耶利米书 51-52
Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Simplified)
耶和华必降重灾于巴比伦以复其虐待以色列人之仇
51 耶和华如此说：“我必使毁灭的风刮起，攻击巴比伦和住在立加米的人。 2 我要打发外邦人来到巴比伦，簸扬她，使她的地空虚，在她遭祸的日子他们要周围攻击她。 3 拉弓的要向拉弓的和贯甲挺身的射箭，不要怜惜她的少年人，要灭尽她的全军。 4 他们必在迦勒底人之地被杀仆倒，在巴比伦的街上被刺透。”
5 以色列和犹大虽然境内充满违背以色列圣者的罪，却没有被他的神万军之耶和华丢弃。 6 你们要从巴比伦中逃奔，各救自己的性命！不要陷在她的罪孽中一同灭亡，因为这是耶和华报仇的时候，他必向巴比伦施行报应。 7 巴比伦素来是耶和华手中的金杯，使天下沉醉，万国喝了她的酒就颠狂了。 8 巴比伦忽然倾覆毁坏，要为她哀号，为止她的疼痛，拿乳香或者可以治好。 9 我们想医治巴比伦，她却没有治好。离开她吧！我们各人归回本国，因为她受的审判通于上天，达到穹苍。 10 耶和华已经彰显我们的公义，来吧，我们可以在锡安报告耶和华我们神的作为。
11 你们要磨尖了箭头，抓住盾牌。耶和华定意攻击巴比伦，将她毁灭，所以激动了玛代君王的心，因这是耶和华报仇，就是为自己的殿报仇。 12 你们要竖立大旗攻击巴比伦的城墙，要坚固瞭望台，派定守望的设下埋伏。因为耶和华指着巴比伦居民所说的话、所定的意，他已经做成。 13 住在众水之上多有财宝的啊，你的结局到了，你贪婪之量满了！ 14 万军之耶和华指着自己起誓说：“我必使敌人充满你，像蚂蚱一样，他们必呐喊攻击你。”
偶像虚无必被毁灭
15 耶和华用能力创造大地，用智慧建立世界，用聪明铺张穹苍。 16 他一发声，空中便有多水激动，他使云雾从地极上腾。他造电随雨而闪，从他府库中带出风来。 17 各人都成了畜类，毫无知识，各银匠都因他的偶像羞愧。他所铸的偶像本是虚假的，其中并无气息， 18 都是虚无的，是迷惑人的工作，到追讨的时候，必被除灭。 19 雅各的份不像这些，因他是造做万有的主，以色列也是他产业的支派，万军之耶和华是他的名。
20 “你是我争战的斧子和打仗的兵器。我要用你打碎列国，用你毁灭列邦， 21 用你打碎马和骑马的，用你打碎战车和坐在其上的， 22 用你打碎男人和女人，用你打碎老年人和少年人，用你打碎壮丁和处女， 23 用你打碎牧人和他的群畜，用你打碎农夫和他一对牛，用你打碎省长和副省长。” 24 耶和华说：“我必在你们眼前，报复巴比伦人和迦勒底居民在锡安所行的诸恶。”
25 耶和华说：“你这行毁灭的山哪，就是毁灭天下的山，我与你反对。我必向你伸手，将你从山岩滚下去，使你成为烧毁的山。 26 人必不从你那里取石头为房角石，也不取石头为根基石，你必永远荒凉。”这是耶和华说的。
27 要在境内竖立大旗，在各国中吹角，使列国预备攻击巴比伦，将亚拉腊、米尼、亚实基拿各国招来攻击她。又派军长来攻击她，使马匹上来如蚂蚱。 28 使列国和玛代君王，与省长和副省长，并他们所管全地之人都预备攻击她。 29 地必震动而瘠苦，因耶和华向巴比伦所定的旨意成立了，使巴比伦之地荒凉，无人居住。 30 巴比伦的勇士止息争战，藏在坚垒之中，他们的勇力衰尽，好像妇女一样。巴比伦的住处有火着起，门闩都折断了。 31 跑报的要彼此相遇，送信的要互相迎接，报告巴比伦王说：“城的四方被攻取了， 32 渡口被占据了，苇塘被火烧了，兵丁也惊慌了。”
33 万军之耶和华以色列的神如此说：“巴比伦城[a]好像踹谷的禾场，再过片时，收割她的时候就到了。” 34 以色列人说：“巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒吞灭我，压碎我，使我成为空虚的器皿。他像大鱼将我吞下，用我的美物充满他的肚腹，又将我赶出去。” 35 锡安的居民要说：“巴比伦以强暴待我，损害我的身体，愿这罪归给她！”耶路撒冷人要说：“愿流我们血的罪归到迦勒底的居民！” 36 所以，耶和华如此说：“我必为你申冤，为你报仇。我必使巴比伦的海枯竭，使她的泉源干涸。 37 巴比伦必成为乱堆，为野狗的住处，令人惊骇、嗤笑，并且无人居住。 38 他们要像少壮狮子咆哮，像小狮子吼叫。 39 他们火热的时候，我必为他们设摆酒席，使他们沉醉，好叫他们快乐，睡了长觉永不醒起。”这是耶和华说的。 40 “我必使他们像羊羔，像公绵羊和公山羊下到宰杀之地。
41 “示沙克[b]何竟被攻取！天下所称赞的何竟被占据！巴比伦在列国中何竟变为荒场！ 42 海水涨起漫过巴比伦，她被许多海浪遮盖。 43 她的城邑变为荒场、旱地、沙漠，无人居住、无人经过之地。 44 我必刑罚巴比伦的彼勒，使他吐出所吞的。万民必不再流归他那里，巴比伦的城墙也必坍塌了。
