Isaïe 21
1 Oracle contre le désert de la mer. Comme l'ouragan du midi s'avance, ainsi il arrive du désert, de la terre redoutable.
[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 Une vision menaçante m'a été révélée: le pillard pille et le dévastateur dévaste. « Avance, Elam! Assiège, Mède! A tous les soupirs je vais mettre un terme. »
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 C'est pourquoi mes reins sont remplis d'angoisses, des douleurs me saisissent pareilles aux douleurs de la femme en travail; le tourment m'ôte l'ouïe, et les angoisses la vue;
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 mon cœur s'égare; l'horreur m'assaille; de ma nuit de réjouissances on a fait une nuit de terreur.
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 On dresse la table, la sentinelle veille, on mange, on boit: « Debout! chefs, oignez le bouclier! »
[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 Car ainsi m'a parlé le Seigneur: Va, place la sentinelle: ce qu'elle verra, elle te le rapportera.
Then Yahweh said to me, “Put a watchman [on the wall of Jerusalem], and tell him to shout/proclaim what he sees.
7 Elle vit de la cavalerie, des cavaliers sur des chevaux, deux à deux, des cavaliers sur des ânes, des cavaliers sur des chameaux, et elle écouta, écoutant avec grande attention.
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 Et elle cria comme un lion: Avec constance, Seigneur, je me tenais le jour dans la vedette et j'étais à mon poste toutes les nuits:
[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 et voici venir de la cavalerie, des cavaliers sur des chevaux deux à deux. Puis reprenant la parole, elle dit: Babel tombe, tombe, et toutes ses idoles brisées jonchent la terre.
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 O toi, mon peuple qu'on triture, mon grain qui est sur l'aire! Ce que j'ai ouï de l'Éternel des armées, Dieu d'Israël, je vous l'ai déclaré.
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 Oracle contre Duma. De Séïr on me crie: Sentinelle, que reste-t-il de la nuit, que reste-t-il de la nuit?
[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 La sentinelle dit: Le matin vient, puis aussi la nuit. Si vous voulez interroger, interrogez! Revenez-y!
[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 Oracle contre l'Arabie. Dans les steppes d'Arabie vous passez la nuit, caravanes de Dedan!
[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 Au-devant de ces hommes altérés viennent avec de l'eau les habitants du pays de Théma: ils présentent du pain aux fugitifs,
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 car ils fuient devant les épées, devant l'épée nue, et devant l'arc bandé, et devant le poids de la guerre.
They are fleeing in order not to be killed by [their enemies’] swords and not to be shot in battles by arrows.
16 Car ainsi me parla le Seigneur: Encore une année, telle que les années du mercenaire, et c'en est fait de toute la gloire de Cédar.
Yahweh said to me, “Exactly one year from now, all the greatness of the Kedar [area in Arabia] will end.
17 Et le nombre restant des vaillants archers des enfants de Cédar, sera petit, car l'Éternel, Dieu d'Israël, l'a prononcé.
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.”
