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.

Esiae nye nyagblɔɖi ɖe gbegbe si le ƒuta la ŋu. Amedzidzela aɖe ava dze mia dzi tso gbegbe, anyigba dziŋɔ aɖe dzi abe ale si ahom tuna toa anyigbemenyigba dzi ene.

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!”

Woɖe ŋutega dziŋɔ aɖe fiam; ametatrɔla trɔ ame ta, nuhala kpɔ nuhaha. Elam dze edzi! Media ƒu kpo ɖe eŋu! Mana hũɖeɖe siwo katã wòhe vɛ la nawu nu.

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.

Eya ta vevesese na nye ameti blibo la meʋuʋu. Vevesese ƒo ɖem abe nyɔnu si le ku lém la tɔ ene. Nu siwo mese la na memu sɔgɔsɔgɔ, eye dzidzi ƒom le nu siwo mekpɔ la ta.

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.

Nye dzi tso, vɔvɔ̃ na medzo nyanyanya. Ale fiẽ fafɛ si mele mɔ kpɔm na la zu ŋɔdzi gã aɖe nam.

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]!

Woɖo kplɔ̃wo. Nuwo katã sɔgbe, woɖu nu, wono nu! Kasia ɣli ɖi be, mitso, mi amegãwo ne miasi ami na miaƒe akpoxɔnuwo.

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

Ale Yehowa gblɔ nam nye esi, “Yi nàɖo gbetakpɔla, eye na wòaɖe gbeƒã nu siwo katã wòkpɔ.

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!”

Ne ekpɔ tasiaɖamwo kple sɔdolawo ƒe hã, tedzidolawo kple kposɔdolawo la, ekema neɖo to, wòagaɖo to nyuie.”

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.

Gbetakpɔla ɖe gbe abe dzata ene be, “Nye Aƒetɔ, metsi tsitre ɖe nye dzɔƒe la gbe sia gbe kple zãwo katã me.

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!’”

Kpɔ ɖa, ŋutsu aɖe le tasiaɖam me kple sɔdolawo ƒe ha gbɔna, eye wòna ŋuɖoɖo siam be, ‘Babilonia mu, gamu. Wogbã eƒe legbawo katã ƒu anyi.’”

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! Nye dukɔ si wogbã gudugudu le lugbɔƒe abe lu ene, megblɔ nu siwo katã Yehowa, Dziƒoʋakɔwo ƒe Aƒetɔ, Israel ƒe Mawu la de asi nam be magblɔ la na mi.

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]”

Esiae nye Mawu ƒe nyagblɔɖi ɖe Duma ŋu. Ame aɖe yɔm tso Seir be, “Gbetakplɔla, zã gbɔ tsɔa? Gbetakpɔla zã gbɔ tsɔa?”

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.”

Gbetakpɔla ɖo eŋu be, “Esusɔ vie ŋu nake, gake zã agado ake. Nya si nèdi be yeabia la, biae, gake gatrɔ gbɔ.”

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.

Esiae nye nyagblɔɖi ɖe Arabia ŋu. Mi asiha siwo tso Dedam, ame siwo ƒu asaɖa anyi ɖe Arabia ƒe avekɔewo me,

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).

mi ame siwo le Tema, miku tsi vɛ na ame siwo tsikɔ le wuwum. Mitsɔ nuɖuɖu vɛ na aʋasilawo,

15 They are fleeing in order not to be killed by [their enemies’] swords and not to be shot in battles by arrows.

elabena wosi le yi si woɖe le aku me la kple da si me wovu kpakple aʋa si dzi ŋɔ la nu.

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

Ale Aƒetɔ la gblɔ nam nye esi, “Le ƒe ɖeka me tututu abe ale si awɔbamenɔla xlẽa eƒe ƒee ene la, Kedar ƒe atsyɔ̃ katã nu ayi.

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.”

Aŋutrɔdala mamlɛawo kple aʋawɔla siwo susɔ le Kedar la anye ame ʋɛ aɖewo ko.” Yehowa Israel ƒe Mawu lae gblɔe.