45 “我的民哪，你们要从其中出去，各人拯救自己，躲避耶和华的烈怒。 46 你们不要心惊胆怯，也不要因境内所听见的风声惧怕。因为这年有风声传来，那年也有风声传来，境内有强暴的事，官长攻击官长。 47 日子将到，我必刑罚巴比伦雕刻的偶像，她全地必然抱愧，她被杀的人必在其中仆倒。 48 那时天地和其中所有的必因巴比伦欢呼，因为行毁灭的要从北方来到她那里。”这是耶和华说的。 49 巴比伦怎样使以色列被杀的人仆倒，照样，她全地被杀的人也必在巴比伦仆倒。
50 你们躲避刀剑的要快走，不要站住。要在远方记念耶和华，心中追想耶路撒冷。 51 我们听见辱骂就蒙羞，满面惭愧，因为外邦人进入耶和华殿的圣所。 52 耶和华说：“日子将到，我必刑罚巴比伦雕刻的偶像，通国受伤的人必唉哼。 53 巴比伦虽升到天上，虽使她坚固的高处更坚固，还有行毁灭的从我这里到她那里。”这是耶和华说的。
54 有哀号的声音从巴比伦出来，有大毁灭的响声从迦勒底人之地发出。 55 因耶和华使巴比伦变为荒场，使其中的大声灭绝。仇敌仿佛众水，波浪砰訇，响声已经发出。 56 这是行毁灭的临到巴比伦，巴比伦的勇士被捉住，他们的弓折断了，因为耶和华是施行报应的神，必定施行报应。 57 君王，名为万军之耶和华的说：“我必使巴比伦的首领、智慧人、省长、副省长和勇士都沉醉，使他们睡了长觉永不醒起。” 58 万军之耶和华如此说：“巴比伦宽阔的城墙必全然倾倒，她高大的城门必被火焚烧。众民所劳碌的必致虚空，列国所劳碌的被火焚烧，他们都必困乏。”
耶利米录巴比伦将遭之灾于书
59 犹大王西底家在位第四年上巴比伦去的时候，玛西雅的孙子、尼利亚的儿子西莱雅与王同去，西莱雅是王宫的大臣，先知耶利米有话吩咐他。 60 耶利米将一切要临到巴比伦的灾祸，就是论到巴比伦的一切话，写在书上。 61 耶利米对西莱雅说：“你到了巴比伦，务要念这书上的话。 62 又说：‘耶和华啊，你曾论到这地方说要剪除，甚至连人带牲畜没有在这里居住的，必永远荒凉。’
命投于幼发拉底河以示巴比伦必沉沦
63 “你念完了这书，就把一块石头拴在书上，扔在幼发拉底河中， 64 说：‘巴比伦因耶和华所要降于她的灾祸必如此沉下去，不再兴起，人民也必困乏。’”
耶利米的话到此为止。
西底家叛巴比伦王
52 西底家登基的时候年二十一岁，在耶路撒冷做王十一年。他母亲名叫哈慕她，是立拿人耶利米的女儿。 2 西底家行耶和华眼中看为恶的事，是照约雅敬一切所行的。 3 因此耶和华的怒气在耶路撒冷和犹大发作，以致将人民从自己的面前赶出。
耶路撒冷沦陷
4 西底家背叛巴比伦王。他做王第九年十月初十日，巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒率领全军来攻击耶路撒冷，对城安营，四围筑垒攻城。 5 于是城被围困，直到西底家王十一年。 6 四月初九日，城里有大饥荒，甚至百姓都没有粮食。 7 城被攻破，一切兵丁就在夜间从靠近王园两城中间的门出城逃跑。迦勒底人正在四围攻城，他们就往亚拉巴逃去。 8 迦勒底的军队追赶西底家王，在耶利哥的平原追上他；他的全军都离开他四散了。 9 迦勒底人就拿住王，带他到哈马地的利比拉巴比伦王那里。巴比伦王便审判他。
巴比伦王剜西底家之目戮其众子
10 巴比伦王在西底家眼前杀了他的众子，又在利比拉杀了犹大的一切首领。 11 并且剜了西底家的眼睛，用铜链锁着他，带到巴比伦去，将他囚在监里，直到他死的日子。
焚毁城垣
12 巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒十九年五月初十日，在巴比伦王面前侍立的护卫长尼布撒拉旦进入耶路撒冷， 13 用火焚烧耶和华的殿和王宫，又焚烧耶路撒冷的房屋，就是各大户家的房屋。 14 跟从护卫长迦勒底的全军就拆毁耶路撒冷四围的城墙。 15 那时，护卫长尼布撒拉旦将民中最穷的和城里所剩下的百姓，并已经投降巴比伦王的人，以及大众所剩下的人，都掳去了。 16 但护卫长尼布撒拉旦留下些民中最穷的，使他们修理葡萄园，耕种田地。
圣殿被掠
17 耶和华殿的铜柱并殿内的盆座和铜海，迦勒底人都打碎了，将那铜运到巴比伦去了。 18 又带去锅、铲子、蜡剪、盘子、调羹，并所用的一切铜器。 19 杯、火鼎、碗、盆、灯台、调羹、爵，无论金的银的，护卫长也都带去了。 20 所罗门为耶和华殿所造的两根铜柱、一个铜海并座下的十二只铜牛，这一切的铜，多得无法可称。 21 这一根柱子高十八肘，厚四指，是空的，围十二肘。 22 柱上有铜顶，高五肘，铜顶的周围有网子和石榴，都是铜的。那一根柱子照此一样，也有石榴。 23 柱子四面有九十六个石榴，在网子周围共有一百石榴。
祭司与官吏遭戮
24 护卫长拿住大祭司西莱雅、副祭司西番亚和三个把门的， 25 又从城中拿住一个管理兵丁的官[c]，并在城里所遇常见王面的七个人和检点国民军长的书记，以及城里所遇见的国民六十个人。 26 护卫长尼布撒拉旦将这些人带到利比拉巴比伦王那里。 27 巴比伦王就把他们击杀在哈马地的利比拉。这样，犹大人被掳去离开本地。
28 尼布甲尼撒所掳的民数记在下面：在他第七年掳去犹大人三千零二十三名， 29 尼布甲尼撒十八年从耶路撒冷掳去八百三十二人， 30 尼布甲尼撒二十三年护卫长尼布撒拉旦掳去犹大人七百四十五名，共有四千六百人。
