¹ The word that the LORD spake against Babylon and against the land of the Chaldeans by Jeremiah the prophet.

² Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and conceal not: say, Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, Merodach is broken in pieces; her idols are confounded, her images are broken in pieces.

³ For out of the north there cometh up a nation against her, which shall make her land desolate, and none shall dwell therein: they shall remove, they shall depart, both man and beast.

⁴ In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek the LORD their God.

⁵ They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the LORD in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten.

⁶ My people hath 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 restingplace.

⁷ All that found them have devoured them: and their adversaries said, We offend not, because they have sinned against the LORD, the habitation of justice, even the LORD, the hope of their fathers.

⁸ Remove out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the he goats before the flocks.

⁹ For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country: and they shall set themselves in array against her; from thence she shall be taken: their arrows shall be as of a mighty expert man; none shall return in vain.

¹⁰ And Chaldea shall be a spoil: all that spoil her shall be satisfied, saith the LORD.

¹¹ Because ye were glad, because ye rejoiced, O ye destroyers of mine heritage, because ye are grown fat as the heifer at grass, and bellow as bulls;

¹² Your mother shall be sore confounded; she that bare you shall be ashamed: behold, the hindermost of the nations shall be a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert.

¹³ Because of the wrath of the LORD it shall not be inhabited, but it shall be wholly desolate: every one that goeth by Babylon shall be astonished, and hiss at all her plagues.

¹⁴ Put yourselves in array against Babylon round about: all ye that bend the bow, shoot at her, spare no arrows: for she hath sinned against the LORD.

¹⁵ Shout against her round about: she hath given her hand: her foundations are fallen, her walls are thrown down: for it is the vengeance of the LORD: take vengeance upon her; as she hath done, do unto her.

¹⁶ Cut off the sower from Babylon, and him that handleth the sickle in the time of harvest: for fear of the oppressing sword they shall turn every one to his people, and they shall flee every one to his own land.

¹⁷ Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones.

¹⁸ Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, as I have punished the king of Assyria.

¹⁹ And I will bring Israel again to his habitation, and he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan, and his soul shall be satisfied upon mount Ephraim and Gilead.

²⁰ In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve.

²¹ Go up against the land of Merathaim, even against it, and against the inhabitants of Pekod: waste and utterly destroy after them, saith the LORD, and do according to all that I have commanded thee.

²² A sound of battle is in the land, and of great destruction.

²³ How is the hammer of the whole earth cut asunder and broken! how is Babylon become a desolation among the nations!

²⁴ I have laid a snare for thee, and thou art also taken, O Babylon, and thou wast not aware: thou art found, and also caught, because thou hast striven against the LORD.

²⁵ The LORD hath opened his armoury, and hath brought forth the weapons of his indignation: for this is the work of the Lord GOD of hosts in the land of the Chaldeans.

²⁶ Come against her from the utmost border, open her storehouses: cast her up as heaps, and destroy her utterly: let nothing of her be left.

²⁷ Slay all her bullocks; let them go down to the slaughter: woe unto them! for their day is come, the time of their visitation.

²⁸ The voice of them that 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 ye that bend the bow, camp against it round about; let none thereof escape: recompense her according to her work; according to all that she hath done, do unto her: for she hath been proud against the LORD, against the Holy One of Israel.

³⁰ Therefore shall her young men fall in the streets, and all her men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the LORD.

³¹ Behold, I am against thee, O thou most proud, saith the Lord GOD of hosts: for thy day is come, the time that I will visit thee.

³² And the most proud shall stumble and fall, and none shall raise him up: and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it shall devour all round about him.

³³ Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The children of Israel and the children of Judah were oppressed together: and all that took them captives held them fast; they refused to let them go.

³⁴ Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name: he shall throughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.

³⁵ A sword is upon the Chaldeans, saith the LORD, and upon the inhabitants of Babylon, and upon her princes, and upon her wise men.

³⁶ A sword is upon the liars; and they shall dote: a sword is upon her mighty men; and they shall be dismayed.

³⁷ A sword is upon their horses, and upon their chariots, and upon all the mingled people that are in the midst of her; and they shall become as women: a sword is upon her treasures; and they shall be robbed.

³⁸ A drought is upon her waters; and they shall be dried up: for it is the land of graven images, and they are mad upon their idols.

³⁹ Therefore the wild beasts of the desert with the wild beasts of the islands shall dwell there, and the owls shall dwell therein: and it shall be no more inhabited for ever; neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation.

⁴⁰ As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the LORD; so shall no man abide there, neither shall any son of man dwell therein.

⁴¹ Behold, a people shall come from the north, and a great nation, and many kings shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth.

⁴² They shall hold the bow and the lance: they are cruel, and will not shew mercy: their voice shall roar like the sea, and they shall ride upon horses, every one put in array, like a man to the battle, against thee, O daughter of Babylon.

⁴³ The king of Babylon hath heard the report of them, and his hands waxed feeble: anguish took hold of him, and pangs as of a woman in travail.

⁴⁴ Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan unto the habitation of the strong: but I will make them suddenly run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who is that shepherd that will stand before me?

⁴⁵ Therefore hear ye the counsel of the LORD, that he hath taken against Babylon; and his purposes, that he hath purposed against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out: surely he shall make their habitation desolate with them.

⁴⁶ At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth is moved, and the cry is heard among the nations.

---

¹ The word ^H1697 that the LORD ^H3068 spake ^H1696 against Babylon ^H894 and against the land ^H776 of the Chaldeans ^H3778 by ^H3027 Jeremiah ^H3414 the prophet. ^H5030

² Declare ^H5046 ye among the nations, ^H1471 and publish, ^H8085 and set up ^H5375 a standard; ^H5251 publish, ^H8085 and conceal ^H3582 not: say, ^H559 Babylon ^H894 is taken, ^H3920 Bel ^H1078 is confounded, ^H3001 Merodach ^H4781 is broken in pieces; ^H2865 her idols ^H6091 are confounded, ^H3001 her images ^H1544 are broken in pieces. ^H2865

³ For out of the north ^H6828 there cometh up ^H5927 a nation ^H1471 against her, which shall make ^H7896 her land ^H776 desolate, ^H8047 and none shall dwell ^H3427 therein: they shall remove, ^H5110 they shall depart, ^H1980 both man ^H120 and beast. ^H929

