关于巴比伦的预言

21 以下是关于海边沙漠[a]的预言:

敌人从可怕的沙漠之地上来,
好像狂风扫过南部的旷野。
我看见一个令人胆战心惊的异象:
“诡诈的在行诡诈,
毁灭的在行毁灭。
以拦人啊,攻打吧!
玛代人啊,围城吧!
耶和华必终止巴比伦带来的痛苦。”
这使我充满痛苦,
我陷入剧痛中,
如同分娩的妇人,
我因听见的话而惊慌,
因看见的景象而害怕。
我心慌意乱,惊惧不堪,
我期盼的黄昏却令我恐惧。
他们摆设宴席,
坐在地毯上又吃又喝。
突然有人大喊:
“官长啊,起来擦亮盾牌,备战吧!”
耶和华对我说:
“你去派人守望,
让他报告所看见的情况。
他看到战车、一对对的骑兵、
驴队和骆驼队的时候,
要提高警惕,密切察看。”
守望的人大喊:
“我主啊,我在瞭望塔上日夜观看。
看啊,战车和一对对的骑兵来了。”
他又接着说:“巴比伦倾倒了!
倾倒了!
她所有的神像都被打碎在地上。”
10 于是,我说:“我的百姓啊!
你们像场上被碾、被筛的谷物,
现在我把从以色列的上帝——万军之耶和华那里听见的都告诉你们了。”

关于以东的预言

11 以下是关于以东的预言。
有人从西珥大声问我:
“守夜的啊,黑夜还有多长?
守夜的啊,黑夜还有多长?”
12 我回答:
“黎明将到,但黑夜会再来。
如果你们还想问,再来问吧。”

关于阿拉伯的预言

13 以下是关于阿拉伯的预言:
成群结队的底但客旅必躲在阿拉伯的荒野过夜。
14 提玛的居民啊,要送水给这些口渴的人,
拿食物给这些逃难的人。
15 他们从敌人的刀光箭影中逃生。

16 耶和华对我说:“如同雇工合约规定的做工年限,一年之内,基达所有的荣耀必消失, 17 勇敢的弓箭手必所剩无几。这是以色列的上帝耶和华说的。”

Footnotes

  1. 21:1 海边沙漠”指巴比伦。

God’s Message to Babylon

21 The message about the Desert by the Sea:[a]

Disaster is coming from the desert.
    It is coming like wind blowing in the south.
    It is coming from a terrible country.
I have seen a terrible vision.
    I see traitors turning against you.
    I see people taking your wealth.

Elam, attack the people!
    Media, surround the city and attack it!
    I will bring an end to the pain the city causes.

I saw those terrible things, and now I am in pain.
    My pains are like the pains of giving birth.
What I hear makes me very afraid.
    What I see causes me to shake with fear.
I am worried,
    and I am shaking with fear.
My pleasant evening
    has become a night of fear.

They set the table.
    They spread the rugs.
    They eat and drink!
Leaders, stand up.
    Prepare the shields for battle!

The Lord said to me,
“Go. Have a man be a lookout for the city.
    Have him report what he sees.
If he sees chariots and teams of horses,
    donkeys or camels,
he should pay very close attention.”

Then the lookout called out,
“My Master, each day I stand in the watchtower watching.
    Every night I have been on guard.
Look. I see a man coming in a chariot
    with a team of horses.”
The man gives back the answer,
    “Babylon has fallen. It has fallen!
All the statues of her gods
    lie broken on the ground.”

10 My people are crushed like grain on the threshing floor.
    My people, I tell you what I have heard from the Lord.
He is the Lord of heaven’s armies,
    the God of Israel.

God’s Message to Edom

11 The message about Dumah:[b]

Someone calls to me from Edom.
    He says, “Watchman, how much of the night is left?
    Watchman, how much longer will it be night?”
12 The watchman answered,
    “Morning is coming, but then night will come again.
If you have something to ask,
    then come back and ask.”