巴比伦王恩待约雅斤
31 犹大王约雅斤被掳后三十七年，巴比伦王以未米罗达元年十二月二十五日，使犹大王约雅斤抬头，提他出监， 32 又对他说恩言，使他的位高过与他一同在巴比伦众王的位， 33 给他脱了囚服。他终身在巴比伦王面前吃饭。 34 巴比伦王赐他所需用的食物，日日赐他一份，终身是这样，直到他死的日子。
Footnotes
- 耶利米书 51:33 “城”原文作“女子”。
- 耶利米书 51:41 就是巴比伦。
- 耶利米书 52:25 或作：太监。
耶利米書 51-52
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
51 耶和華說：
「看啊，我要使毀滅的暴風襲擊巴比倫和住在立加米的人。
2 毀滅巴比倫人的日子一到，
我要差遣外族人從四面八方攻擊、消滅他們，
如同狂風捲走碎稭。
3 不要讓他們的弓箭手有機會射箭，
不要讓他們的戰士有機會穿鎧甲，
不要放過他們的青年，
要使他們全軍覆沒。
4 他們將被刀劍刺透，
倒斃在自己的土地上，
橫屍街頭。
5 雖然以色列和猶大充滿罪惡，
得罪了他們的聖者，
但他們的上帝——萬軍之耶和華卻沒有撇棄他們。
6 「離開巴比倫，各自逃命吧！
不要讓她的罪惡連累你們，
以致你們滅亡，
這是耶和華報應她的時候，
耶和華要懲罰她。
7 巴比倫在耶和華手中曾是灌醉天下的金杯，
列國喝了她的酒都變得癲狂。
8 轉瞬之間，巴比倫必毀滅。
你們要為她哀悼，
拿藥為她止痛，
或許可以治好她。
9 寄居在巴比倫的人說，
『我們試過了，卻沒有治好。
我們離開她，各自返回故鄉吧！
因為她罪惡滔天，必受審判。
10 耶和華已為我們伸冤。
來吧！我們要在錫安述說我們上帝耶和華的作為。』
11 「因為巴比倫人毀滅了耶和華的殿，
耶和華要使瑪代諸王毀滅他們。
瑪代人啊，
要磨尖箭頭，拿起盾牌，
12 豎起旗幟，
攻打巴比倫的城牆；
要加強防衛，
派人巡邏，設下埋伏。
因為耶和華言出必行，
一定要懲罰巴比倫人。
13 住在河邊、擁有財寶的巴比倫人啊，
你們的結局到了，
你們的末日來了。」
14 萬軍之耶和華憑自己起誓說：
「我要使敵人如蝗蟲一樣鋪天蓋地而來，
佔據你們的家園，
歡呼勝利。」
15 耶和華用自己的能力創造大地，
以自己的智慧建立世界，
憑自己的聰明鋪展穹蒼。
16 祂一聲令下，天上便大水澎湃；
祂使雲霧從地極上升，
使閃電在雨中劃過，
使風從祂的倉庫吹出。
17 世人都愚昧無知，
工匠都因所製的偶像而羞愧，
因為神像沒有生命氣息，
是虛假的，
18 毫無益處，荒唐可笑，
刑罰一到，必被毀滅。
19 雅各的上帝[a]卻迥然不同，
因為祂創造萬物，
以色列人是祂的產業，
祂名叫「萬軍之耶和華」。
20 耶和華說：
「巴比倫啊！你是我的錘子，
我作戰的兵器，
我要用你打碎列國，
毀滅列邦。
21 我要用你打碎戰馬和騎士，
22 打碎戰車和車夫，
打碎男人和婦女，
打碎老人和小孩，
打碎少男和少女，
23 打碎牧人和牲畜，
打碎農夫和耕牛，
打碎省長和總督。」
24 耶和華說：「我要當著我子民的面報應巴比倫人[b]，因為他們在錫安犯罪作惡。
25 「毀滅天下的大山——巴比倫啊，
我與你為敵，
我要伸手攻擊你，
把你從懸崖上滾下去，
使你化為灰燼。
這是耶和華說的。
26 再無人用你的石頭做房角石或基石，
你要永遠荒涼。
這是耶和華說的。
27 「要在大地上豎起旌旗，
在列國吹響號角，
讓他們預備攻打巴比倫。
要召集亞拉臘人、米尼人、
亞實基拿人，
使他們派遣將領率騎兵如蝗蟲一樣鋪天蓋地而來，
攻打巴比倫。
28 要讓列國預備攻打巴比倫，
使瑪代的諸王及其省長、總督和所統治的人攻打巴比倫。
29 大地要顫抖，痛苦地扭動，
因為耶和華決意要攻擊巴比倫，
使她荒無人煙。
30 巴比倫的勇士不再作戰，
躲在堡壘裡，
士氣消沉，像婦女一樣無力；
巴比倫的房屋被火焚燒，
城門被攻破。
31 報信的人接踵而來，
向巴比倫王稟告，
『整座城已失守，
32 渡口被佔，
沼澤地被燒，
戰士驚慌失措。』」
33 以色列的上帝——萬軍之耶和華說：
「巴比倫城快要被毀滅了，
它要被夷為平地，
好像被踏平的麥場一樣。」
34 以色列人說：
「巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒吞噬我們、擊垮我們，
把我們洗劫一空。
他像海怪一樣吞吃我們，
飽餐我們的美物，
然後把我們趕走。」
35 錫安的居民說：
「巴比倫人殘暴地對待我們，
願他們受報應。」
耶路撒冷人說：
「願迦勒底人償還我們的血債。」
36 耶和華說：
「我的子民啊，
我要為你們伸冤，
替你們報仇；
我要使巴比倫的江河枯竭，
泉源乾涸。
37 巴比倫必淪為廢墟，杳無人跡，
淪為豺狼出沒的地方，
令人驚懼、嗤笑。
38 迦勒底人像群獅一樣怒吼，
又像幼獅一樣咆哮。
39 他們食慾大振時，
我要為他們設盛宴，
使他們酩酊大醉，狂歡亂叫，
長眠不起。
這是耶和華說的。
40 我要把他們像羊羔、
公綿羊和公山羊一樣帶往宰殺之地。