⁴ In those days, ^H3117 and in that time, ^H6256 saith ^H5002 the LORD, ^H3068 the children ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 shall come, ^H935 they and the children ^H1121 of Judah ^H3063 together, ^H3162 going ^H1980 and weeping: ^H1058 they shall go, ^H3212 and seek ^H1245 the LORD ^H3068 their God. ^H430

⁵ They shall ask ^H7592 the way ^H1870 to Zion ^H6726 with their faces ^H6440 thitherward, ^H2008 saying, Come, ^H935 and let us join ^H3867 ourselves to the LORD ^H3068 in a perpetual ^H5769 covenant ^H1285 that shall not be forgotten. ^H7911

⁶ My people ^H5971 hath been lost ^H6 sheep: ^H6629 their shepherds ^H7462 have caused them to go astray, ^H8582 they have turned them away ^{H7725 H7726} on the mountains: ^H2022 they have gone ^H1980 from mountain ^H2022 to hill, ^H1389 they have forgotten ^H7911 their restingplace. ^H7258

⁷ All that found ^H4672 them have devoured ^H398 them: and their adversaries ^H6862 said, ^H559 We offend ^H816 not, because they have sinned ^H2398 against the LORD, ^H3068 the habitation ^H5116 of justice, ^H6664 even the LORD, ^H3068 the hope ^H4723 of their fathers. ^H1

⁸ Remove ^H5110 out of the midst ^H8432 of Babylon, ^H894 and go forth ^{H3318 H3318} out of the land ^H776 of the Chaldeans, ^H3778 and be as the he goats ^H6260 before ^H6440 the flocks. ^H6629

⁹ For, lo, I will raise ^H5782 and cause to come up ^H5927 against Babylon ^H894 an assembly ^H6951 of great ^H1419 nations ^H1471 from the north ^H6828 country: ^H776 and they shall set themselves in array ^H6186 against her; from thence she shall be taken: ^H3920 their arrows ^H2671 shall be as of a mighty ^H1368 expert man; ^{H7919 H7921} none shall return ^H7725 in vain. ^H7387

¹⁰ And Chaldea ^H3778 shall be a spoil: ^H7998 all that spoil ^H7997 her shall be satisfied, ^H7646 saith ^H5002 the LORD. ^H3068

¹¹ Because ye were glad, ^H8055 because ye rejoiced, ^H5937 O ye destroyers ^H8154 of mine heritage, ^H5159 because ye are grown fat ^H6335 as the heifer ^H5697 at grass, ^{H1877 H1758} and bellow ^H6670 as bulls; ^H47

¹² Your mother ^H517 shall be sore ^H3966 confounded; ^H954 she that bare ^H3205 you shall be ashamed: ^H2659 behold, the hindermost ^H319 of the nations ^H1471 shall be a wilderness, ^H4057 a dry land, ^H6723 and a desert. ^H6160

¹³ Because of the wrath ^H7110 of the LORD ^H3068 it shall not be inhabited, ^H3427 but it shall be wholly desolate: ^H8077 every one that goeth ^H5674 by Babylon ^H894 shall be astonished, ^H8074 and hiss ^H8319 at all her plagues. ^H4347

¹⁴ Put yourselves in array ^H6186 against Babylon ^H894 round about: ^H5439 all ye that bend ^H1869 the bow, ^H7198 shoot ^H3034 at her, spare ^H2550 no arrows: ^H2671 for she hath sinned ^H2398 against the LORD. ^H3068

¹⁵ Shout ^H7321 against her round about: ^H5439 she hath given ^H5414 her hand: ^H3027 her foundations ^H803 are fallen, ^H5307 her walls ^H2346 are thrown down: ^H2040 for it is the vengeance ^H5360 of the LORD: ^H3068 take vengeance ^H5358 upon her; as she hath done, ^H6213 do ^H6213 unto her.

¹⁶ Cut off ^H3772 the sower ^H2232 from Babylon, ^H894 and him that handleth ^H8610 the sickle ^H4038 in the time ^H6256 of harvest: ^H7105 for fear ^H6440 of the oppressing ^H3238 sword ^H2719 they shall turn ^H6437 every one ^H376 to his people, ^H5971 and they shall flee ^H5127 every one ^H376 to his own land. ^H776

¹⁷ Israel ^H3478 is a scattered ^H6340 sheep; ^H7716 the lions ^H738 have driven him away: ^H5080 first ^H7223 the king ^H4428 of Assyria ^H804 hath devoured ^H398 him; and last ^H314 this Nebuchadrezzar ^H5019 king ^H4428 of Babylon ^H894 hath broken his bones. ^H6105

¹⁸ Therefore thus saith ^H559 the LORD ^H3068 of hosts, ^H6635 the God ^H430 of Israel; ^H3478 Behold, I will punish ^H6485 the king ^H4428 of Babylon ^H894 and his land, ^H776 as I have punished ^H6485 the king ^H4428 of Assyria. ^H804

¹⁹ And I will bring ^H7725 Israel ^H3478 again ^H7725 to his habitation, ^H5116 and he shall feed ^H7462 on Carmel ^H3760 and Bashan, ^H1316 and his soul ^H5315 shall be satisfied ^H7646 upon mount ^H2022 Ephraim ^H669 and Gilead. ^H1568

²⁰ In those days, ^H3117 and in that time, ^H6256 saith ^H5002 the LORD, ^H3068 the iniquity ^H5771 of Israel ^H3478 shall be sought for, ^H1245 and there shall be none; and the sins ^H2403 of Judah, ^H3063 and they shall not be found: ^H4672 for I will pardon ^H5545 them whom I reserve. ^H7604

²¹ Go up ^H5927 against the land ^H776 of Merathaim, ^H4850 even against it, and against the inhabitants ^H3427 of Pekod: ^H6489 waste ^H2717 and utterly destroy ^H2763 after ^H310 them, saith ^H5002 the LORD, ^H3068 and do ^H6213 according to all that I have commanded ^H6680 thee.