God’s Message to Arabia

13 The message about Arabia:

A group of traders from Dedan
    spent the night near some trees in Arabia.
14     They gave water to thirsty travelers.
The people of Tema gave food
    to those who were escaping.
15 They were running from swords.
    The swords were ready to kill.
They were running from bows ready to shoot.
    They were running from a hard battle.

16 This is what the Lord said to me: “In one year all the glory of the country of Kedar will be gone. (This is a year as a hired helper counts time.) 17 At that time only a few of the archers will be left. Only a few of the soldiers of Kedar will be left alive.” The Lord, the God of Israel, has spoken.

Footnotes

  1. 21:1 Desert by the Sea Probably Babylon.
  2. 21:11 Dumah Another name for Edom.

ବାବିଲ ପ୍ରତି ପରମେଶ୍ୱରଙ୍କ ବାର୍ତ୍ତା

21 “ସାଗର ସମୀପସ୍ଥ ପ୍ରାନ୍ତର” ବିଷୟରେ ଶୋକବାର୍ତ୍ତା।

ତାହା ଦକ୍ଷିଣ ଦିଗରୁ ଏକ ଭୟଙ୍କର ଘୂର୍ଣ୍ଣିବାତ୍ୟା ତୁଲ୍ୟ ପ୍ରାନ୍ତରରୁ
    ଏକ ଭୟଙ୍କର ଦେଶରୁ ଆସୁଅଛି।
ମୁଁ ଦେଖିଅଛି ଏକ ଭୟଙ୍କର ଦୁଃଖଦାୟକ ଘଟଣା ଘଟିବ।
    ବିଶ୍ୱାସ ଘାତକ ତୁମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି ବିଶ୍ୱାସଘାତକତା କରୁଅଛି
ଓ ଲୁଣ୍ଠନକାରୀ ଲୁଣ୍ଠନ କରୁଅଛି।

ହେ ଏଲମ୍! ଯାଅ ଯୁଦ୍ଧ କର।
    ହେ ମାଦିୟେ, ତୁମ୍ଭ ସୈନ୍ୟବାହିନୀ ଦ୍ୱାରା ନଗରକୁ ଅବରୋଧ କର ଓ ପରାସ୍ତ କର।
    ମୁଁ ସେହି ନଗରରୁ ଦୁଃଖ ଓ ହାହାକାର ଦୂର କରିଅଛି।

ସେହି ଭୟଙ୍କର ଦୃଶ୍ୟ ଦେଖି ମୋର ପେଟ ଯନ୍ତ୍ରଣାରେ ପରିପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ହୋଇଅଛି।
    ସେହି ଯନ୍ତ୍ରଣା ପ୍ରସବକାଳୀନ ସ୍ତ୍ରୀଲୋକର ବେଦନା ତୁଲ୍ୟ ମୋତେ କଷ୍ଟ ଦେଉଛି।
ମୁଁ ସେ ସମସ୍ତ ଶୁଣି ଭୟଭୀତ ହୋଇ ପଡ଼ିଛି।
    ମୁଁ ଏତେ ଭୀତ ଯେ ଭୟରେ ଥରୁଅଛି।
ମୋର ହୃଦୟ ଧକାଉଛି, ମହା ଭୟରେ ମୁଁ ଥରହର ହୋଇଅଛି।
    ମୋର ଆନନ୍ଦ ରୂପକ ସାୟଂକାଳ ମହାରାତ୍ରିର ଭୟର କାରଣ ହୋଇଛି।

ଲୋକମାନେ ଭାବନ୍ତି ସବୁ ସୁନ୍ଦର।
    ତେଣୁ ସେମାନେ, “ମେଜ ସଜାନ୍ତି,
    ଭୋଜନ ଓ ପାନ କରନ୍ତି।
    ସେହି ସମୟରେ ସୈନ୍ୟମାନେ କୁହନ୍ତି, ପ୍ରହରୀ ନିଯୁକ୍ତ କର,
ହେ ଅଧିପତିଗଣ ଉଠ,
    ଢାଲ ତୈଳାନ୍ତ କର।”

