1 The burden of the desert sea. As whirlwinds come from the South, it cometh from the desert, from an horrible land.
1 The burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds come from the south, it cometh from the desert from a terrible land.
2 A sore vision was told me: he that is incredulous doth unfaithfully: & he that is a spoiler, wasteth. Come up Ælam, besiege o Mede: I have made all the mourning thereof to cease.
2 A grievous vision is told me: he that is unfaithful dealeth unfaithfully: and he that is a spoiler, spoileth. Go up, O Elam, besiege, O Mede: I have made all the mourning thereof to cease.
3 Therefore are my loins filled with sorrow, anguish hath possessed me, as the anguish of a woman that travaileth: I fell down when I heard it, I was troubled when I saw it.
3 Therefore are my loins filled with pain, anguish hath taken hold of me, as the anguish of a woman in labor: I fell down at the hearing of it, I was troubled at the seeing of it.
4 Mine heart failed, darkness made me astonished: Babylon my beloved is made a miracle unto me.
4 My heart failed, darkness amazed me: Babylon my beloved is become a wonder to me.
5 Lay the table, look about in the watch tower the eaters and drinkers: arise ye Princes, take shield.
5 Prepare the table, behold in the watchtower them that eat and drink: arise, ye princes, take up the shield.
6 For thus hath our Lord said to me: Go, and set a watchman: and what soever he shall see, let him tell.
6 For thus hath the Lord said to me: Go, and set a watchman: and whatsoever he shall see, let him tell.
7 And he saw a chariot of two horsemen, a rider upon an ass, and a rider upon a camel: and he beheld them diligently with much looking.
7 And he saw a chariot with two horsemen, a rider upon an ass, and a rider upon a camel: and he beheld them diligently with much heed.
8 And a lion cried: I am upon the watch tower of our Lord, standing continually by day: and I am upon my watch, standing whole nights.
8 And a lion cried out: I am upon the watchtower of the Lord, standing continually by day: ¹and I am upon my ward, standing whole nights.
9 Behold this man cometh, the rider upon the chariot of two horsemen, and he answered and said: Fallen, fallen is Babylon, and all the sculptiles of the gods thereof are broken to the ground.
9 Behold this man cometh, the rider upon the chariot with two horsemen, and he answered, and said: ²Babylon is fallen, she is fallen, and all the graven gods thereof are broken unto the ground.
10 O my threshing, and children of my floor, the things that I have heard of the Lord of hosts the God of Israel, I have shewed unto you.
10 O my thrashing, and the children of my floor, that which I have heard of the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, I have declared unto you.
11 The burden of Duma cryeth to me out of Seir: Watchman what of the night? Watchman what of the night?
11 The burden of Duma calleth to me out of Seir: Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?
12 The watchman said: morning is come and night: if you seek, seek: return, come.
12 The watchman said: The morning cometh, also the night: if you seek, seek: return, come.
13 The burden in Arabia. In the forest at even you shall sleep, in the paths of Dedanim.
13 The burden in Arabia. In the forest at evening you shall sleep, in the paths of Dedanim.
14 Meeting the thirsty bring water, you that inhabit the land of the South, with bread meet him that flyeth.
14 Meeting the thirsty bring him water, you that inhabit the land of the south, meet with bread him that fleeth.
15 For they are fled from the face of the swords, from the face of the sword hanging over, from the face of the bow bent, from the face of a grievous battle.
15 For they are fled from before the swords, from the sword that hung over them, from the bent bow, from the face of a grievous battle.
16 Because thus saith our Lord to me: Yet in one year, as in the year of an hired man, and all the glory of Cedar shall be taken away.
16 For thus saith the Lord to me: Within a year, according to the years of a hireling, all the glory of Cedar shall be taken away.
17 And the remnant of the number of the strong archers of the children of Cedar shall be diminished: for our Lord the God of Israel hath spoken it.
17 And the residue of the number of strong archers of the children of Cedar shall be diminished: for the Lord the God of Israel hath spoken it.