Übernachtet am Abend im Wald, ihr Karawanen der Dedaniter!
14 And you people who live in Tema [city in northwest Arabia], must bring food for the (refugees/people who are fleeing from their enemies).
Bringt Wasser den Durstigen entgegen, ihr Bewohner des Landes Thema! Bietet den Flüchtigen Brot an!
15 They are fleeing in order not to be killed by [their enemies’] swords and not to be shot in battles by arrows.
Denn vor Schwertern sind sie flüchtig geworden, vor dem gezückten Schwert und vor dem gespannten Bogen und vor der Wucht des Kampfs.
16 Yahweh said to me, “Exactly one year from now, all the greatness of the Kedar [area in Arabia] will end.
Denn so sprach der Herr zu mir: In einem Jahre, wie die Jahre eines Lohnarbeiters gerechnet werden, wird die ganze Macht Kedars zu nichte sein.
17 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.”
Und der Überrest von der Zahl der Bogen der Kriegsmänner der Kedarener wird gering sein. Ja, Jahwe, der Gott Israels, hat es geredet!
