1Горе земле, осеняющей крыльями по ту сторону рек Ефиопских,2посылающей послов по морю, и в папировых суднах по водам! Идите, быстрые послы, к народу крепкому и бодрому, к народу страшному от начала и доныне, к народу рослому и [все] попирающему, которого землю разрезывают реки.3Все вы, населяющие вселенную и живущие на земле! смотрите, когда знамя поднимется на горах, и, когда загремит труба, слушайте!4Ибо так Господь сказал мне: Я спокойно смотрю из жилища Моего, как светлая теплота после дождя, как облако росы во время жатвенного зноя.5Ибо прежде собирания винограда, когда он отцветет, и грозд начнет созревать, Он отрежет ножом ветви и отнимет, и отрубит отрасли.6И оставят все хищным птицам на горах и зверям полевым; и птицы будут проводить там лето, а все звери полевые будут зимовать там.7В то время будет принесен дар Господу Саваофу от народа крепкого и бодрого, от народа страшного от начала и доныне, от народа рослого и [все] попирающего, которого землю разрезывают реки, – к месту имени Господа Саваофа, на гору Сион.
1How terrible it will be for the land whose armies are like large numbers of flying insects! That land is along the rivers of Cush.2Its people send messengers on the River Nile. They travel over the water in papyrus boats. Messengers, hurry back home! Go back to your people, who are tall and have smooth skin. Everyone is afraid of them. They are warriors whose language is different from ours. Their land is divided up by rivers.3Pay attention, all you people of the world! Listen, all you who live on earth! Banners will be lifted up on the mountains. And you will see them. Trumpets will be blown. And you will hear them.4The LORD says to me, ‘I will look down from heaven, where I live. I will be as quiet as summer heat in the sunshine. I will be as quiet as a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.’5A farmer cuts off new growth with pruning knives. He cuts down spreading branches and takes them away. He does it before the grapes are harvested. That’s when the blooms are gone and the grapes are ripe. In the same way, the LORD will cut off the nations that are gathered against his people.6Their dead bodies will be left for the birds of the mountains to eat. They will be left for the wild animals. The birds will eat the dead bodies all summer long. The wild animals will eat them all through the winter.7At that time gifts will be brought to the LORD who rules over all. The people who are tall and have smooth skin will bring them. Everyone is afraid of those people. They are warriors whose language is different from ours. Their land is divided up by rivers. They will bring their gifts to Mount Zion. That’s where the LORD who rules over all has put his Name.