²² A sound ^H6963 of battle ^H4421 is in the land, ^H776 and of great ^H1419 destruction. ^H7667

²³ How is the hammer ^H6360 of the whole earth ^H776 cut asunder ^H1438 and broken! ^H7665 how is Babylon ^H894 become a desolation ^H8047 among the nations! ^H1471

²⁴ I have laid a snare ^H3369 for thee, and thou art also taken, ^H3920 O Babylon, ^H894 and thou wast not aware: ^H3045 thou art found, ^H4672 and also caught, ^H8610 because thou hast striven ^H1624 against the LORD. ^H3068

²⁵ The LORD ^H3068 hath opened ^H6605 his armoury, ^H214 and hath brought forth ^H3318 the weapons ^H3627 of his indignation: ^H2195 for this is the work ^H4399 of the Lord ^H136 GOD ^H3069 of hosts ^H6635 in the land ^H776 of the Chaldeans. ^H3778

²⁶ Come ^H935 against her from the utmost border, ^H7093 open ^H6605 her storehouses: ^H3965 cast her up ^H5549 as heaps, ^H6194 and destroy her utterly: ^H2763 let nothing of her be left. ^H7611

²⁷ Slay ^H2717 all her bullocks; ^H6499 let them go down ^H3381 to the slaughter: ^H2874 woe ^H1945 unto them! for their day ^H3117 is come, ^H935 the time ^H6256 of their visitation. ^H6486

²⁸ The voice ^H6963 of them that flee ^H5127 and escape out ^H6405 of the land ^H776 of Babylon, ^H894 to declare ^H5046 in Zion ^H6726 the vengeance ^H5360 of the LORD ^H3068 our God, ^H430 the vengeance ^H5360 of his temple. ^H1964

²⁹ Call together ^H8085 the archers ^H7228 against Babylon: ^H894 all ye that bend ^H1869 the bow, ^H7198 camp ^H2583 against it round about; ^H5439 let none thereof escape: ^H6413 recompense ^H7999 her according to her work; ^H6467 according to all that she hath done, ^H6213 do ^H6213 unto her: for she hath been proud ^H2102 against the LORD, ^H3068 against the Holy One ^H6918 of Israel. ^H3478

³⁰ Therefore shall her young men ^H970 fall ^H5307 in the streets, ^H7339 and all her men ^H582 of war ^H4421 shall be cut off ^H1826 in that day, ^H3117 saith ^H5002 the LORD. ^H3068

³¹ Behold, I am against thee, O thou most proud, ^H2087 saith ^H5002 the Lord ^H136 GOD ^H3069 of hosts: ^H6635 for thy day ^H3117 is come, ^H935 the time ^H6256 that I will visit ^H6485 thee.

³² And the most proud ^H2087 shall stumble ^H3782 and fall, ^H5307 and none shall raise him up: ^H6965 and I will kindle ^H3341 a fire ^H784 in his cities, ^H5892 and it shall devour ^H398 all round about ^H5439 him.

³³ Thus saith ^H559 the LORD ^H3068 of hosts; ^H6635 The children ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 and the children ^H1121 of Judah ^H3063 were oppressed ^H6231 together: ^H3162 and all that took them captives ^H7617 held them fast; ^H2388 they refused ^H3985 to let them go. ^H7971

³⁴ Their Redeemer ^H1350 is strong; ^H2389 the LORD ^H3068 of hosts ^H6635 is his name: ^H8034 he shall throughly ^H7378 plead ^H7378 their cause, ^H7379 that he may give rest ^H7280 to the land, ^H776 and disquiet ^H7264 the inhabitants ^H3427 of Babylon. ^H894

³⁵ A sword ^H2719 is upon the Chaldeans, ^H3778 saith ^H5002 the LORD, ^H3068 and upon the inhabitants ^H3427 of Babylon, ^H894 and upon her princes, ^H8269 and upon her wise ^H2450 men.

³⁶ A sword ^H2719 is upon the liars; ^H907 and they shall dote: ^H2973 a sword ^H2719 is upon her mighty men; ^H1368 and they shall be dismayed. ^H2865

³⁷ A sword ^H2719 is upon their horses, ^H5483 and upon their chariots, ^H7393 and upon all the mingled people ^H6153 that are in the midst ^H8432 of her; and they shall become as women: ^H802 a sword ^H2719 is upon her treasures; ^H214 and they shall be robbed. ^H962

³⁸ A drought ^H2721 is upon her waters; ^H4325 and they shall be dried up: ^H3001 for it is the land ^H776 of graven images, ^H6456 and they are mad ^H1984 upon their idols. ^H367

³⁹ Therefore the wild beasts of the desert ^H6728 with the wild beasts of the islands ^H338 shall dwell ^H3427 there, and the owls ^{H1323 H3284} shall dwell ^H3427 therein: and it shall be no more inhabited ^H3427 for ever; ^H5331 neither shall it be dwelt ^H7931 in from generation ^H1755 to generation. ^H1755

⁴⁰ As God ^H430 overthrew ^H4114 Sodom ^H5467 and Gomorrah ^H6017 and the neighbour ^H7934 cities thereof, saith ^H5002 the LORD; ^H3068 so shall no man ^H376 abide ^H3427 there, neither shall any son ^H1121 of man ^H120 dwell ^H1481 therein.

⁴¹ Behold, a people ^H5971 shall come ^H935 from the north, ^H6828 and a great ^H1419 nation, ^H1471 and many ^H7227 kings ^H4428 shall be raised up ^H5782 from the coasts ^H3411 of the earth. ^H776

⁴² They shall hold ^H2388 the bow ^H7198 and the lance: ^H3591 they are cruel, ^H394 and will not shew mercy: ^H7355 their voice ^H6963 shall roar ^H1993 like the sea, ^H3220 and they shall ride ^H7392 upon horses, ^H5483 every one put in array, ^H6186 like a man ^H376 to the battle, ^H4421 against thee, O daughter ^H1323 of Babylon. ^H894

⁴³ The king ^H4428 of Babylon ^H894 hath heard ^H8085 the report ^H8088 of them, and his hands ^H3027 waxed feeble: ^H7503 anguish ^H6869 took hold ^H2388 of him, and pangs ^H2427 as of a woman in travail. ^H3205

⁴⁴ Behold, he shall come up ^H5927 like a lion ^H738 from the swelling ^H1347 of Jordan ^H3383 unto the habitation ^H5116 of the strong: ^H386 but I will make ^H7323 them suddenly ^H7280 run away ^{H7323 H7323} from her: and who is a chosen ^H977 man, that I may appoint ^H6485 over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? ^H3259 and who is that shepherd ^H7462 that will stand ^H5975 before ^H6440 me?

