耶利米书 50
Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Simplified)
预言巴比伦必受惩罚
50 耶和华借先知耶利米论巴比伦和迦勒底人之地所说的话。
2 “你们要在万国中传扬报告，竖立大旗，要报告，不可隐瞒，说：‘巴比伦被攻取，彼勒蒙羞，米罗达惊惶。巴比伦的神像都蒙羞，她的偶像都惊惶。’ 3 因有一国从北方上来攻击她，使她的地荒凉，无人居住，连人带牲畜都逃走了。”
以色列人必旋返寻求主
4 耶和华说：“当那日子，那时候，以色列人要和犹大人同来，随走随哭，寻求耶和华他们的神。 5 他们必访问锡安，又面向这里说：‘来吧，你们要与耶和华联合，为永远不忘的约。’
申言巴比伦遭报
6 “我的百姓做了迷失的羊，牧人使他们走差路，使他们转到山上。他们从大山走到小山，竟忘了安歇之处。 7 凡遇见他们的就把他们吞灭，敌人说：‘我们没有罪，因他们得罪那做公义居所的耶和华，就是他们列祖所仰望的耶和华。’ 8 我民哪，你们要从巴比伦中逃走，从迦勒底人之地出去，要像羊群前面走的公山羊。 9 因我必激动联合的大国从北方上来攻击巴比伦，他们要摆阵攻击她，她必从那里被攻取。他们的箭好像善射之勇士的箭，一枝也不徒然返回。 10 迦勒底必成为掠物，凡掳掠她的都必心满意足。”这是耶和华说的。
11 “抢夺我产业的啊，你们因欢喜快乐，且像踹谷撒欢的母牛犊，又像发嘶声的壮马， 12 你们的母巴比伦就极其抱愧，生你们的必然蒙羞。她要列在诸国之末，成为旷野、旱地、沙漠。 13 因耶和华的愤怒，必无人居住，要全然荒凉。凡经过巴比伦的要受惊骇，又因她所遭的灾殃嗤笑。 14 所有拉弓的，你们要在巴比伦的四围摆阵，射箭攻击她，不要爱惜箭枝，因她得罪了耶和华。 15 你们要在她四围呐喊，她已经投降，外郭坍塌了，城墙拆毁了，因为这是耶和华报仇的事。你们要向巴比伦报仇，她怎样待人，也要怎样待她。 16 你们要将巴比伦撒种的，和收割时拿镰刀的都剪除了。他们各人因怕欺压的刀剑，必归回本族，逃到本土。
以色列如羊归牧
17 “以色列是打散的羊，是被狮子赶出的，首先是亚述王将他吞灭，末后是巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒将他的骨头折断。” 18 所以万军之耶和华以色列的神如此说：“我必罚巴比伦王和他的地，像我从前罚亚述王一样。 19 我必再领以色列回他的草场，他必在迦密和巴珊吃草，又在以法莲山上和基列境内得以饱足。” 20 耶和华说：“当那日子，那时候，虽寻以色列的罪孽，一无所有；虽寻犹大的罪恶，也无所见。因为我所留下的人，我必赦免。”
再言巴比伦遭报
21 耶和华说：“上去攻击米拉大翁之地，又攻击比割的居民，要追杀灭尽，照我一切所吩咐你的去行。 22 境内有打仗和大毁灭的响声。 23 全地的大锤何竟砍断破坏！巴比伦在列国中何竟荒凉！ 24 巴比伦哪，我为你设下网罗，你不知不觉被缠住。你被寻着，也被捉住，因为你与耶和华争竞。 25 耶和华已经开了武库，拿出他恼恨的兵器，因为主万军之耶和华在迦勒底人之地有当做的事。 26 你们要从极远的边界来攻击她，开她的仓廪，将她堆如高堆，毁灭净尽，丝毫不留。 27 要杀她的一切牛犊，使他们下去遭遇杀戮。他们有祸了！因为追讨他们的日子已经来到。 28 有从巴比伦之地逃避出来的人，在锡安扬声报告：‘耶和华我们的神报仇，就是为他的殿报仇。’
29 “招集一切弓箭手来攻击巴比伦，要在巴比伦四围安营，不要容一人逃脱，照着她所做的报应她。她怎样待人，也要怎样待她，因为她向耶和华以色列的圣者发了狂傲。 30 所以她的少年人必仆倒在街上，当那日一切兵丁必默默无声。”这是耶和华说的。 31 主万军之耶和华说：“你这狂傲的啊，我与你反对，因为我追讨你的日子已经来到。 32 狂傲的必绊跌仆倒，无人扶起。我也必使火在她的城邑中着起来，将她四围所有的尽行烧灭。”
耶和华必申以色列人及犹大人之冤
33 万军之耶和华如此说：“以色列人和犹大人一同受欺压，凡掳掠他们的都紧紧抓住他们，不肯释放。 34 他们的救赎主大有能力，万军之耶和华是他的名，他必申清他们的冤，好使全地得平安，并搅扰巴比伦的居民。”
