50
1 The
word that the
LORD spoke
concerning Babylon, concerning
the land of the
Chaldeans, by
Jeremiah the
prophet.
2 “Declare among
the nations and
publish,
and set up
a standard;
publish, and don’t
conceal;
say, ‘Babylon has been
taken,
Bel is disappointed,
Merodach is
dismayed!
Her images
are disappointed.
Her idols are
dismayed.’
3 For
a nation comes
up out of
the north against
her,
which will make
her land desolate,
and no one
will dwell in
it.
They have fled.
They are gone,
both man and
animal.
4 “In
those days, and
in that time,”
says the LORD,
“the children of
Israel will come,
they and the
children of Judah
together;
they will go
on their way
weeping,
and will seek
the LORD their
God.
5 They
will inquire
concerning Zion
with their faces
turned toward it,
saying, ‘Come, and join
yourselves to the
LORD in an
everlasting covenant
that will not
be forgotten.’
6 My
people have
been lost sheep.
Their shepherds
have caused them
to go astray.
They have turned
them away on
the mountains.
They have gone
from mountain to
hill.
They have
forgotten their
resting place.
7 All
who found them
have devoured them.
Their adversaries said, ‘We
are not guilty,
because they have
sinned against the
LORD,
the habitation of
righteousness,
even the LORD,
the hope of
their fathers.’
8 “Flee
out of the
middle of Babylon!
Go out of
the land of
the Chaldeans,
and be as
the male goats
before the flocks.
9 For,
behold, I will
stir up
and cause to
come up
against Babylon a
company of great
nations from the
north country;
and they will
set themselves in
array against her.
She will be
taken from there.
Their arrows will
be as of
an expert mighty
man.
None of them
will return in
vain.
10 Chaldea
will be a
prey.
All who prey
on her will
be satisfied,”
says the LORD.
11 “Because
you are glad,
because you
rejoice,
O you who
plunder my
heritage,
because you are wanton
as a heifer
that treads out
the grain,
and neigh
as strong horses,
12 your mother
will be
utterly disappointed.
She who bore you
will be confounded.
Behold, she will
be the least of
the nations,
a wilderness, a
dry land, and
a desert.
13 Because
of the LORD’s
wrath she won’t be
inhabited,
but she will
be wholly desolate.
Everyone who goes
by Babylon will be
astonished,
and hiss at
all her plagues.
14 Set
yourselves in
array against Babylon
all around,
all you who
bend the bow;
shoot at her.
Spare no arrows,
for she has
sinned against the
LORD.
15 Shout
against her all
around.
She has submitted
herself.
Her bulwarks have
fallen.
Her walls have
been thrown down,
for it is
the vengeance of
the LORD.
Take vengeance on
her.
As she has
done, do to
her.
16 Cut
off the sower
from Babylon,
and him
who handles the
sickle in the
time of harvest.
For fear of
the oppressing
sword,
they will each
return to their
own people,
and they will
each flee to
their own land.
17 “Israel
is a hunted
sheep.
The lions have
driven him away.
First, the king
of Assyria devoured him,
and now at last
Nebuchadnezzar king
of Babylon has
broken his bones.”
18 Therefore
the LORD of
Armies, the God
of Israel, says:
“Behold, I will
punish the king
of Babylon and
his land,
as I have
punished the king
of Assyria.
19 I
will bring Israel
again to his
pasture,
and he will
feed on Carmel
and Bashan.
His soul will
be satisfied on
the hills
of Ephraim and in
Gilead.
20 In
those days, and
in that time,”
says the LORD,
“the iniquity of
Israel will be
sought for,
and there will
be none,
also the sins
of Judah,
and they won’t be
found;
for I will
pardon them whom
I leave as
a remnant.
21 “Go
up against the land
of Merathaim,
even against it,
and against the
inhabitants of
Pekod.
Kill and utterly
destroy after
them,” says the
LORD,
“and do according
to all that
I have commanded
you.
22 A
sound of battle
is in the land,
and of great
destruction.
23 How the
hammer of the
whole earth is
cut apart and
broken!