⁴⁵ Therefore hear ^H8085 ye the counsel ^H6098 of the LORD, ^H3068 that he hath taken ^H3289 against Babylon; ^H894 and his purposes, ^H4284 that he hath purposed ^H2803 against the land ^H776 of the Chaldeans: ^H3778 Surely the least ^H6810 of the flock ^H6629 shall draw them out: ^H5498 surely he shall make their habitation ^H5116 desolate ^H8074 with them.

⁴⁶ At the noise ^H6963 of the taking ^H8610 of Babylon ^H894 the earth ^H776 is moved, ^H7493 and the cry ^H2201 is heard ^H8085 among the nations. ^H1471

---

¹ The word that Jehovah spake concerning Babylon, concerning the land of the Chaldeans, by Jeremiah the prophet.

² Declare ye among the nations and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and conceal not: say, Babylon is taken, Bel is put to shame, Merodach is dismayed; her images are put to shame, her idols are dismayed.

³ For out of the north there cometh up a nation against her, which shall make her land desolate, and none shall dwell therein: they are fled, they are gone, both man and beast.

⁴ In those days, and in that time, saith Jehovah, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together; they shall go on their way weeping, and shall seek Jehovah their God.

⁵ They shall inquire concerning Zion with their faces thitherward, `saying', Come ye, and join yourselves to Jehovah in an everlasting covenant that shall 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 that found them have devoured them; and their adversaries said, We are not guilty, because they have sinned against Jehovah, the habitation of righteousness, even Jehovah, the hope of their fathers.

⁸ Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the he-goats before the flocks.

⁹ For, lo, I will stir up and cause to come up against Babylon a company of great nations from the north country; and they shall set themselves in array against her; from thence she shall be taken: their arrows shall be as of an expert mighty man; none shall return in vain.

¹⁰ And Chaldea shall be a prey: all that prey upon her shall be satisfied, saith Jehovah.

¹¹ Because ye are glad, because ye rejoice, O ye that plunder my heritage, because ye are wanton as a heifer that treadeth out `the grain', and neigh as strong horses;

¹² your mother shall be utterly put to shame; she that bare you shall be confounded: behold, she shall be the hindermost of the nations, a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert.

¹³ Because of the wrath of Jehovah she shall not be inhabited, but she shall be wholly desolate: every one that goeth by Babylon shall be astonished, and hiss at all her plagues.

¹⁴ Set yourselves in array against Babylon round about, all ye that bend the bow; shoot at her, spare no arrows: for she hath sinned against Jehovah.

¹⁵ Shout against her round about: she hath submitted herself; her bulwarks are fallen, her walls are thrown down; for it is the vengeance of Jehovah: take vengeance upon her; as she hath done, do unto her.

¹⁶ Cut off the sower from Babylon, and him that handleth the sickle in the time of harvest: for fear of the oppressing sword they shall turn every one to his people, and they shall flee every one to his 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 Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones.

¹⁸ Therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, as I have punished the king of Assyria.

¹⁹ And I will bring Israel again to his pasture, and he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan, and his soul shall be satisfied upon the hills of Ephraim and in Gilead.

²⁰ In those days, and in that time, saith Jehovah, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not 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: slay and utterly destroy after them, saith Jehovah, and do according to all that I have commanded thee.

²² A sound of battle is in the land, and of great destruction.

²³ How is the hammer of the whole earth cut asunder and broken! how is Babylon become a desolation among the nations!

²⁴ I have laid a snare for thee, and thou art also taken, O Babylon, and thou wast not aware: thou art found, and also caught, because thou hast striven against Jehovah.

²⁵ Jehovah hath opened his armory, and hath brought forth the weapons of his indignation; for the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, hath a work `to do' in the land of the Chaldeans.

²⁶ Come against her from the utmost border; open her store-houses; cast her up as heaps, and destroy her utterly; let nothing of her be left.

²⁷ Slay all her bullocks; let them go down to the slaughter: woe unto them! for their day is come, the time of their visitation.

²⁸ The voice of them that flee and escape out of the land of Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of Jehovah our God, the vengeance of his temple.

²⁹ Call together the archers against Babylon, all them that bend the bow; encamp against her round about; let none thereof escape: recompense her according to her work; according to all that she hath done, do unto her; for she hath been proud against Jehovah, against the Holy One of Israel.

³⁰ Therefore shall her young men fall in her streets, and all her men of war shall be brought to silence in that day, saith Jehovah.

³¹ Behold, I am against thee, O thou proud one, saith the Lord, Jehovah of hosts; for thy day is come, the time that I will visit thee.

³² And the proud one shall stumble and fall, and none shall raise him up; and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it shall devour all that are round about him.

³³ Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: The children of Israel and the children of Judah are oppressed together; and all that took them captive hold them fast; they refuse to let them go.

³⁴ Their Redeemer is strong; Jehovah of hosts 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 upon the Chaldeans, saith Jehovah, and upon the inhabitants of Babylon, and upon her princes, and upon her wise men.

³⁶ A sword is upon the boasters, and they shall become fools; a sword is upon her mighty men, and they shall be dismayed.

³⁷ A sword is upon their horses, and upon their chariots, and upon all the mingled people that are in the midst of her; and they shall become as women: a sword is upon her treasures, and they shall be robbed.

³⁸ A drought is upon her waters, and they shall be dried up; for it is a land of graven images, and they are mad over idols.

³⁹ Therefore the wild beasts of the desert with the wolves shall dwell there, and the ostriches shall dwell therein: and it shall be no more inhabited for ever; neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation.

⁴⁰ As when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbor cities thereof, saith Jehovah, so shall no man dwell there, neither shall any son of man sojourn therein.

⁴¹ Behold, a people cometh from the north; and a great nation and many kings shall be stirred up from the uttermost parts of the earth.

⁴² They lay hold on bow and spear; they are cruel, and have no mercy; their voice roareth like the sea; and they ride upon horses, every one set in array, as a man to the battle, against thee, O daughter of Babylon.

⁴³ The king of Babylon hath heard the tidings of them, and his hands wax feeble: anguish hath taken hold of him, `and' pangs as of a woman in travail.

⁴⁴ Behold, `the enemy' shall come up like a lion from the pride of the Jordan against the strong habitation: for I will suddenly make them run away from it; and whoso is chosen, him will I appoint over it: for who is like me? and who will appoint me a time? and who is the shepherd that can stand before me?

⁴⁵ Therefore hear ye the counsel of Jehovah, that he hath taken against Babylon; and his purposes, that he hath purposed against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely they shall drag them away, `even' the little ones of the flock; surely he shall make their habitation desolate over them.