41 巴比倫[c]怎麼淪陷了！
天下引以為傲的怎麼被攻佔了！
巴比倫的下場讓列國恐懼！
42 海水漲溢，洶湧的波濤淹沒了巴比倫。
43 她的城邑淪為乾旱的荒漠，
杳無人跡。
44 我要懲罰巴比倫的神明彼勒，
使他吐出所吞噬的。
巴比倫的城牆要倒塌，
萬國必不再湧向她。
45 「我的子民啊，你們要離開巴比倫，
各自逃命，躲避耶和華的烈怒。
46 境內謠言四起時，
你們不要驚慌害怕，
因為今年傳這風聲，
明年卻傳那風聲，
說境內必有暴亂，
官長要互相殘殺。
47 「看啊，時候將到，我必懲罰巴比倫的神像，
使巴比倫全國蒙羞，
屍橫遍野。
48 毀滅者要從北方前來攻擊巴比倫，
那時天地萬物都要因巴比倫的滅亡而歡呼。
這是耶和華說的。
49 巴比倫必滅亡，
因為她大肆屠殺以色列人和其他各國的人。
50 「刀下逃生的人啊，
你們快走吧！
不要停留！
在遠方要記住耶和華，
要追想耶路撒冷。
51 你們說巴比倫人闖入了耶和華殿的聖所，
使你們蒙受恥辱，滿面羞愧。
52 「看啊，時候將到，我要懲罰巴比倫的神像，
使巴比倫到處都是受傷者的呻吟。
這是耶和華說的。
53 即使巴比倫城高聳入雲，
堡壘堅不可摧，
我仍要差遣毀滅者攻擊它。
這是耶和華說的。
54 「從巴比倫——迦勒底人的土地上傳來哭喊聲和毀滅聲，
55 因為耶和華正在毀滅巴比倫，
要使城中的喧囂變成一片死寂。
毀滅巴比倫的敵人呐喊著如波濤一樣湧來。
56 毀滅者正前來攻打巴比倫，
擒拿她的勇士，
折斷他們的弓弩。
耶和華是追討罪惡、
報應惡人的上帝。
57 我要使她的首領、謀士、省長、
總督和勇士都酩酊大醉，
長眠不醒。」
這是君王——萬軍之耶和華說的。
58 萬軍之耶和華說：
「巴比倫寬闊的城牆要被夷為平地，
高大的城門要被付之一炬，
人們一切的辛勞都是徒然，
列國勞碌的成果都化為灰燼。」
59-60 耶利米把所有將要發生在巴比倫的災禍，就是有關巴比倫的事都寫在卷軸上。猶大王西底迦執政第四年，瑪西雅的孫子、尼利亞的兒子、宮廷總管西萊雅和猶大王一同前往巴比倫的時候， 61 耶利米對西萊雅說：「你到巴比倫後要大聲宣讀這卷軸上的一切話， 62 並且要說，『耶和華啊！你曾說要毀滅這地方，使這裡人獸絕跡、永遠荒涼。』 63 讀完後，你要把卷軸綁在一塊石頭上，扔進幼發拉底河， 64 然後說，『耶和華降的災禍必使巴比倫像這卷軸一樣沉沒、永不復興，巴比倫人必滅亡。』」
耶利米的話到此為止。
猶大的滅亡
52 西底迦二十一歲登基，在耶路撒冷執政十一年。他母親叫哈慕她，是立拿人耶利米的女兒。 2 西底迦像約雅敬一樣做耶和華視為惡的事。 3 因此，耶和華向耶路撒冷和猶大的人發怒，把他們從祂面前趕走。
後來，西底迦背叛了巴比倫王。 4 在他執政第九年十月十日，巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒率領全軍攻打耶路撒冷，在城外紮營，修築圍城的高臺。 5 城一直被圍困到西底迦執政第十一年。 6 那年四月九日，城裡饑荒非常嚴重，百姓無糧可吃。 7 城被攻破，西底迦和士兵便在夜間穿過御花園，從兩城牆中間的門逃往亞拉巴。當時迦勒底人仍四面包圍著城。 8 迦勒底的軍隊追趕西底迦，在耶利哥平原追上了他。他的軍隊都四散而逃。 9 迦勒底人擒住西底迦，把他押到哈馬的利比拉去見巴比倫王。巴比倫王在那裡審判他， 10 當著他的面殺了他的眾子和猶大所有的首領， 11 又剜去他的雙眼，用銅鏈鎖著他押往巴比倫，將他終生囚在牢裡。
12 巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒執政第十九年五月十日，他的臣僕——護衛長尼布撒拉旦進入耶路撒冷， 13 放火焚燒耶和華的殿、王宮及城內所有的房屋。他燒毀了所有重要建築。 14 他率領的迦勒底的軍隊拆毀了耶路撒冷四圍的城牆。 15 護衛長尼布撒拉旦擄去最貧窮的人、城中的餘民、投降的人和剩下的技工， 16 只留下一些最貧窮的人，讓他們照料葡萄園、耕種田地。
17 迦勒底人打碎耶和華殿中的銅柱、銅底座和銅海，把銅運往巴比倫， 18 並帶走了盆、鏟、蠟剪、碗、碟及一切獻祭用的銅器。 19 護衛長還帶走了杯、火鼎、碗、盆、燈臺、碟和奠酒的杯等所有金銀器皿。 20 所羅門王為耶和華的殿所造的兩根銅柱、一個銅海、銅海下面的十二頭銅牛，以及一些銅底座，用的銅多得無法計算。 21 兩根銅柱中空，高八米，周長五點三米，銅壁厚四指。 22 銅柱有柱冠，柱冠高二點三米，周圍裝飾著銅網和銅石榴。兩根柱子都一樣。 23 每根銅柱周圍裝飾著九十六個石榴，網子四周共有一百個石榴。
24 護衛長擄走祭司長西萊雅、副祭司長西番亞、三名殿門守衛， 25 又從城中擄走一名將領、王的七個親信、一名負責招兵的書記和六十名平民， 26 把他們帶到利比拉去見巴比倫王。 27 巴比倫王在那裡處死了他們。猶大人就這樣被擄去，離開了家園。
28 以下是尼布甲尼撒擄去的人數：他執政第七年擄去三千零二十三名猶大人； 29 執政第十八年，從耶路撒冷擄去八百三十二人； 30 執政第二十三年，他的護衛長尼布撒拉旦擄去七百四十五名猶大人。總共四千六百人。