复言巴比伦遭报
35 耶和华说：“有刀剑临到迦勒底人和巴比伦的居民，并她的首领与智慧人。 36 有刀剑临到矜夸的人，他们就成为愚昧；有刀剑临到她的勇士，他们就惊惶。 37 有刀剑临到她的马匹、车辆和其中杂族的人民，他们必像妇女一样；有刀剑临到她的宝物，就被抢夺。 38 有干旱临到她的众水，就必干涸，因为这是有雕刻偶像之地，人因偶像而颠狂。 39 所以，旷野的走兽和豺狼必住在那里，鸵鸟也住在其中，永无人烟，世世代代无人居住。” 40 耶和华说：“必无人住在那里，也无人在其中寄居，要像我倾覆所多玛、蛾摩拉和邻近的城邑一样。
41 “看哪，有一种民从北方而来，并有一大国和许多君王被激动，从地极来到。 42 他们拿弓和枪，性情残忍，不施怜悯，他们的声音像海浪砰訇。巴比伦城[a]啊，他们骑马，都摆队伍，如上战场的人，要攻击你。 43 巴比伦王听见他们的风声，手就发软，痛苦将他抓住，疼痛仿佛产难的妇人。 44 仇敌必像狮子从约旦河边的丛林上来，攻击坚固的居所。转眼之间，我要使他们逃跑，离开这地。谁蒙拣选，我就派谁治理这地。谁能比我呢？谁能给我定规日期呢？有何牧人能在我们面前站立得住呢？” 45 你们要听耶和华攻击巴比伦所说的谋略，和他攻击迦勒底人之地所定的旨意：仇敌定要将他们群众微弱的拉去，定要使他们的居所荒凉。 46 因巴比伦被取的声音，地就震动，人在列邦都听见呼喊的声音。
Footnotes
- 耶利米书 50:42 “城”原文作“女子”。
耶利米書 50
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
審判巴比倫的預言
50 論到迦勒底人居住的巴比倫，耶和華對耶利米先知說：
2 「你要向列國宣告，
你要豎起旗幟毫不隱瞞地宣告，
『巴比倫要淪陷了！
它的神明彼勒必蒙羞，
米羅達必驚慌；
巴比倫的神像都蒙羞，
偶像都必驚慌。
3 因為有一個來自北方的國家要攻擊它，
使它荒涼、人畜絕跡。』」
4 耶和華說：「那時，以色列人要與猶大人一同哭著來尋求他們的上帝耶和華。 5 他們必打聽前往錫安的路，朝錫安走去。他們必憑不會被遺忘的永恆之約歸附耶和華。 6 我的子民成了一群迷路的羊，他們的牧人使他們步入歧途，在高山丘陵間流浪，忘了自己的安歇之處。 7 敵人遇見他們，就吞噬他們，還說，『我們沒有錯！這是因為他們冒犯了他們真正的安歇之處——耶和華，他們祖先的盼望——耶和華。』 8 我的子民啊，你們要逃離巴比倫，離開迦勒底人的土地，要像帶領羊群的公山羊一樣離開。 9 看啊，我要使來自北方的列強聯合起來攻打巴比倫，他們要列陣攻佔它，他們的勇士箭術高超，百發百中。 10 他們要在迦勒底肆意擄掠，直到心滿意足。這是耶和華說的。
11 「搶奪我產業的巴比倫人啊，
你們歡喜快樂，
像草場上歡跳的母牛犢，
又像嘶鳴的公馬。
12 生養你們的母親巴比倫將羞愧難當，
蒙受恥辱，
排在列國之末，
淪為乾旱的荒漠。
13 由於耶和華的憤怒，
巴比倫必無人居住，
荒涼不堪。
她滿目瘡痍，
令路人驚懼、嗤笑。
14 弓箭手啊，你們要列陣圍攻巴比倫，
向她猛射，
不要吝嗇箭枝，
因為她得罪了耶和華。
15 你們要從四面向她吶喊，
她必投降，
她的堡壘將傾倒，
城牆將坍塌，
因為耶和華要報應她。
你們要向她復仇，
她怎樣對待別人，
你們也要怎樣對待她。
16 你們要剷除在巴比倫撒種的和收割的。
為躲避敵人的刀劍，
人們各自逃到故土親族那裡。
17 「以色列人是一群被獅子驅散的羊，先被亞述王吞噬，後被巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒咬碎骨頭。」 18 以色列的上帝——萬軍之耶和華說：「看啊，我要像懲罰亞述王一樣懲罰巴比倫王和他的國家。 19 我要帶領以色列人返回他們的草場，讓他們在迦密和巴珊吃草，在以法蓮和基列的山上吃得飽足。 20 那時，在以色列必找不到過犯，在猶大必找不到罪惡，因為我必赦免我保留下來的餘民。這是耶和華說的。
21 「你們要去攻打米拉大翁和比割的居民，
照我的命令徹底消滅他們。
這是耶和華說的。
22 巴比倫境內傳來戰爭和大毀滅的聲音。
23 威震天下的錘子巴比倫怎麼被砍斷、打碎了！