⁴⁶ At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth trembleth, and the cry is heard among the nations.

---

¹ The word that Jehovah hath spoken concerning Babylon, concerning the land of the Chaldeans, by the hand of Jeremiah the prophet:

² `Declare ye among nations, and sound, And lift up an ensign, sound, do not hide, Say ye: Captured hath been Babylon, Put to shame hath been Bel, Broken hath been Merodach, Put to shame have been her grievous things, Broken have been her idols.

³ For come up against her hath a nation from the north, It maketh her land become a desolation, And there is not an inhabitant in it. From man even unto beast, They have moved, they have gone.

⁴ In those days, and at that time, An affirmation of Jehovah, Come in do sons of Israel, They and sons of Judah together, Going on and weeping they go, And Jehovah their God they seek.

⁵ `To' Zion they ask the way, Thitherward `are' their faces: Come in, and we are joined unto Jehovah, A covenant age-during -- not forgotten.

⁶ A perishing flock hath My people been, Their shepherds have caused them to err, `To' the mountains causing them to go back, From mountain unto hill they have gone, They have forgotten their crouching-place.

⁷ All finding them have devoured them, And their adversaries have said: We are not guilty, Because that they sinned against Jehovah, The habitation of righteousness, And the hope of their fathers -- Jehovah.

⁸ Move ye from the midst of Babylon, And from the land of the Chaldeans go out. And be as he-goats before a flock.

⁹ For, lo, I am stirring up, And am causing to come up against Babylon, An assembly of great nations from a land of the north, And they have set in array against her, From thence she is captured, Its arrow -- as a skilful hero -- returneth not empty,

¹⁰ And Chaldea hath been for a spoil, All her spoilers are satisfied, An affirmation of Jehovah.

¹¹ Because thou rejoicest, because thou exultest, O spoilers of Mine inheritance, Because thou increasest as a heifer `at' the tender grass, And dost cry aloud as bulls,

¹² Ashamed hath been your mother greatly, Confounded hath she been that bare you, Lo, the hindermost of nations `is' a wilderness, A dry land, and a desert.

¹³ Because of the wrath of Jehovah it is not inhabited, And it hath been a desolation -- all of it. Every passer by at Babylon is astonished, And doth hiss because of all her plagues.

¹⁴ Set yourselves in array against Babylon round about, All ye treading a bow, Shoot at her, have no pity on the arrow, For against Jehovah she hath sinned.

¹⁵ Shout against her round about, She hath given forth her hand, Fallen have her foundations, Thrown down have been her walls, For it `is' the vengeance of Jehovah, Be avenged of her, as she did -- do ye to her.

¹⁶ Cut off the sower from Babylon, And him handling the sickle in the time of harvest, Because of the oppressing sword, Each unto his people -- they turn, And each to his land -- they flee.

¹⁷ A scattered sheep is Israel, lions have driven away, At first, devour him did the king of Asshur, And now, at last, broken his bone Hath Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon.

¹⁸ Therefore thus said Jehovah of Hosts, God of Israel: Lo, I am seeing after the king of Babylon, And after his land, As I have seen after the king of Asshur;

¹⁹ And I have brought back Israel unto his habitation, And he hath fed on Carmel, and on Bashan. And in mount Ephraim, and on Gilead is his soul satisfied.

²⁰ In those days, and at that time, An affirmation of Jehovah, Sought is the iniquity of Israel, and it is not, And the sin of Judah, and it is not found, For I am propitious to those whom I leave!

²¹ Against the land of Merathaim: Go up against it, and unto the inhabitants of Pekod, Waste and devote their posterity, An affirmation of Jehovah, And do according to all that I have commanded thee.

²² A noise of battle `is' in the land, and of great destruction.

²³ How hath it been cut and broken, The hammer of the whole earth! How hath Babylon been for a desolation among nations!

²⁴ I have laid a snare for thee, And also -- thou art captured, O Babylon, And thou -- thou hast known, Thou hast been found, and also art caught, For against Jehovah thou hast stirred thyself up.

²⁵ Jehovah hath opened His treasury, And He bringeth out the weapons of His indignation, For a work `is' to the Lord Jehovah of Hosts, In the land of the Chaldeans.

²⁶ Come ye in to her from the extremity, Open ye her storehouses, Raise her up as heaps, and devote her, Let her have no remnant.

²⁷ Slay all her kine, they go down to slaughter, Wo `is' on them, for come hath their day, The time of their inspection.

²⁸ A voice of fugitives and escaped ones `Is' from the land of Babylon, To declare in Zion the vengeance of Jehovah our God, The vengeance of His temple.

²⁹ Summon unto Babylon archers, all treading the bow, Encamp against her round about, Let `her' have no escape; Recompense to her according to her work, According to all that she did -- do to her, For unto Jehovah she hath been proud, Unto the Holy One of Israel.

³⁰ Therefore fall do her young men in her broad places, And all her men of war are cut off in that day, An affirmation of Jehovah.

³¹ Lo, I `am' against thee, O pride, An affirmation of the Lord Jehovah of Hosts, For thy day hath come, the time of thy inspection.

³² And stumbled hath pride, And he hath fallen, and hath no raiser up, And I have kindled a fire in his cities, And it hath devoured all round about him.

³³ Thus said Jehovah of Hosts: Oppressed are the sons of Israel, And the sons of Judah together, And all their captors have kept hold on them, They have refused to send them away.

³⁴ Their Redeemer `is' strong, Jehovah of Hosts `is' His name, He doth thoroughly plead their cause, So as to cause the land to rest, And He hath given trouble to the inhabitants of Babylon.

³⁵ A sword `is' for the Chaldeans, An affirmation of Jehovah, And it `is' on the inhabitants of Babylon, And on her heads, and on her wise men;

³⁶ A sword `is' on the princes, And they have become foolish; A sword `is' on her mighty ones, And they have been broken down;

³⁷ A sword `is' on his horses and on his chariot, And on all the rabble who `are' in her midst, And they have become women; A sword `is' on her treasuries, And they have been spoiled;

³⁸ A sword `is' on her waters, and they have been dried up, For it `is' a land of graven images, And in idols they do boast themselves.

³⁹ Therefore dwell do Ziim with Iim, Yea, dwelt in her have daughters of the ostrich, And it is not inhabited any more for ever, Nor dwelt in unto all generations.