31 猶大王約雅斤被擄後第三十七年，即巴比倫王以未·米羅達元年十二月二十五日，巴比倫王恩待約雅斤，釋放了他， 32 並好言相待，使他的地位高過被擄到巴比倫的其他各王。 33 約雅斤脫去了囚服，終生與巴比倫王一起吃飯。 34 在他有生之年，巴比倫王供應他每天的需用，直到他去世。
耶利米书 51-52
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
51 耶和华说：
“看啊，我要使毁灭的暴风袭击巴比伦和住在立加米的人。
2 毁灭巴比伦人的日子一到，
我要差遣外族人从四面八方攻击、消灭他们，
如同狂风卷走碎秸。
3 不要让他们的弓箭手有机会射箭，
不要让他们的战士有机会穿铠甲，
不要放过他们的青年，
要使他们全军覆没。
4 他们将被刀剑刺透，
倒毙在自己的土地上，
横尸街头。
5 虽然以色列和犹大充满罪恶，
得罪了他们的圣者，
但他们的上帝——万军之耶和华却没有撇弃他们。
6 “离开巴比伦，各自逃命吧！
不要让她的罪恶连累你们，
以致你们灭亡，
这是耶和华报应她的时候，
耶和华要惩罚她。
7 巴比伦在耶和华手中曾是灌醉天下的金杯，
列国喝了她的酒都变得癫狂。
8 转瞬之间，巴比伦必毁灭。
你们要为她哀悼，
拿药为她止痛，
或许可以治好她。
9 寄居在巴比伦的人说，
‘我们试过了，却没有治好。
我们离开她，各自返回故乡吧！
因为她罪恶滔天，必受审判。
10 耶和华已为我们申冤。
来吧！我们要在锡安述说我们上帝耶和华的作为。’
11 “因为巴比伦人毁灭了耶和华的殿，
耶和华要使玛代诸王毁灭他们。
玛代人啊，
要磨尖箭头，拿起盾牌，
12 竖起旗帜，
攻打巴比伦的城墙；
要加强防卫，
派人巡逻，设下埋伏。
因为耶和华言出必行，
一定要惩罚巴比伦人。
13 住在河边、拥有财宝的巴比伦人啊，
你们的结局到了，
你们的末日来了。”
14 万军之耶和华凭自己起誓说：
“我要使敌人如蝗虫一样铺天盖地而来，
占据你们的家园，
欢呼胜利。”
15 耶和华用自己的能力创造大地，
以自己的智慧建立世界，
凭自己的聪明铺展穹苍。
16 祂一声令下，天上便大水澎湃；
祂使云雾从地极上升，
使闪电在雨中划过，
使风从祂的仓库吹出。
17 世人都愚昧无知，
工匠都因所制的偶像而羞愧，
因为神像没有生命气息，
是虚假的，
18 毫无益处，荒唐可笑，
刑罚一到，必被毁灭。
19 雅各的上帝[a]却迥然不同，
因为祂创造万物，
以色列人是祂的产业，
祂名叫“万军之耶和华”。
20 耶和华说：
“巴比伦啊！你是我的锤子，
我作战的兵器，
我要用你打碎列国，
毁灭列邦。
21 我要用你打碎战马和骑士，
22 打碎战车和车夫，
打碎男人和妇女，
打碎老人和小孩，
打碎少男和少女，
23 打碎牧人和牲畜，
打碎农夫和耕牛，
打碎省长和总督。”
24 耶和华说：“我要当着我子民的面报应巴比伦人[b]，因为他们在锡安犯罪作恶。
25 “毁灭天下的大山——巴比伦啊，
我与你为敌，
我要伸手攻击你，
把你从悬崖上滚下去，
使你化为灰烬。
这是耶和华说的。
26 再无人用你的石头做房角石或基石，
你要永远荒凉。
这是耶和华说的。
27 “要在大地上竖起旌旗，
在列国吹响号角，
让他们预备攻打巴比伦。
要召集亚拉腊人、米尼人、
亚实基拿人，
使他们派遣将领率骑兵如蝗虫一样铺天盖地而来，
攻打巴比伦。
28 要让列国预备攻打巴比伦，
使玛代的诸王及其省长、总督和所统治的人攻打巴比伦。
29 大地要颤抖，痛苦地扭动，
因为耶和华决意要攻击巴比伦，
使她荒无人烟。
30 巴比伦的勇士不再作战，
躲在堡垒里，
士气消沉，像妇女一样无力；
巴比伦的房屋被火焚烧，
城门被攻破。
31 报信的人接踵而来，
向巴比伦王禀告，
‘整座城已失守，
32 渡口被占，
沼泽地被烧，
战士惊慌失措。’”
33 以色列的上帝——万军之耶和华说：
“巴比伦城快要被毁灭了，
它要被夷为平地，
好像被踏平的麦场一样。”
34 以色列人说：
“巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒吞噬我们、击垮我们，
把我们洗劫一空。
他像海怪一样吞吃我们，
饱餐我们的美物，
然后把我们赶走。”
35 锡安的居民说：
“巴比伦人残暴地对待我们，
愿他们受报应。”
耶路撒冷人说：
“愿迦勒底人偿还我们的血债。”
36 耶和华说：
“我的子民啊，
我要为你们申冤，
替你们报仇；
我要使巴比伦的江河枯竭，
泉源干涸。
37 巴比伦必沦为废墟，杳无人迹，
沦为豺狼出没的地方，
令人惊惧、嗤笑。
38 迦勒底人像群狮一样怒吼，
又像幼狮一样咆哮。
39 他们食欲大振时，
我要为他们设盛宴，
使他们酩酊大醉，狂欢乱叫，
长眠不起。
这是耶和华说的。
40 我要把他们像羊羔、
公绵羊和公山羊一样带往宰杀之地。
41 巴比伦[c]怎么沦陷了！
天下引以为傲的怎么被攻占了！
巴比伦的下场让列国恐惧！
42 海水涨溢，汹涌的波涛淹没了巴比伦。