它的下場令列國震驚。
24 巴比倫啊，我給你設下了陷阱，
你在懵然不知中被捉住，
因為你與耶和華為敵。
25 耶和華已打開祂的軍庫，
取出傾瀉祂憤怒的兵器。
因為主——萬軍之耶和華要懲罰迦勒底人。
26 你們要從遠方前來攻打巴比倫，
打開她的糧倉，
使她淪為一堆廢墟，
徹底毀滅她，不留一物。
27 你們要殺掉她所有的士兵，
把他們全部屠殺。
他們大禍臨頭了，
懲罰他們的日子到了。
28 「從巴比倫逃出來的人在錫安述說我們的上帝耶和華如何報仇，為祂的聖殿報仇。
29 「要召集所有的弓箭手來攻打巴比倫，在她四圍紮營，不讓一人漏網。要照她的所作所為報應她；她怎樣對待別人，也要怎樣對待她，因為她藐視耶和華——以色列的聖者。 30 她的青年要倒斃街頭，那時她所有的戰士都要滅亡」。這是耶和華說的。
31 「主——萬軍之耶和華說，
『狂傲的人啊，我要與你為敵，
我懲罰你的時候到了。
32 狂傲的人要踉踉蹌蹌，
跌倒在地，無人扶起。
我要焚燒她的城邑，
使她周圍的一切化為灰燼。』」
33 萬軍之耶和華說：「以色列人和猶大人要一同受壓迫，擄走他們的人必控制他們，不肯釋放他們。 34 但他們的救贖主——萬軍之耶和華有偉大的能力，祂必為他們伸冤，使他們的家園安寧，使巴比倫的居民不得安寧。」
35 耶和華說：
「敵人要攻擊巴比倫的居民及其首領和謀士；
36 敵人要攻擊巴比倫的假先知，
使他們顯出愚昧；
敵人要攻擊巴比倫的勇士，
使他們充滿恐懼；
37 敵人要攻擊巴比倫人的戰車戰馬和他們的盟軍，
使他們柔弱得像婦女；
敵人要攻打他們的庫房，
肆意搶奪他們的財寶。
38 旱災必臨到巴比倫，
使那裡的河流乾涸，
因為那裡偶像遍地，
人們都沉迷於祭拜神像。
39 「因此，巴比倫必杳無人煙，永遠荒涼，成為豺狼等野獸出沒之地、鴕鳥的棲身之所。 40 上帝要毀滅巴比倫，像毀滅所多瑪、蛾摩拉及其周圍的城邑一樣，使那裡人煙絕跡。這是耶和華說的。
41 「看啊，大軍要從北方而來，
一個強國及其盟軍要從地極而來。
42 巴比倫人啊，他們殘忍無道，
手持弓箭和矛槍，
騎著戰馬，
列陣攻擊你們，
聲勢如翻騰的大海。
43 巴比倫王聞風喪膽，
四肢發軟，
像分娩的婦人一樣痛苦不堪。
44 「看啊，我必在瞬間把巴比倫人趕離家園，如約旦河邊叢林中跳出的獅子趕散草場的羊群。我要派我揀選的人統治這地方。誰能與我相比？誰能與我較量？哪位首領能抵抗我？」
45 因此，你們要聽聽耶和華攻擊巴比倫的策略，聽聽祂攻擊迦勒底人的計劃。他們的孩子要被拖走，他們的家園要被毀滅。 46 巴比倫被毀滅的消息震動天下，呼喊聲傳到列國。
耶利米书 50
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
审判巴比伦的预言
50 论到迦勒底人居住的巴比伦，耶和华对耶利米先知说：
2 “你要向列国宣告，
你要竖起旗帜毫不隐瞒地宣告，
‘巴比伦要沦陷了！
它的神明彼勒必蒙羞，
米罗达必惊慌；
巴比伦的神像都蒙羞，
偶像都必惊慌。
3 因为有一个来自北方的国家要攻击它，
使它荒凉、人畜绝迹。’”
4 耶和华说：“那时，以色列人要与犹大人一同哭着来寻求他们的上帝耶和华。 5 他们必打听前往锡安的路，朝锡安走去。他们必凭不会被遗忘的永恒之约归附耶和华。 6 我的子民成了一群迷路的羊，他们的牧人使他们步入歧途，在高山丘陵间流浪，忘了自己的安歇之处。 7 敌人遇见他们，就吞噬他们，还说，‘我们没有错！这是因为他们冒犯了他们真正的安歇之处——耶和华，他们祖先的盼望——耶和华。’ 8 我的子民啊，你们要逃离巴比伦，离开迦勒底人的土地，要像带领羊群的公山羊一样离开。 9 看啊，我要使来自北方的列强联合起来攻打巴比伦，他们要列阵攻占它，他们的勇士箭术高超，百发百中。 10 他们要在迦勒底肆意掳掠，直到心满意足。这是耶和华说的。
11 “抢夺我产业的巴比伦人啊，
你们欢喜快乐，
像草场上欢跳的母牛犊，
又像嘶鸣的公马。
12 生养你们的母亲巴比伦将羞愧难当，
蒙受耻辱，
排在列国之末，
沦为干旱的荒漠。
13 由于耶和华的愤怒，
巴比伦必无人居住，
荒凉不堪。
她满目疮痍，
令路人惊惧、嗤笑。
14 弓箭手啊，你们要列阵围攻巴比伦，
