A Message about Babylon

50 The LORD gave Jeremiah the prophet this message concerning Babylon and the land of the Babylonians. 2 This is what the LORD says: Her gods Bel and Marduk will be utterly disgraced. 3 For a nation will attack her from the north both people and animals will flee. 4 “In those coming days,” and seeking the LORD their God. 5 They will ask the way to Jerusalem with an eternal covenant that will never be forgotten. 6 “My people have been lost sheep. and can’t remember how to get back to the sheepfold. 7 All who found them devoured them. and the hope of their ancestors.’ 8 “But now, flee from Babylon! lead my people home again. 9 For I am raising up an army they will not miss! 10 Babylonia will be looted I, the LORD, have spoken! 11 “You rejoice and are glad, and neigh like a stallion. 12 But your homeland will be overwhelmed a wilderness, a dry and desolate land. 13 Because of the LORD’s anger, and will gasp at the destruction they see there. 14 “Yes, prepare to attack Babylon, For she has sinned against the LORD. 15 Shout war cries against her from every side. Do to her as she has done to others! 16 Take from Babylon all those who plant crops; everyone will run away and rush back to their own lands. 17 “The Israelites are like sheep Then King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon cracked their bones.” 18 Therefore, this is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, just as I punished the king of Assyria. 19 And I will bring Israel home again to its own land, in the hill country of Ephraim and Gilead. 20 In those days,” says the LORD, for I will forgive the remnant I preserve. 21 “Go up, my warriors, against the land of Merathaim as I have commanded you,” says the LORD. 22 “Let the battle cry be heard in the land, a shout of great destruction. 23 Babylon, the mightiest hammer in all the earth, Babylon is desolate among the nations! 24 Listen, Babylon, for I have set a trap for you. You are caught, for you have fought against the LORD. 25 The LORD has opened his armory will be the work of the Sovereign LORD of Heaven’s Armies. 26 Yes, come against her from distant lands. Destroy her completely, and leave nothing! 27 Destroy even her young bulls— For Babylon’s day of reckoning has come. 28 Listen to the people who have escaped from Babylon, against those who destroyed his Temple. 29 “Send out a call for archers to come to Babylon. for she has defied the LORD, the Holy One of Israel. 30 Her young men will fall in the streets and die. says the LORD. 31 “See, I am your enemy, you arrogant people,” the day when I will punish you. 32 O land of arrogance, you will stumble and fall, that will burn up everything around them.” 33 This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: Their captors hold them and refuse to let them go. 34 But the one who redeems them is strong. there will be no rest! 35 “The sword of destruction will strike the Babylonians,” her officials and wise men, too. 36 The sword will strike her wise counselors, and panic will seize them. 37 The sword will strike her horses and chariots and they all will be plundered. 38 A drought will strike her water supply, and the people are madly in love with them. 39 “Soon Babylon will be inhabited by desert animals and hyenas. it will lie desolate forever. 40 I will destroy it as I destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah no one will inhabit it. 41 “Look! A great army is coming from the north. are rising against you from far-off lands. 42 They are armed with bows and spears. planning to destroy you, Babylon. 43 The king of Babylon has heard reports about the enemy, like those of a woman in labor. 44 “I will come like a lion from the thickets of the Jordan, What ruler can oppose my will?” 45 Listen to the LORD’s plans against Babylon and their homes will be destroyed. 46 The earth will shake with the shout, “Babylon has been taken!” and its cry of despair will be heard around the world.