⁴⁰ As overthrown by God with Sodom, And with Gomorrah, and with its neighbours, An affirmation of Jehovah, none doth dwell there, Nor sojourn in her doth a son of man.

⁴¹ Lo, a people hath come from the north, Even a great nation, And many kings are stirred up from the sides of the earth.

⁴² Bow and halbert they seize, Cruel `are' they, and they have no mercy, Their voice as a sea soundeth, and on horses they ride, Set in array as a man for battle, Against thee, O daughter of Babylon.

⁴³ Heard hath the king of Babylon their report, And feeble have been his hands, Distress hath seized him; pain as a travailing woman.

⁴⁴ Lo, as a lion he cometh up, Because of the rising of the Jordan, Unto the enduring habitation, But I cause to rest, I cause them to run from off her. And who is chosen? on her I lay a charge, For who `is' like Me? And who doth convene Me? And who `is' this shepherd who standeth before Me?

⁴⁵ Therefore, hear ye the counsel of Jehovah, That He counselled concerning Babylon, And His devices that He hath devised Concerning the land of the Chaldeans; Drag them out do not little ones of the flock, Doth He not make desolate over them the habitation?

⁴⁶ From the voice: Captured was Babylon, Hath the earth been shaken, And a cry among nations hath been heard!

---

¹ The word that Jehovah spoke concerning Babylon, concerning the land of the Chaldeans, through Jeremiah the prophet.

² Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and lift up a banner; publish, conceal not! Say, Babylon is taken, Bel is put to shame, Merodach is dismayed: her images are put to shame, her idols are dismayed.

³ For out of the north there cometh up a nation against her, which shall make her land desolate, and none shall dwell therein: both man and beast are fled; they are gone.

⁴ In those days, and at that time, saith Jehovah, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping as they go, and shall seek Jehovah their God.

⁵ They shall inquire concerning Zion, with their faces thitherward, [saying,] Come, and let us join ourselves to Jehovah, in an everlasting covenant that shall not be forgotten.

⁶ My people are lost sheep; their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they turned them away on the mountains: they went from mountain to hill, they forgot their resting-place.

⁷ All that found them devoured them, and their adversaries said, We are not guilty, because they have sinned against Jehovah, the habitation of righteousness, even Jehovah, the hope of their fathers.

⁸ Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the he-goats before the flock.

⁹ For behold, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon, an assemblage of great nations from the north country; and they shall set themselves in array against her: from thence shall she be taken. Their arrows shall be as those of a mighty expert man: none shall return empty.

¹⁰ And Chaldea shall be a spoil: all the spoilers thereof shall be satiated, saith Jehovah.

¹¹ For ye rejoiced, for ye triumphed, ye plunderers of my heritage; for ye have been wanton as the heifer at grass, and neighed as steeds.

¹² Your mother hath been sorely put to shame; she that bore you hath been covered with reproach: behold, [she is become] hindmost of the nations, a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert.

¹³ Because of the wrath of Jehovah, it shall not be inhabited, but it shall be wholly desolate; every one that goeth by Babylon shall be astonished, and shall hiss, because of all her plagues.

¹⁴ Put yourselves in array against Babylon round about, all ye that bend the bow; shoot at her, spare no arrows: for she hath sinned against Jehovah.

¹⁵ Shout against her round about: she hath given her hand; her ramparts are fallen, her walls are thrown down: for this is the vengeance of Jehovah. Take vengeance upon her; as she hath done, do unto her.

¹⁶ Cut off the sower from Babylon, and him that handleth the sickle in the time of harvest. For fear of the oppressing sword let them turn every one to his people, and let them flee every one to his own land.

¹⁷ Israel is a hunted sheep; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria devoured him, and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones.

¹⁸ Therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will visit the king of Babylon and his land, like as I have visited the king of Assyria.

¹⁹ And I will bring Israel again to his pasture, and he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan, and his soul shall be satisfied upon mount Ephraim and in Gilead.

²⁰ In those days, and at that time, saith Jehovah, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon those whom I leave remaining.

²¹ Go up against the land of double rebellion, against it, and against the inhabitants of visitation; waste and utterly destroy after them, saith Jehovah, and do according to all that I have commanded thee.

²² A sound of battle is in the land, and great destruction.

²³ How is the hammer of the whole earth cut asunder and broken! How is Babylon become an astonishment among the nations!

²⁴ I have laid a snare for thee, and thou, Babylon, art also taken, and thou wast not aware; thou art found, and also caught, for thou hast contended with Jehovah.

²⁵ Jehovah hath opened his armoury, and hath brought forth the weapons of his indignation; for this is a work for the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, in the land of the Chaldeans.

²⁶ Come ye against her from every quarter, open her storehouses; pile her up like sheaves, and destroy her utterly: let nothing of her be left.

²⁷ Slay all her bullocks; let them go down to the slaughter: woe unto them! for their day is come, the time of their visitation.

²⁸ The voice of them that flee and escape out of the land of Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of Jehovah our God, the vengeance of his temple.

²⁹ Call together the archers against Babylon, all those that bend the bow: encamp against her round about; let there be no escaping: recompense her according to her work; according to all that she hath done, do unto her: for she hath acted proudly against Jehovah, against the Holy One of Israel.

³⁰ Therefore shall her young men fall in her streets; and all her men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith Jehovah.

³¹ Behold, I am against thee, proud one, saith the Lord Jehovah of hosts; for thy day is come, the time that I visit thee:

³² and the proud one shall stumble and fall, and none shall raise him up; yea, I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it shall devour all that are round about him.

³³ Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: The children of Israel and the children of Judah were together oppressed; and all that took them captives held them fast: they refused to let them go.

³⁴ Their Redeemer is strong; Jehovah of hosts is his name: he will thoroughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.

³⁵ The sword is upon the Chaldeans, saith Jehovah, and upon the inhabitants of Babylon, and upon her princes, and upon her wise men;

³⁶ the sword is upon the liars, and they shall become fools; the sword is upon her mighty men, and they shall be dismayed;

³⁷ the sword is upon their horses, and upon their chariots, and upon all the mingled people that are in the midst of her, and they shall become as women; the sword is upon her treasures, and they shall be robbed:

³⁸ a drought is upon her waters, and they shall be dried up; for it is a land of graven images, and they are mad after frightful idols.

