Jeremiah 50:33-46

Complete Jewish Bible

³³ Thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot:

“The people of Isra’el are oppressed,
and so are the people of Y’hudah.
Those who took them captive hold them fast;
they refuse to let them go.
³⁴ But their redeemer is strong;
Adonai-Tzva’ot is his name.
He will thoroughly plead their cause,
so that he can give rest to the land
but unrest to those who live in Bavel.
³⁵ Adonai says,

“A sword hangs over the Kasdim,
and over those who live in Bavel,
over her leaders and over her sages.
³⁶ A sword hangs over the lying diviners;
they will become fools.
A sword hangs over her warriors;
they will be disgraced.
³⁷ A sword hangs over their horses,
also over their chariots,
also over the foreigners within her;
they will become like women.
A sword hangs over her treasures;
they will be robbed.
³⁸ A drought hangs over her waters;
they will be dried up.
For this is a land of idols;
they go mad over these horrors of theirs.

³⁹ “Therefore wildcats and jackals will live there,
and ostriches will settle there.
It will never again be peopled,
it will be uninhabited age after age;
⁴⁰ as when God overthrew S’dom,
‘Amora and their neighboring towns,” says Adonai.
“No one will settle there any more,
no human being will live there again.

⁴¹ “Look! A people is coming from the north;
a great nation and many kings
are being stirred up from the ends of the earth.
⁴² They are armed with bow and spear;
they are cruel, without compassion;
their sound is like the roaring sea,
as they ride forth on horses.
Their men take their battle positions
against you, daughter of Bavel.
⁴³ The king of Bavel has heard news of them;
his hands droop, helpless.
Anguish seizes hold of him
and pain, like a woman in labor.

⁴⁴ “It will be like a lion coming up from the thickets
of the Yarden against a strong settlement;
in an instant I will chase him away
and appoint over it whomever I choose.
For who is like me? Who can call me to account?
What shepherd can stand up to me?”

⁴⁵ So hear the plan of Adonai
that he has devised against Bavel,
and his goals that he will accomplish
against the land of the Kasdim:
the least of the flock will drag them away;
their own pasture will be in shock at them.
⁴⁶ At the sound of Bavel’s capture the earth quakes;
their cry is heard throughout the nations.