How Babylon has become
a desolation among
the nations!
24 I
have laid a
snare for you,
and you are
also taken, Babylon,
and you weren’t
aware.
You are found,
and also caught,
because you
have fought against
the LORD.
25 The
LORD has opened
his armory,
and has brought
out the weapons
of his indignation;
for the Lord,
GOD
of Armies, has
a work to
do in the land
of the Chaldeans.
26 Come against
her from the
farthest border.
Open her
storehouses.
Cast her up as
heaps.
Destroy her
utterly.
Let nothing of
her be left.
27 Kill
all her bulls.
Let them go
down to the
slaughter.
Woe to them!
For their day
has come,
the time of
their visitation.
28 Listen
to those who flee
and escape out
of the land
of Babylon,
to declare in
Zion the vengeance
of the LORD
our God,
the vengeance of
his temple.
29 “Call
together the
archers against Babylon,
all those who
bend the bow.
Encamp against
her all around.
Let none of
it escape.
Pay her back
according to her
work.
According to all
that she has
done, do to
her;
for she has
been proud against
the LORD,
against the Holy
One of Israel.
30 Therefore
her young men
will fall in
her streets.
All her men
of war will
be brought to
silence in that
day,” says the
LORD.
31 “Behold,
I am against
you, you proud
one,” says the
Lord, GOD of
Armies;
“for your day
has come,
the time that
I will visit
you.
32 The
proud one will
stumble and fall,
and no one
will raise him
up.
I will kindle
a fire in
his cities,
and it will devour
all who are
around him.”
33 The
LORD of Armies
says: “The
children of Israel
and the children
of Judah are
oppressed together.
All who took
them captive hold
them fast.
They refuse to
let them go.
34 Their
Redeemer is strong.
The LORD of
Armies is his
name.
He will thoroughly
plead their cause,
that he may give
rest to the earth,
and disquiet the
inhabitants of Babylon.
35 “A
sword is on
the Chaldeans,”
says the LORD,
“and on the
inhabitants of Babylon,
on her princes,
and on her
wise men.
36 A
sword is on
the boasters,
and they will
become fools.
A sword is
on her mighty men,
and they will
be dismayed.
37 A
sword is on
their horses,
on their chariots,
and on all
the mixed people
who are in
the middle of
her;
and they will
become as women.
A sword is
on her treasures,
and they will
be robbed.
38 A
drought is on
her waters,
and they will
be dried up;
for it is
a land of engraved
images,
and they are
mad over idols.
39 Therefore
the wild animals of
the desert
with the wolves
will dwell there.
The ostriches
will dwell therein.
It will be
inhabited no more
forever,
neither will it
be lived in
from generation to
generation.
40 As
when God overthrew
Sodom and Gomorrah
and its
neighbor cities,” says
the LORD,
“so no man
will dwell there,
neither will any
son of man
live therein.
41 “Behold,
a people comes
from the north.
A great nation
and many kings
will be stirred
up from
the uttermost parts
of the earth.
42 They
take up bow
and spear.
They are cruel,
and have no
mercy.
Their voice roars
like the sea.
They ride on
horses,
everyone set in
array,
as a man to
the battle,
against you,
daughter of Babylon.
43 The
king of Babylon
has heard the
news of them,
and his hands
become feeble.
Anguish has taken
hold of him,
pains as of a
woman in labor.
44 Behold,
the enemy will
come up like
a lion
from the thickets
of the Jordan
against the strong
habitation;
for I will
suddenly make them
run away from
it.
Whoever is chosen,
I will appoint
him over it,
for who is
like me?
Who will appoint
me a time?
Who is the
shepherd who can
stand before me?”
45 Therefore
hear the counsel
of the LORD
that he has
taken against Babylon;
and his purposes
that he has
purposed against
the land of
the Chaldeans:
Surely they will
drag them away,
even the little
ones of the
flock.
Surely he will
make their
habitation desolate
over them.
46 The earth
trembles at the
noise of the
taking of Babylon.
The cry is
heard among the
nations.