³⁹ Therefore wild beasts of the desert with jackals shall dwell there, and ostriches shall dwell therein; and it shall be no more inhabited for ever, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation.

⁴⁰ As when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and their neighbour cities, saith Jehovah, no one shall dwell there, neither shall a son of man sojourn therein.

⁴¹ Behold, a people cometh from the north, and a great nation. And many kings shall arise from the uttermost parts of the earth.

⁴² They lay hold of bow and spear; they are cruel, and will not shew mercy; their voice roareth like the sea, and they ride upon horses -- set in array like a man for the battle, against thee, O daughter of Babylon.

⁴³ The king of Babylon hath heard the report of them, and his hands wax feeble; trouble hath taken hold of him, pangs as of a woman in travail.

⁴⁴ Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of the Jordan against the strong habitation; for I will make him suddenly run away from it; and who is a chosen [man] whom I may appoint over her? For who is like me? and who will assign me a time? and who is that shepherd that will stand before me?

⁴⁵ Therefore hear the counsel of Jehovah, which he hath taken against Babylon, and his purposes which he hath purposed against the land of the Chaldeans: The little ones of the flock shall certainly draw them away; he shall certainly make their habitation desolate for them.

⁴⁶ At the sound of the taking of Babylon the earth hath quaked, and the cry is heard among the nations.

---

¹ The word that Yahweh spoke concerning Babylon, concerning the land of the Chaldeans, by Jeremiah the prophet.

² Declare you among the nations and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and don't conceal: say, Babylon is taken, Bel is disappointed, Merodach is dismayed; her images are disappointed, her idols are dismayed.

³ For out of the north there comes up a nation against her, which shall make her land desolate, and none shall dwell therein: they are fled, they are gone, both man and animal.

⁴ In those days, and in that time, says Yahweh, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together; they shall go on their way weeping, and shall seek Yahweh their God.

⁵ They shall inquire concerning Zion with their faces turned toward it, [saying], Come you, and join yourselves to Yahweh in an everlasting covenant that shall 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; and their adversaries said, We are not guilty, because they have sinned against Yahweh, the habitation of righteousness, even Yahweh, the hope of their fathers.

⁸ Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth 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 shall set themselves in array against her; from there she shall be taken: their arrows shall be as of an expert mighty man; none shall return in vain.

¹⁰ Chaldea shall be a prey: all who prey on her shall be satisfied, says Yahweh.

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 shall be utterly disappointed; she who bore you shall be confounded: behold, she shall be the least of the nations, a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert.

¹³ Because of the wrath of Yahweh she shall not be inhabited, but she shall be wholly desolate: everyone who goes by Babylon shall be astonished, and hiss at all her plagues.

¹⁴ Set yourselves in array against Babylon round about, all you who bend the bow; shoot at her, spare no arrows: for she has sinned against Yahweh.

¹⁵ Shout against her round about: she has submitted herself; her bulwarks are fallen, her walls are thrown down; for it is the vengeance of Yahweh: 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 shall turn everyone to his people, and they shall flee everyone to his 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 Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon has broken his bones.

¹⁸ Therefore thus says Yahweh of Hosts, the God of Israel: 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 shall feed on Carmel and Bashan, and his soul shall be satisfied on the hills of Ephraim and in Gilead.

²⁰ In those days, and in that time, says Yahweh, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not 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 Yahweh, 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 is the hammer of the whole earth cut apart and broken! how is Babylon 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 striven against Yahweh.

²⁵ Yahweh has opened his armory, and has brought forth the weapons of his indignation; for the Lord, Yahweh of Hosts, has a work [to do] in the land of the Chaldeans.

²⁶ Come against her from the utmost border; open her store-houses; cast her up as heaps, and 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 is come, the time of their visitation.

²⁸ The voice of those who flee and escape out of the land of Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of Yahweh our God, the vengeance of his temple.

²⁹ Call together the archers against Babylon, all those who bend the bow; encamp against her round about; let none of it escape: recompense her according to her work; according to all that she has done, do to her; for she has been proud against Yahweh, against the Holy One of Israel.

³⁰ Therefore shall her young men fall in her streets, and all her men of war shall be brought to silence in that day, says Yahweh.

³¹ Behold, I am against you, you proud one, says the Lord, Yahweh of Hosts; for your day is come, the time that I will visit you.

³² The proud one shall stumble and fall, and none shall raise him up; and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it shall devour all who are round about him.

³³ Thus says Yahweh of hosts: The children of Israel and the children of Judah are oppressed together; and all who took them captive hold them fast; they refuse to let them go.

³⁴ Their Redeemer is strong; Yahweh of Hosts 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 Yahweh, and on the inhabitants of Babylon, and on her princes, and on her wise men.

³⁶ A sword is on the boasters, and they shall become fools; a sword is on her mighty men, and they shall be dismayed.

³⁷ A sword is on their horses, and on their chariots, and on all the mixed people who are in the midst of her; and they shall become as women: a sword is on her treasures, and they shall be robbed.

³⁸ A drought is on her waters, and they shall 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 shall dwell there, and the ostriches shall dwell therein: and it shall be no more inhabited forever; neither shall it be lived in from generation to generation.

⁴⁰ As when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbor cities of it, says Yahweh, so shall no man dwell there, neither shall any son of man sojourn therein.

⁴¹ Behold, a people comes from the north; and a great nation and many kings shall be stirred up from the uttermost parts of the earth.

⁴² They lay hold on bow and spear; they are cruel, and have no mercy; their voice roars like the sea; and 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 wax feeble: anguish has taken hold of him, [and] pangs as of a woman in travail.

⁴⁴ Behold, [the enemy] shall come up like a lion from the pride of the Jordan against the strong habitation: for I will suddenly make them run away from it; and whoever is chosen, him will I appoint over it: for who is like me? and who will appoint me a time? and who is the shepherd who can stand before me?

⁴⁵ Therefore hear the counsel of Yahweh, that he has taken against Babylon; and his purposes, that he has purposed against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely they shall drag them away, [even] the little ones of the flock; surely he shall make their habitation desolate over them.

⁴⁶ At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth trembles, and the cry is heard among the nations.

---

¹ The word which the Lord said about Babylon, about the land of the Chaldaeans, by Jeremiah the prophet.

² Give it out among the nations, make it public, and let the flag be lifted up; give the word and keep nothing back; say, Babylon is taken, Bel is put to shame, Merodach is broken, her images are put to shame, her gods are broken.