向她猛射，
不要吝啬箭枝，
因为她得罪了耶和华。
15 你们要从四面向她吶喊，
她必投降，
她的堡垒将倾倒，
城墙将坍塌，
因为耶和华要报应她。
你们要向她复仇，
她怎样对待别人，
你们也要怎样对待她。
16 你们要铲除在巴比伦撒种的和收割的。
为躲避敌人的刀剑，
人们各自逃到故土亲族那里。
17 “以色列人是一群被狮子驱散的羊，先被亚述王吞噬，后被巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒咬碎骨头。” 18 以色列的上帝——万军之耶和华说：“看啊，我要像惩罚亚述王一样惩罚巴比伦王和他的国家。 19 我要带领以色列人返回他们的草场，让他们在迦密和巴珊吃草，在以法莲和基列的山上吃得饱足。 20 那时，在以色列必找不到过犯，在犹大必找不到罪恶，因为我必赦免我保留下来的余民。这是耶和华说的。
21 “你们要去攻打米拉大翁和比割的居民，
照我的命令彻底消灭他们。
这是耶和华说的。
22 巴比伦境内传来战争和大毁灭的声音。
23 威震天下的锤子巴比伦怎么被砍断、打碎了！
它的下场令列国震惊。
24 巴比伦啊，我给你设下了陷阱，
你在懵然不知中被捉住，
因为你与耶和华为敌。
25 耶和华已打开祂的军库，
取出倾泻祂愤怒的兵器。
因为主——万军之耶和华要惩罚迦勒底人。
26 你们要从远方前来攻打巴比伦，
打开她的粮仓，
使她沦为一堆废墟，
彻底毁灭她，不留一物。
27 你们要杀掉她所有的士兵，
把他们全部屠杀。
他们大祸临头了，
惩罚他们的日子到了。
28 “从巴比伦逃出来的人在锡安述说我们的上帝耶和华如何报仇，为祂的圣殿报仇。
29 “要召集所有的弓箭手来攻打巴比伦，在她四围扎营，不让一人漏网。要照她的所作所为报应她；她怎样对待别人，也要怎样对待她，因为她藐视耶和华——以色列的圣者。 30 她的青年要倒毙街头，那时她所有的战士都要灭亡。”这是耶和华说的。
31 “主——万军之耶和华说，
‘狂傲的人啊，我要与你为敌，
我惩罚你的时候到了。
32 狂傲的人要踉踉跄跄，
跌倒在地，无人扶起。
我要焚烧她的城邑，
使她周围的一切化为灰烬。’”
33 万军之耶和华说：“以色列人和犹大人要一同受压迫，掳走他们的人必控制他们，不肯释放他们。 34 但他们的救赎主——万军之耶和华有伟大的能力，祂必为他们申冤，使他们的家园安宁，使巴比伦的居民不得安宁。”
35 耶和华说：
“敌人要攻击巴比伦的居民及其首领和谋士；
36 敌人要攻击巴比伦的假先知，
使他们显出愚昧；
敌人要攻击巴比伦的勇士，
使他们充满恐惧；
37 敌人要攻击巴比伦人的战车战马和他们的盟军，
使他们柔弱得像妇女；
敌人要攻打他们的库房，
肆意抢夺他们的财宝。
38 旱灾必临到巴比伦，
使那里的河流干涸，
因为那里偶像遍地，
人们都沉迷于祭拜神像。
39 “因此，巴比伦必杳无人烟，永远荒凉，成为豺狼等野兽出没之地、鸵鸟的栖身之所。 40 上帝要毁灭巴比伦，像毁灭所多玛、蛾摩拉及其周围的城邑一样，使那里人烟绝迹。这是耶和华说的。
41 “看啊，大军要从北方而来，
一个强国及其盟军要从地极而来。
42 巴比伦人啊，他们残忍无道，
手持弓箭和矛枪，
骑着战马，
列阵攻击你们，
声势如翻腾的大海。
43 巴比伦王闻风丧胆，
四肢发软，
像分娩的妇人一样痛苦不堪。
44 “看啊，我必在瞬间把巴比伦人赶离家园，如约旦河边丛林中跳出的狮子赶散草场的羊群。我要派我拣选的人统治这地方。谁能与我相比？谁能与我较量？哪位首领能抵抗我？”
45 因此，你们要听听耶和华攻击巴比伦的策略，听听祂攻击迦勒底人的计划。他们的孩子要被拖走，他们的家园要被毁灭。 46 巴比伦被毁灭的消息震动天下，呼喊声传到列国。
Jeremiah 50
Expanded Bible
A Message to Babylon
50 This is the message the Lord spoke to Babylon and the ·Babylonian people [L Chaldeans] through Jeremiah the prophet.
2 “·Announce [Proclaim] this to the nations [L and let them hear].
