51 This is what the LORD says: and the people of Babylonia. 2 Foreigners will come and winnow her, to rise against her in her day of trouble. 3 Don’t let the archers put on their armor Let her army be completely destroyed. 4 They will fall dead in the land of the Babylonians, slashed to death in her streets. 5 For the LORD of Heaven’s Armies against the Holy One of Israel.” 6 Flee from Babylon! Save yourselves! he will repay her in full. 7 Babylon has been a gold cup in the LORD’s hands, and it drove them all mad. 8 But suddenly Babylon, too, has fallen. Perhaps she can yet be healed. 9 We would have helped her if we could, it is so great it cannot be measured. 10 The LORD has vindicated us. everything the LORD our God has done. 11 Sharpen the arrows! who desecrated his Temple. 12 Raise the battle flag against Babylon! for the LORD will fulfill all his plans against Babylon. 13 You are a city by a great river, The thread of your life is cut. 14 The LORD of Heaven’s Armies has taken this vow and they will shout in triumph over you.” 15 The LORD made the earth by his power, he stretched out the heavens. 16 When he speaks in the thunder, and releases the wind from his storehouses. 17 The whole human race is foolish and has no knowledge! These idols have no breath or power. 18 Idols are worthless; they are ridiculous lies! On the day of reckoning they will all be destroyed. 19 But the God of Israel is no idol! The LORD of Heaven’s Armies is his name! 20 “You are my battle-ax and sword,” and destroy many kingdoms. 21 With you I will shatter armies— the chariot and charioteer. 22 With you I will shatter men and women, young men and young women. 23 With you I will shatter shepherds and flocks, captains and officers. 24 “I will repay Babylon to my people in Jerusalem,” says the LORD. 25 “Look, O mighty mountain, destroyer of the earth! you will be nothing but a heap of burnt rubble. 26 You will be desolate forever. says the LORD. 27 Raise a signal flag to the nations. and bring a multitude of horses like swarming locusts! 28 Bring against her the armies of the nations— and all their captains and officers. 29 The earth trembles and writhes in pain, Babylon will be left desolate without a single inhabitant. 30 Her mightiest warriors no longer fight. and broken down the city gates. 31 The news is passed from one runner to the next that his city has been captured. 32 All the escape routes are blocked. and the army is in a panic. 33 This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, her harvest will begin.” 34 “King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon has eaten and crushed us He has thrown us out of our own country. 35 Make Babylon suffer as she made us suffer,” says Jerusalem. 36 This is what the LORD says to Jerusalem: as well as her springs, 37 and Babylon will become a heap of ruins, a place where no one lives. 38 Her people will roar together like strong lions. They will growl like lion cubs. 39 And while they lie inflamed with all their wine, says the LORD. 40 “I will bring them down like rams and goats to be sacrificed. 41 “How Babylon is fallen— among the nations. 42 The sea has risen over Babylon; she is covered by its crashing waves. 43 Her cities now lie in ruins; where no one lives or even passes by. 44 And I will punish Bel, the god of Babylon, The wall of Babylon has fallen! 45 “Come out, my people, flee from Babylon. Save yourselves! Run from the LORD’s fierce anger. 46 But do not panic; don’t be afraid as the leaders fight against each other. 47 For the time is surely coming and her dead will lie in the streets. 48 Then the heavens and earth will rejoice, against Babylon,” says the LORD. 49 “Just as Babylon killed the people of Israel so must her people be killed. 50 Get out, all you who have escaped the sword! and think about your home in Jerusalem.” 51 “We are ashamed,” the people say. has been defiled by foreigners.” 52 “Yes,” says the LORD, “but the time is coming will be heard throughout the land. 53 Though Babylon reaches as high as the heavens I, the LORD, have spoken! 54 “Listen! Hear the cry of Babylon, the sound of great destruction from the land of the Babylonians. 55 For the LORD is destroying Babylon. the noise of battle rings through the city. 56 Destroying armies come against Babylon. he always repays in full. 57 I will make her officials and wise men drunk, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. 58 This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: for their work will be destroyed by fire!”

Jeremiah’s Message Sent to Babylon

59 The prophet Jeremiah gave this message to Seraiah son of Neriah and grandson of Mahseiah, a staff officer, when Seraiah went to Babylon with King Zedekiah of Judah. This was during the fourth year of Zedekiah’s reign. 60 Jeremiah had recorded on a scroll all the terrible disasters that would soon come upon Babylon—all the words written here. 61 He said to Seraiah, “When you get to Babylon, read aloud everything on this scroll. 62 Then say, ‘LORD, you have said that you will destroy Babylon so that neither people nor animals will remain here. She will lie empty and abandoned forever.’ 63 When you have finished reading the scroll, tie it to a stone and throw it into the Euphrates River. 64 Then say, ‘In this same way Babylon and her people will sink, never again to rise, because of the disasters I will bring upon her.’” This is the end of Jeremiah’s messages.