Isaiæ 21
1 Onus deserti maris. Sicut turbines ab Aphrico veniunt, de deserto venit, de terra horribili.
The burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds in the south pass through; so it comes from the desert, from a terrible land.
2 Visio dura nunciata est mihi: qui incredulus est, infideliter agit: et qui depopulator est, vastat. Ascende Ælam, obside Mede: omnem gemitum eius cessare feci.
A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous dealer deals treacherously, and the spoiler spoils. Go up, O Elam: besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease.
3 Propterea repleti sunt lumbi mei dolore, angustia possedit me sicut angustia parturientis: corrui cum audirem, conturbatus sum cum viderem.
Therefore are my loins filled with pain: pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman that labors: I was bowed down at the hearing of it; I was dismayed at the seeing of it.
4 Emarcuit cor meum, tenebræ stupefecerunt me: Babylon dilecta mea posita est mihi in miraculum.
My heart panted, fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure has he turned into fear unto me.
5 Pone mensam, contemplare in specula comedentes et bibentes: surgite principes, arripite clypeum.
Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, all of you princes, and anoint the shield.
6 Hæc enim dixit mihi Dominus: Vade, et pone speculatorem: et quodcumque viderit, annunciet.
For thus has the LORD said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he sees.
7 Et vidit currum duorum equitum, ascensorem asini, et ascensorem cameli: et contemplatus est diligenter multo intuitu.
And he saw a chariot with a couple of horsemen, a chariot of asses, and a chariot of camels; and he hearkened diligently with much heed:
8 Et clamavit leo: Super speculam Domini ego sum, stans iugiter per diem: et super custodiam meam ego sum, stans totis noctibus.
And he cried, A lion: My lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward whole nights:
9 Ecce iste venit ascensor vir bigæ equitum, et respondit, et dixit: Cecidit, cecidit Babylon, et omnia sculptilia deorum eius contrita sunt in terram.
And, behold, here comes a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he has broken unto the ground.
10 Tritura mea, et filii areæ meæ, quæ audivi a Domino exercituum Deo Israel, annunciavi vobis.
O my threshing, and the corn of my floor: that which I have heard of the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto you.
11 Onus Duma ad me clamat ex Seir: Custos quid de nocte? custos quid de nocte?
The burden of Dumah. He calls to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?
12 Dixit custos: Venit mane et nox: si quæritis, quærite: convertimini, venite.
The watchman said, The morning comes, and also the night: if all of you will enquire, enquire all of you: return, come.
13 Onus in Arabia. In saltu ad vesperam dormietis, in semitis Dedanim.
The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall all of you lodge, O all of you travelling companies of Dedanim.
14 Occurrentes sitienti ferte aquam, qui habitatis terram Austri, cum panibus occurrite fugienti.
The inhabitants of the land of Tema brought water to him that was thirsty, they prevented with their bread him that fled.
15 A facie enim gladiorum fugerunt, a facie gladii imminentis, a facie arcus extenti, a facie gravis prælii:
For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.
16 quoniam hæc dicit Dominus ad me: Adhuc in uno anno, quasi in anno mercenarii, et auferetur omnis gloria Cedar.
For thus has the LORD said unto me, Within a year, according to the years of a worker, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail:
17 Et reliquiæ numeri sagittariorum fortium de filiis Cedar imminuentur: Dominus enim Deus Israel locutus est.
And the residue of the number of archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be diminished: for the LORD God of Israel has spoken it.