Lift up a banner [C a battle standard] and ·tell them [make them hear].
·Speak the whole message [L Do not conceal anything] and say:
‘Babylon will be captured.
The god Bel [C another name for Marduk] will be ·put to shame [humiliated],
and the god Marduk [C the chief god of the Babylonians] will be ·afraid [terrified].
·Babylon’s gods [L Its images] will be ·put to shame [humiliated],
and her idols will be ·afraid [terrified]!’
3 A nation from the north will attack Babylon [C Persia]
and make it like an ·empty desert [desolation].
No one will live there;
both people and animals will ·run away [flee].”
4 The Lord says, “At that time [L and in those days]
the ·people [L sons] of Israel and Judah will come together.
They will cry and ·look for [L seek] the Lord their God.
5 Those people will ask ·how to go [L the way/path] to ·Jerusalem [L Zion; C the location of the Temple]
and will start in that direction.
They will come and join themselves to the Lord.
They will make an ·agreement [covenant; treaty] with him that will last forever,
an ·agreement [covenant; treaty] that will never be forgotten [31:31–34].
6 “My people have been like lost sheep.
Their ·leaders [L shepherds] have led them ·in the wrong way [astray]
and made them wander around in the mountains and hills.
They forgot where their ·resting place [fold] was [Ps. 23].
7 Whoever ·saw [L found] my people ·hurt [L devoured] them.
And those ·enemies [foes] said, ‘We ·did nothing wrong [are not guilty].
Those people sinned against the Lord, their ·true [L righteous] ·resting place [fold],
the God their fathers ·trusted [hoped in].’
8 “·Run away [Flee] from Babylon,
and leave the land of the ·Babylonians [L Chaldeans].
Be like the goats that lead the flock.
