1 Atzinums par Jūras tuksnesi (tas ir: par Babilonu). Kā aukas plosās dienvidos, tā nāks briesmas no tuksneša, no briesmīgas zemes.
2 Man bija zināma darīta barga parādība: „Laupītājs laupa, postītājs posta! Nāc, Ēlāma! Uzsāc aplenkumu, Mēdija! Visām vaimanām par to es darīšu galu!“ —
3 Tādēļ dreb mani gurni, mani sagrābušas sāpes kā dzemdētājas sievas sāpes; es esmu apmulsis, ka nevaru dzirdēt, es esmu apjucis, ka nevaru redzēt.
4 Mani prāti mani atstāj, izbailes mulsina mani, iemīļotā vakara stunda man kļuvusi par biedēkli!
5 Sataisa galdu, izliek sargus, ēd un dzer. „Celieties, valdnieki, ieziediet vairogus!“
6 Jo tā tas Kungs man teica: „Ej, noliec sargu viņa vietā! Lai viņš ziņo, ko viņš redz!
7 Un kad viņš redz ratus un jātniekus, ēzeļu un kamieļu rindas, tad lai viņš uzmanīgi vēro!“
8 Un viņš sauca lauvas balsī: „Kungs, es stāvu sarga vietā cauru dienu un esmu nomodā visu nakti!“
9 Redzi, tur nāk vīri ar ratiem un jātnieki pāros un sauc: „Kritusi, kritusi ir Bābele, un visi tās dievekļu tēli ir satriekti un nogāzti zemē!“
10 Ak tu mana izmocītā, it kā ilgus gadus uz cieta klona kultā tauta! Ko es dzirdēju no tā Kunga, Israēla Dieva, to es jums pasludināju!
11 Lēmums par Dumu (tas ir: Ēdomu). Man sauc no Seīras: „Sargs, cik gara vēl nakts? Sargs, cik gara vēl nakts?“
12 Sargs atbild: „Rīts nāk, bet vēl ir nakts! Ja gribat vairāk zināt, tad nāciet atkal un jautājiet!“
13 Izsacījums par Arabiju. Arabijas mežos palieciet pa nakti, jūs, Dedanas ceļinieki.
14 Pasniedziet izslāpušiem ūdeni, jūs Tēmas iedzīvotāji! Dodiet bēgļiem vajadzīgo maizi!
15 Jo tie bēg no zobena, no atvēzta zobena, no uzvilkta stopa un no kara briesmām.
16 Jo tā man tas Kungs teica: „Gada laikā, kāds ir algādža posms, beigsies visa Kedara godība.
17 To nebūs daudz, kas vēl atliks no Kedara brašajiem dēliem strēlniekiem, jo tas Kungs, Israēla Dievs, to tā jau iepriekš pasacījis.“
The Fall of Babylonia
1 This is a message about a desert beside the sea:
Enemies from a hostile nation
attack like a whirlwind
from the Southern Desert.
2 What a horrible vision
was shown to me—
a vision of betrayal
and destruction.
Tell Elam and Media
to surround and attack
the Babylonians.
The Lord has sworn to end
the suffering they caused.
3 I'm in terrible pain
like a woman giving birth.
I'm shocked and hurt so much
that I can't hear or see.
4 My head spins; I'm horrified!
Early evening, my favorite time,
has become a nightmare.
5 In Babylon the high officials
were having a feast.
They were eating and drinking,
when someone shouted,
“Officers, take your places!
Grab your shields.”
6 The Lord said to me,
“Send guards
to find out
what's going on.
7 When they see cavalry troops
and columns of soldiers
on donkeys and camels,
tell them to be ready!”
8 Then a guard said,
“I have stood day and night
on this watchtower, Lord.
9 Now I see column after column
of cavalry troops.”
At once someone shouted,
“Babylon has fallen!
Every idol in the city
lies broken on the ground.”
10 Then I said, “My people,
you have suffered terribly,
but I have a message for you
from the Lord All-Powerful,
the God of Israel.”
How Much Longer?
11 This is a message about Dumah:
From the country of Seir,
someone shouts to me,
“Guard, how much longer
before daylight?”
12 From my guard post, I answered,
“Morning will soon be here,
but night will return.
If you want to know more,
come back later.”
13 This is a message for Arabs who live in the barren desert in the region of Dedan:
You must order your caravans
14 to bring water for those
who are thirsty.
You people of Tema
must bring food
for the hungry refugees.
15 They are worn out and weary
from being chased by enemies
with swords and arrows.
16 The Lord said to me:
A year from now the glory of the people of Kedar will all come to an end, just as a worker's contract ends after a year. 17 Only a few of their warriors will be left with bows and arrows. This is a promise that I, the Lord God of Israel, have made.