ମୋର ପ୍ରଭୁ ମୋତେ କହିଲେ, “ଯାଅ ଏକ ଜଣ ପ୍ରହରୀ ନିଯୁକ୍ତ କର। ସେ ଯାହା ଦେଖିବ ତାହା ସେପରି ପ୍ରକାଶ କରିବ। ସେ ଯେତେବେଳେ ଦୁଇଦଳ ଅଶ୍ୱାରୋହୀ ସୈନ୍ୟ ଦେଖିବ ଏକ ଦଳ ଗର୍ଦ୍ଦଭାରୋହୀ ସୈନ୍ୟ ଦେଖିବ କିମ୍ବା ଏକ ଦଳ ଓଟରୋହୀ ସୈନ୍ୟ ଦେଖିବ ସେତେବେଳେ ସେ ପ୍ରହରୀ ମନୋଯୋଗ ପୂର୍ବକ ଅତି ଯତ୍ନରେ କର୍ଣ୍ଣପାତ କରିବ।”

ତା'ପରେ ଦିନେ, ସେ ପ୍ରହରୀ କହିଲା,

“ହେ ମୋର ପ୍ରଭୁ, ପ୍ରତିଦିନ, ଦିନ ବେଳେ ମୁଁ ନିରନ୍ତର ଦୁର୍ଗରେ ଠିଆ ହୋଇ ଜଗି ରହିଥାଏ,
    ଓ ପ୍ରତି ରାତିରେ ମୁଁ ଆପଣା ପହରା ସ୍ଥାନରେ ସତର୍କ ଦୃଷ୍ଟି ରଖିଥାଏ।
ଆଉ ଦେଖ, ଏଠି ଏକଦଳ ଲୋକ
    ଓ ଅଶ୍ୱାରୋହୀ ସୈନ୍ୟ ଆସୁଛନ୍ତି।”

ତା'ପରେ ଜଣେ ଦୂତ କହିଲା,
    “ବାବିଲ ପରାସ୍ତ ହୋଇଛି
    ଓ ବାବିଲର ପତନ ହୋଇଛି।
ତା'ର ପ୍ରତିମାଗୁଡ଼ିକ
    ଭାଙ୍ଗି ଭୂମିସାତ୍ ହୋଇଛି।”

10 ଯିଶାଇୟ କହିଲେ, “ହେ ମୋର ଲୋକମାନେ, ମୁଁ ଇସ୍ରାଏଲ ପରମେଶ୍ୱର ସର୍ବଶକ୍ତିମାନ ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କଠାରୁ ଯାହାସବୁ ଶୁଣିଅଛି, ତାହା ତୁମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କୁ ଜଣାଉଛି। ତୁମ୍ଭେମାନେ ଶସ୍ୟ ଖଳାରେ ଶସ୍ୟପରି ଦଳିଦେବ।”

11 ଦୁମା ବିଷୟରେ ଶୋକବାର୍ତ୍ତା।

ଜଣେ ସେୟୀରଠାରୁ ମୋତେ ଡାକି କହିଲେ,
    “ହେ ପ୍ରହରୀ, ଆଉ ରାତ୍ରି କେତେ ରହିଲା?”

12 ପ୍ରହରୀ ଉତ୍ତର କଲା,
    “ପ୍ରଭାତ ଆସୁଅଛି, ମାତ୍ର ତା'ପରେ ରାତ୍ରି ଆସିବ।
ଯଦି ତୁମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କର କିଛି ପଗ୍ଭରିବାର ଅଛି,
    ତେବେ ତୁମ୍ଭେମାନେ ଫେରି ଆସ ଓ ପଗ୍ଭର।”

ଆରବ ପ୍ରତି ପରମେଶ୍ୱରଙ୍କ ବାର୍ତ୍ତା

13 ଆରବ ବିଷୟକ ଦୁଃଖବାର୍ତ୍ତା।

ଦଦନୀୟ ବଣିକ ଦଳ ଆରବ ମରୂଭୂମିସ୍ଥ
    ବନ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ରାତ୍ରି ଯାପନ କଲେ।
14 ସେମାନେ କେତେକ ତୃଷାର୍ତ୍ତ ପଥିକମାନଙ୍କୁ ଜଳ ଦେଲେ।
    ଟେମା ଦେଶବାସୀ କେତେକ ପଳାତକ ପଥିକଙ୍କୁ ଖାଦ୍ୟ ଦେଲେ।
15 କାରଣ ସେମାନେ ଉନ୍ମୁକ୍ତ ତରବାରିରୁ,
    ଗୁଣଦିଆ ଧନୁରୁ
ଓ କ୍ଳେଶଦାୟକ ଯୁଦ୍ଧରୁ
    ରକ୍ଷା ପାଇବାକୁ ପଳାୟନ କଲେ।