43 她的城邑沦为干旱的荒漠，
杳无人迹。
44 我要惩罚巴比伦的神明彼勒，
使他吐出所吞噬的。
巴比伦的城墙要倒塌，
万国必不再涌向她。
45 “我的子民啊，你们要离开巴比伦，
各自逃命，躲避耶和华的烈怒。
46 境内谣言四起时，
你们不要惊慌害怕，
因为今年传这风声，
明年却传那风声，
说境内必有暴乱，
官长要互相残杀。
47 “看啊，时候将到，我必惩罚巴比伦的神像，
使巴比伦全国蒙羞，
尸横遍野。
48 毁灭者要从北方前来攻击巴比伦，
那时天地万物都要因巴比伦的灭亡而欢呼。
这是耶和华说的。
49 巴比伦必灭亡，
因为她大肆屠杀以色列人和其他各国的人。
50 “刀下逃生的人啊，
你们快走吧！
不要停留！
在远方要记住耶和华，
要追想耶路撒冷。
51 你们说巴比伦人闯入了耶和华殿的圣所，
使你们蒙受耻辱，满面羞愧。
52 “看啊，时候将到，我要惩罚巴比伦的神像，
使巴比伦到处都是受伤者的呻吟。
这是耶和华说的。
53 即使巴比伦城高耸入云，
堡垒坚不可摧，
我仍要差遣毁灭者攻击它。
这是耶和华说的。
54 “从巴比伦——迦勒底人的土地上传来哭喊声和毁灭声，
55 因为耶和华正在毁灭巴比伦，
要使城中的喧嚣变成一片死寂。
毁灭巴比伦的敌人呐喊着如波涛一样涌来。
56 毁灭者正前来攻打巴比伦，
擒拿她的勇士，
折断他们的弓弩。
耶和华是追讨罪恶、
报应恶人的上帝。
57 我要使她的首领、谋士、省长、
总督和勇士都酩酊大醉，
长眠不醒。”
这是君王——万军之耶和华说的。
58 万军之耶和华说：
“巴比伦宽阔的城墙要被夷为平地，
高大的城门要被付之一炬，
人们一切的辛劳都是徒然，
列国劳碌的成果都化为灰烬。”
59-60 耶利米把所有将要发生在巴比伦的灾祸，就是有关巴比伦的事都写在卷轴上。犹大王西底迦执政第四年，玛西雅的孙子、尼利亚的儿子、宫廷总管西莱雅和犹大王一同前往巴比伦的时候， 61 耶利米对西莱雅说：“你到巴比伦后要大声宣读这卷轴上的一切话， 62 并且要说，‘耶和华啊！你曾说要毁灭这地方，使这里人兽绝迹、永远荒凉。’ 63 读完后，你要把卷轴绑在一块石头上，扔进幼发拉底河， 64 然后说，‘耶和华降的灾祸必使巴比伦像这卷轴一样沉没、永不复兴，巴比伦人必灭亡。’”
耶利米的话到此为止。
犹大的灭亡
52 西底迦二十一岁登基，在耶路撒冷执政十一年。他母亲叫哈慕她，是立拿人耶利米的女儿。 2 西底迦像约雅敬一样做耶和华视为恶的事。 3 因此，耶和华向耶路撒冷和犹大的人发怒，把他们从祂面前赶走。
后来，西底迦背叛了巴比伦王。 4 在他执政第九年十月十日，巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒率领全军攻打耶路撒冷，在城外扎营，修筑围城的高台。 5 城一直被围困到西底迦执政第十一年。 6 那年四月九日，城里饥荒非常严重，百姓无粮可吃。 7 城被攻破，西底迦和士兵便在夜间穿过御花园，从两城墙中间的门逃往亚拉巴。当时迦勒底人仍四面包围着城。 8 迦勒底的军队追赶西底迦，在耶利哥平原追上了他。他的军队都四散而逃。 9 迦勒底人擒住西底迦，把他押到哈马的利比拉去见巴比伦王。巴比伦王在那里审判他， 10 当着他的面杀了他的众子和犹大所有的首领， 11 又剜去他的双眼，用铜链锁着他押往巴比伦，将他终生囚在牢里。
12 巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒执政第十九年五月十日，他的臣仆——护卫长尼布撒拉旦进入耶路撒冷， 13 放火焚烧耶和华的殿、王宫及城内所有的房屋。他烧毁了所有重要建筑。 14 他率领的迦勒底的军队拆毁了耶路撒冷四围的城墙。 15 护卫长尼布撒拉旦掳去最贫穷的人、城中的余民、投降的人和剩下的技工， 16 只留下一些最贫穷的人，让他们照料葡萄园、耕种田地。
17 迦勒底人打碎耶和华殿中的铜柱、铜底座和铜海，把铜运往巴比伦， 18 并带走了盆、铲、蜡剪、碗、碟及一切献祭用的铜器。 19 护卫长还带走了杯、火鼎、碗、盆、灯台、碟和奠酒的杯等所有金银器皿。 20 所罗门王为耶和华的殿所造的两根铜柱、一个铜海、铜海下面的十二头铜牛，以及一些铜底座，用的铜多得无法计算。 21 两根铜柱中空，高八米，周长五点三米，铜壁厚四指。 22 铜柱有柱冠，柱冠高二点三米，周围装饰着铜网和铜石榴。两根柱子都一样。 23 每根铜柱周围装饰着九十六个石榴，网子四周共有一百个石榴。
24 护卫长掳走祭司长西莱雅、副祭司长西番亚、三名殿门守卫， 25 又从城中掳走一名将领、王的七个亲信、一名负责招兵的书记和六十名平民， 26 把他们带到利比拉去见巴比伦王。 27 巴比伦王在那里处死了他们。犹大人就这样被掳去，离开了家园。
28 以下是尼布甲尼撒掳去的人数：他执政第七年掳去三千零二十三名犹大人； 29 执政第十八年，从耶路撒冷掳去八百三十二人； 30 执政第二十三年，他的护卫长尼布撒拉旦掳去七百四十五名犹大人。总共四千六百人。