9 I will soon ·arouse [L stir up] and bring against Babylon
·many great nations [a large assembly of nations] from the north [C led by Persia].
They will take their places for war against it,
and it will be captured ·by people from the north [L from there].
Their arrows are like trained soldiers
who do not return [C from war] with empty hands.
10 The ·enemy will take all the wealth from the Babylonians [L Chaldeans will be plundered].
·Those enemy soldiers will get all they want [L The plunderers will be satisfied/sated],” says the Lord.
11 “Babylon, you are excited and happy,
because you took my ·land [L inheritance; C Israel].
You ·dance around [run free] like a young cow ·in the grain [during the threshing; Deut. 25:4].
·Your laughter is like the neighing of male horses [L You neigh like a stallion].
12 Your mother will be ·very ashamed [humiliated];
the woman who gave birth to you will be disgraced.
·Soon Babylonia will be the least important of all [L It brings up the backside of] the nations.
She will be an empty, dry ·desert [wilderness].
13 Because of the Lord’s anger,
no one will live there.
She will be completely ·empty [desolate].
Everyone who passes by Babylon will be shocked.
They will shake their heads when they see all her injuries.
14 “Take your positions for war against Babylon,
all ·you soldiers with [L who draw] bows.
Shoot your arrows at Babylon! Do not ·save any of them [L spare any arrows],
because Babylon has sinned against the Lord.
15 ·Soldiers around Babylon [L On every side], shout the war cry!
Babylon has surrendered, her ·towers [defenses] have fallen,
and her walls have been ·torn down [demolished].
The Lord is giving her people the punishment they deserve.
·You nations should give her what she deserves;
do to her what she has done to others [L Just as it did, they did].
16 ·Don’t let the people from Babylon plant their crops [L Cut the sower off from Babylon]
·or gather [L seize the sickle wielder at the time of] the harvest.
·The soldiers treated their captives cruelly [L …before the sword of the oppressor].
Now, let everyone ·go back home [L turn face toward his people].
Let everyone ·run [flee] to his own country [C after the fall of Babylon, the Persians allowed the exiled people to return to their own lands; Ezra 1].
17 “The people of Israel are like a flock of sheep that are scattered
from being ·chased [driven] by lions.
The first lion to eat them up
was the king of Assyria [C Sennacherib defeated the northern kingdom of Israel in 722 bc].
The last lion to ·crush [gnaw] their bones
was Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon [C defeated the southern kingdom of Judah in 586 bc].”
18 So this is what the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts], the God of Israel, says:
“I will punish the king of Babylon and his country
as I punished the king of Assyria [C defeated by Babylon at the end of the seventh century bc].
19 But I will bring the people of Israel back to their own pasture.
They will ·eat [feed] on Mount Carmel and in Bashan [C particularly lush areas].
They will ·eat and be full [be sated]
on the hills of Ephraim and Gilead.”
20 The Lord says,
“At that time and in those days people will try to find Israel’s guilt,
but there will be no guilt.
People will try to find Judah’s sins,
but no sins will be found,
because I will leave a ·few people alive from Israel and Judah [remnant],
and I will forgive their sins.
21 “Attack the land of Merathaim.
Attack the people who live in Pekod [C alternate names for Babylon].
·Chase them, kill them [L Put them to the sword], and ·completely destroy [annihilate] them.
Do everything I commanded you!” says the Lord.
22 “The noise of battle can be heard all over the country;
it is the noise of ·much destruction [L great fracture].
23 ·Babylon was the hammer of the whole earth,
but how broken and shattered that hammer is now [L How cut down and broken is the hammer of the whole earth].
·It is truly the most ruined
of [L How Babylon has become a horror among] all the nations.
24 I set a trap for you [C Babylon],
and you were caught before you knew it.
You ·fought against [challenged] the Lord,
so you were found and ·taken prisoner [captured].
25 The Lord has opened up his storeroom
and brought out the weapons of his anger,
because the Lord God ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts] has work to do
in the land of the ·Babylonians [L Chaldeans].
26 Come against it [C Babylon] from far away.
Break open her storehouses of grain.
Pile them up [C dead bodies] like heaps of grain.
·Completely destroy Babylon [L Annihilate it]
and ·do not leave anyone alive [L let there be no remnant].
27 ·Kill [L Put to the sword] all its bulls [C the young men in Babylon];
let them go down to the slaughter [C killed like animals].