16 ମୋର ପ୍ରଭୁ ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ ମୋତେ ସେଗୁଡ଼ିକ ଘଟିବ ବୋଲି କହିଲେ। “ଏକ ବର୍ଷ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ବେତନ ଜୀବିର ବର୍ଷ ପ୍ରମାଣେ କେଦରର ସମସ୍ତ ଗୌରବ ଲୁପ୍ତ ହେବ। 17 ସେହି ସମୟରେ କେଦରର ବୀରଗଣ ମଧ୍ୟରୁ ଅଳ୍ପ କେତେକ ଧନୁର୍ଦ୍ଧର ରକ୍ଷା ପାଇବେ।” କାରଣ ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ ଇସ୍ରାଏଲର ପରମେଶ୍ୱର ଏହା କହିଅଛନ୍ତି।

A Prophecy Against Babylon

21 A prophecy(A) against the Desert(B) by the Sea:

Like whirlwinds(C) sweeping through the southland,(D)
    an invader comes from the desert,
    from a land of terror.

A dire(E) vision has been shown to me:
    The traitor betrays,(F) the looter takes loot.
Elam,(G) attack! Media,(H) lay siege!
    I will bring to an end all the groaning she caused.

At this my body is racked with pain,(I)
    pangs seize me, like those of a woman in labor;(J)
I am staggered by what I hear,
    I am bewildered(K) by what I see.
My heart(L) falters,
    fear makes me tremble;(M)
the twilight I longed for
    has become a horror(N) to me.

They set the tables,
    they spread the rugs,
    they eat, they drink!(O)
Get up, you officers,
    oil the shields!(P)

This is what the Lord says to me:

“Go, post a lookout(Q)
    and have him report what he sees.
When he sees chariots(R)
    with teams of horses,
riders on donkeys
    or riders on camels,(S)
let him be alert,
    fully alert.”

And the lookout[a](T) shouted,

“Day after day, my lord, I stand on the watchtower;
    every night I stay at my post.
Look, here comes a man in a chariot(U)
    with a team of horses.
And he gives back the answer:
    ‘Babylon(V) has fallen,(W) has fallen!
All the images of its gods(X)
    lie shattered(Y) on the ground!’”

10 My people who are crushed on the threshing floor,(Z)
    I tell you what I have heard
from the Lord Almighty,
    from the God of Israel.

A Prophecy Against Edom

11 A prophecy against Dumah[b]:(AA)

Someone calls to me from Seir,(AB)
    “Watchman, what is left of the night?
    Watchman, what is left of the night?”
12 The watchman replies,
    “Morning is coming, but also the night.
If you would ask, then ask;
    and come back yet again.”

A Prophecy Against Arabia

13 A prophecy(AC) against Arabia:(AD)

You caravans of Dedanites,(AE)
    who camp in the thickets of Arabia,
14     bring water for the thirsty;
you who live in Tema,(AF)
    bring food for the fugitives.
15 They flee(AG) from the sword,(AH)
    from the drawn sword,
from the bent bow
    and from the heat of battle.

16 This is what the Lord says to me: “Within one year, as a servant bound by contract(AI) would count it, all the splendor(AJ) of Kedar(AK) will come to an end. 17 The survivors of the archers, the warriors of Kedar, will be few.(AL)” The Lord, the God of Israel, has spoken.(AM)

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 21:8 Dead Sea Scrolls and Syriac; Masoretic Text A lion
  2. Isaiah 21:11 Dumah, a wordplay on Edom, means silence or stillness.