³ For out of the north a nation is coming up against her, which will make her land waste and unpeopled: they are in flight, man and beast are gone.

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 making prayer to the Lord their God.

⁵ They will be questioning about the way to Zion, with their faces turned in its direction, saying, Come, and be united to the Lord in an eternal agreement which will be kept in mind for ever.

⁶ My people have been wandering sheep: their keepers have made them go out of the right way, turning them loose on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, having no memory of their resting-place.

⁷ They have been attacked by all those who came across them: and their attackers said, We are doing no wrong, because they have done evil against the Lord in whom is righteousness, against the Lord, the hope of their fathers.

⁸ Go in flight out of Babylon, go out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and be like he-goats before the flocks.

⁹ For see, I am moving and sending up against Babylon a band of great nations from the north country: and they will put their armies in position against her; and from there she will be taken: their arrows will be like those of an expert man of war; not one will come back without getting its mark.

¹⁰ And the wealth of Chaldaea will come into the hands of her attackers: all those who take her wealth will have enough, says the Lord.

¹¹ Because you are glad, because you are lifted up with pride, you wasters of my heritage, because you are playing like a young cow put out to grass, and you make a noise like strong horses;

¹² Your mother will be put to shame; she who gave you birth will be looked down on: see, she will be the last of the nations, a waste place, a dry and unwatered land.

¹³ Because of the wrath of the Lord no one will be living in it, and it will be quite unpeopled: everyone who goes by Babylon will be overcome with wonder, and make sounds of fear at all her punishments.

¹⁴ Put your armies in position against Babylon on every side, all you bowmen; let loose your arrows at her, not keeping any back: for she has done evil against the Lord.

¹⁵ Give a loud cry against her on every side; she has given herself up, her supports are overturned, her walls are broken down: for it is the payment taken by the Lord; give her payment; as she has done, so do to her.

¹⁶ Let the planter of seed be cut off from Babylon, and everyone using the curved blade at the time of the grain-cutting: for fear of the cruel sword, everyone will be turned to his people, everyone will go in flight to his land.

¹⁷ Israel is a wandering sheep; the lions have been driving him away: first he was attacked by the king of Assyria, and now his bones have been broken by Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon.

¹⁸ So this is what the Lord of armies, the God of Israel, has said: See, I will send punishment on the king of Babylon and on his land, as I have given punishment to the king of Assyria.

¹⁹ And I will make Israel come back to his resting-place, and he will get his food on Carmel and Bashan, and have his desire in full measure on the hills of Ephraim and in Gilead.

²⁰ In those days and in that time, says the Lord, when the evil-doing of Israel is looked for, there will be nothing; and in Judah no sins will be seen: for I will have forgiveness for those whom I will keep safe.

²¹ Go up against the land of Merathaim, even against it, and against the people of Pekod; put them to death and send destruction after them, says the Lord, and do everything I have given you orders to do.

²² There is a sound of war in the land and of great destruction.

²³ How is the hammer of all the earth cut in two and broken! how has Babylon become a waste among the nations!

²⁴ I have put a net for you, and you have been taken, O Babylon, without your knowledge: you have been uncovered and taken because you were fighting against the Lord.

²⁵ From his store-house the Lord has taken the instruments of his wrath: for the Lord, the Lord of armies, has a work to do in the land of the Chaldaeans.

²⁶ Come up against her one and all, let her store-houses be broken open: make her into a mass of stones, give her to the curse, till there is nothing of her to be seen.

²⁷ Put all her oxen to the sword; let them go down to death: sorrow is theirs, for their day has come, the time of their punishment.

²⁸ The voice of those who are in flight, who have got away safe from the land of Babylon, to give news in Zion of punishment from the Lord our God, even payment for his Temple.

²⁹ Send for the archers to come together against Babylon, all the bowmen; put up your tents against her on every side; let no one get away: give her the reward of her work; as she has done, so do to her: for she has been uplifted in pride against the Lord, against the Holy One of Israel.

³⁰ For this cause her young men will be falling in her streets, and all her men of war will be cut off in that day, says the Lord.

³¹ See, I am against you, O pride, says the Lord, the Lord of armies, for your day has come, the time when I will send punishment on you.

³² And pride will go with uncertain steps and have a fall, and there will be no one to come to his help: and I will put a fire in his towns, burning up everything round about him.

³³ This is what the Lord of armies has said: The children of Israel and the children of Judah are crushed down together: all those who took them prisoner keep them in a tight grip; they will not let them go.

³⁴ Their saviour is strong; the Lord of armies is his name: he will certainly take up their cause, so that he may give rest to the earth and trouble to the people of Babylon.

³⁵ A sword is on the Chaldaeans, says the Lord, and on the people of Babylon, and on her rulers and on her wise men.

³⁶ A sword is on the men of pride, and they will become foolish: a sword is on her men of war, and they will be broken.

³⁷ A sword is on all the mixed people in her, and they will become like women: a sword is on her store-houses, and they will be taken by her attackers.

³⁸ A sword is on her waters, drying them up; for it is a land of images, and their minds are fixed on false gods.

³⁹ For this reason the beasts of the waste land with the wolves will make their holes there and the ostriches will be living in it: never again will men be living there, it will be unpeopled from generation to generation.

⁴⁰ As when Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighbouring towns were overturned by God, says the Lord, so no man will be living in it, and no son of man will have a resting-place there.

⁴¹ See, a people is coming from the north; a great nation and a number of kings will be put in motion from the inmost parts of the earth.

⁴² Bows and spears are in their hands; they are cruel and have no mercy; their voice is like the thunder of the sea, and they go on horses; everyone in his place like men going to the fight, against you, O daughter of Babylon.

⁴³ The king of Babylon has had news of them, and his hands have become feeble: trouble has come on him and pain like the pain of a woman in childbirth.

⁴⁴ See, he will come up like a lion from the thick growth of Jordan against the resting-place of Teman: but I will suddenly make them go in flight from her; and I will put over her the man of my selection: for who is like me? and who will put forward his cause against me? and what keeper of sheep will keep his place before me?

⁴⁵ So give ear to the decision of the Lord which he has made against Babylon, and to his purposes designed against the land of the Chaldaeans; Truly, they will be pulled away by the smallest of the flock; truly, he will make waste their fields with them.

⁴⁶ At the cry, Babylon is taken! the earth is shaking, and the cry comes to the ears of the nations.