·How terrible it will be for [Woe to] them, because ·the time has come for their defeat [L their day has come];
it is time for them to be punished.
28 Listen to the people ·running [fleeing] to escape the country of Babylon!
They are telling ·Jerusalem [L Zion; C the location of the Temple]
how the Lord our God is punishing Babylon as it deserves
for destroying his Temple.
29 “Call for ·the archers [L all those who draw the bow]
to come against Babylon.
·Tell them to surround the city [L Camp all around it],
and let no one escape.
Pay her back for what she has done;
do to her what she has done to other nations.
Babylon acted with ·pride [arrogance] against the Lord,
the Holy One of Israel.
30 So her young men will be killed in her streets.
All her soldiers will ·die [L be silenced] on that day,” says the Lord.
31 “You [C Babylon] are too ·proud [arrogant], and I am against you,”
says the Lord God ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts].
“·The time has come [L Your day is coming]
·for you to be punished [L the time of your punishment].
32 The ·proud [arrogant; C Babylon] will stumble and fall,
and no one will help her get up.
I will ·start [kindle] a fire in her towns,
and it will ·burn up [L devour] everything around her.”
33 This is what the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts] says:
“The people of Israel
and Judah are ·slaves [oppressed].
·The enemy took them as prisoners [L Their captors have seized them]
and won’t let them go.
34 But ·God is strong and will buy them back [L their redeemer is strong].
His name is the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts].
He will surely ·defend them with power [take up their cause/case]
so he can give rest to their land.
But ·he will not give rest [turmoil] to those living in Babylon.”
35 The Lord says,
“Let a sword ·kill the people living in Babylon [L be against the Chaldeans]
and her officers and wise men!
36 Let a sword ·kill [L be against] her ·false prophets [diviners],
and they will become fools.
Let a sword ·kill [L be against] her warriors,
and they will be full of terror.
37 Let a sword ·kill [L be against] her horses and chariots
and all the soldiers hired from other countries!
Then they will be like women [C frightened].
Let a sword ·attack [L be against] her treasures,
so they will be ·taken away [L plundered].
38 Let a sword ·attack [L be against] her waters
so they will be dried up.
She is a land of idols,
and the people go ·crazy [mad] with fear over them.
39 “Desert animals and hyenas will live there,
and ·owls [or ostriches] will live there [C ritually unclean birds that live in desolate places],
but no people will ever live there again.
She will never be ·filled with people [resided in] again.
40 God ·completely destroyed [L overturned] the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah
and ·the towns around them [L their neighbors; 20:6; 23:13–15; 49:18; Gen. 18–19],” says the Lord.
“In the same way no people will live there [C Babylon],
and no human being will stay there.
41 “Look! An army is coming from the north [C Persia and its allies].
A powerful nation and many kings
are ·coming together [L stirred up] from all around the world.
42 ·Their armies have [L They have grabbed] bows and spears.
The soldiers are ·cruel [fierce; violent] and have no ·mercy [compassion].
As the soldiers come riding on their horses,
the sound is loud like the ·roaring [thundering] sea.
They stand in their places, ready for battle.
They are ready to attack you, city of Babylon.
43 The king of Babylon heard ·about those armies [L the news/report],
and ·he became helpless with fear [L his hands grew slack/feeble].
Distress has gripped him.
His pain is like that of a woman ·giving birth to a baby [in labor; 6:22–24].
44 “Like a lion coming up from the thick bushes near the Jordan River
to attack a ·strong pen for sheep [or perennial pastures],
I will suddenly chase them away [C people of Babylon from their land].
Who is the one I have ·chosen [appointed] to do this?
·There is no one [L Who is…?] like me,
·no one who [L Who…?] can take me to court.
·None of their leaders [L Who is the shepherd who…?] can stand up against me [49:19].”
45 So listen to ·what the Lord has planned to do against Babylon [L counsel/advice of the Lord].
Listen to ·what he has decided to do to [L his plans against] the people in the city of Babylon.
He will surely drag away the young of the flock [C the youth of Babylon].
Their ·hometowns [L pasture] will surely be shocked at what happens to them.
46 At the sound of Babylon’s capture, the earth will shake.
People in all nations will hear Babylon’s cry of distress.
Copyright © 2011 by Global Bible Initiative
Chinese Contemporary Bible Copyright © 1979, 2005, 2007, 2011 by Biblica® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Copyright © 2004 by World Bible Translation Center
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.