31 犹大王约雅斤被掳后第三十七年，即巴比伦王以未·米罗达元年十二月二十五日，巴比伦王恩待约雅斤，释放了他， 32 并好言相待，使他的地位高过被掳到巴比伦的其他各王。 33 约雅斤脱去了囚服，终生与巴比伦王一起吃饭。 34 在他有生之年，巴比伦王供应他每天的需用，直到他去世。
Jeremiah 51-52
Expanded Bible
51 This is what the Lord says:
“I will soon ·cause [arouse; stir up] a destroying ·wind [or spirit]
against Babylon and the ·Babylonian people [L inhabitants of Leb Qemai; C a coded reference to Chaldea (Babylon)].
2 I will send ·foreign people [strangers; or winnowers] to ·destroy [L winnow] Babylon.
They will ·destroy [L empty] the land.
Armies will surround the city
when the day of ·disaster [evil; trouble] comes upon her.
3 Don’t let the archers [C of Babylon] ·prepare [draw] their bows to shoot.
Don’t even let them put on their ·armor [coat of mail].
Don’t ·feel sorry for [pity] the young men of Babylon,
but ·completely destroy [annihilate] her army.
4 ·They will be killed [L Corpses will fall] in the land of the ·Babylonians [L Chaldeans]
and ·will die [L the wounded] in her streets.
5 The Lord God ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts]
did not ·leave [L widow] Israel and Judah,
even though ·they were completely guilty [L their land was full of guilt]
in the presence of the Holy One of Israel.
6 “·Run away [Flee] from Babylon
and ·save your lives [rescue yourselves]!
Don’t stay and be killed because of Babylon’s sins.
It is time for the Lord to ·punish Babylon [L avenge himself];
he will give Babylon the punishment she deserves.
7 Babylon was like a gold cup in the Lord’s hand
that made the whole earth drunk [C God used Babylon to administer his cup of wrath].
The nations drank Babylon’s wine,
so they went ·crazy [mad].
8 Babylon has suddenly fallen and been broken.
·Cry [Wail] for her!
Get balm [8:22; 46:11] for her pain,
and maybe she can be healed.
9 “Foreigners in Babylon say, ‘We tried to heal Babylon,
but she cannot be healed.
So let us leave her and each go to his own country [C after the fall of Babylon, the Persians allowed the exiled people to return to their own lands; Ezra 1].
Babylon’s ·punishment [judgment] ·is as high as [reaches; touches] the ·sky [heavens];
it ·reaches [L lifts up] to the ·clouds [or skies].’
10 “The people of Judah say, ‘The Lord has ·shown us to be right [brought about/forth our vindication].
Come, let us ·tell [recount] in ·Jerusalem [L Zion; C the location of the Temple]
what the Lord our God has done.’
11 “Sharpen the arrows!
·Pick up your shields [or Fill the quivers]!
The Lord has stirred up the kings of the Medes,
because he ·wants [L purposes] to destroy Babylon.
The Lord will punish them as they deserve
for destroying his Temple.
12 Lift up a banner [C a battle standard] against the walls of Babylon!
·Bring more [L Strengthen the] guards.
Put the watchmen in their places,
and ·get ready for a secret attack [prepare an ambush]!
The Lord will certainly do what he has planned
and what he said he would do against the people of Babylon.
13 You [C Babylon] live near ·much [mighty] water [C the Euphrates]
and are rich with many treasures,
but your end as a nation has come.
·It is time to stop you from robbing other nations [or Your destiny is fixed].
14 The Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts] has promised ·in his own name [L by himself]:
‘I will surely fill you [C Babylon] with so many men [C enemy soldiers] they will be like locusts [46:23; Judg. 6:5; 7:12; Nah. 3:15–17; Rev. 9:7].
They will ·stand [raise] over you and shout their victory.’
15 “The Lord made the earth by his power.
He used his wisdom to ·build [L establish] the world
and his understanding to stretch out the ·skies [heavens; Prov. 3:19–20; 8:22–31].
16 When he ·thunders [L gives forth his voice], the waters in the skies roar.
He makes ·clouds [mist] rise ·all over [L from the ends of] the earth.
He sends lightning with the rain
and brings out the wind from his storehouses.
17 “People are so stupid and know so little.
Goldsmiths are ·made ashamed [humiliated] by their idols,
because those statues are ·only false gods [L deceptive].
They have no breath in them.
18 They are worth nothing; ·people make fun of them [or works of delusion].
·When they are judged [L At the time of their punishment], they will be destroyed.
19 But Jacob’s Portion [C God] is not like the idols.
He ·made [formed; shaped] everything,
and ·he chose Israel to be his special people [Israel is the tribe of his inheritance].
The Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts] is his name.
20 “You are my war club,
my battle weapon.
I use you to ·smash [shatter; C and so throughout this passage] nations.
I use you to destroy kingdoms.
21 I use you to smash horses and riders.
I use you to smash chariots and drivers.
22 I use you to smash men and women.
I use you to smash old people and young people.
I use you to smash young men and young women.
23 I use you to smash shepherds and flocks.
I use you to smash farmers and oxen.
I use you to smash governors and ·officers [officials; leaders].
24 “But I will pay back Babylon and all the ·Babylonians [L Chaldeans] for all the ·evil things [disasters; troubles] they did to ·Jerusalem [L Zion; C the location of the Temple] in your ·sight [L eyes],” says the Lord.
25 The Lord says,
“Babylon, you are a destroying mountain,
and I am against you.
You have destroyed the whole land.
I will ·put [reach; stretch] my hand out against you.
I will roll you off the ·cliffs [rocks; crags],
and I will make you a burned-out mountain.
26 People will not ·find any rocks in Babylon big enough for [L take from you] cornerstones.
People will not take any rocks from you for a foundation [C of a building],
because your city will be ·just a pile of ruins [a desolation] forever,” says the Lord.
27 “Lift up a banner [C a battle standard] in the land!
Blow the ·trumpet [ram’s horn] among the nations!
·Get the nations ready for battle against Babylon [L Consecrate the nations against it].
Call these kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz [C near Lake Urmia and Lake Van to the northwest of Babylon, and part of the coalition against it] against her [C to fight].
Choose a commander ·to lead the army against Babylon [L against it].
·Send [L Bring up] so many horses that they are like a swarm of locusts.
28 ·Get the nations ready for battle against Babylon [L Consecrate the nations against it]—
the kings of the Medes,
their governors and all their officers,
and all the countries they rule.
29 The land shakes and ·moves in pain [writhes],
because the Lord will do what he has planned to Babylon.
He will make Babylon an ·empty desert [desolation],
where no one will live.
30 Babylon’s warriors have stopped fighting.
They stay in their ·protected cities [strongholds].
Their strength is gone,
and they have become like women [C frightened].
Babylon’s houses are burning.
The bars [C of its gates] are broken.
31 One runner meets another runner;
messenger meets messenger.
They announce to the king of Babylon
that his whole city has been captured.
32 The river crossings have been ·captured [seized],
and the swamplands are burning with fire.
All of the soldiers [C of Babylon] are terribly afraid.”
33 This is what the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts], the God of Israel, says:
“The ·city [L daughter] of Babylon is like a threshing floor,
where people trod [C on grain at harvest time].
The time to harvest [C Babylon] is coming soon.”
34 “Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has ·defeated [L devoured; consumed] and ·destroyed [crushed] us.
We became like an empty jar [C probably a reference to the exile].
He was like a ·giant snake [monster; dragon; Is. 27:1; 51:9; Ezek. 29:3; 32:2; Job 7:1; Ps. 74:13] that swallowed us.
He filled his stomach with our ·best things [delicacies].
Then he spit us out.
35 ·Babylon did terrible things to hurt us.
Now let those things happen to Babylon [L May the violence done to me and my flesh be on Babylon],”
say the people of ·Jerusalem [L Zion; C the location of the Temple].
“·The people of Babylon killed our people.
Now let them be punished for what they did [L May my blood be on the Chaldeans],” says Jerusalem.
36 So this is what the Lord says:
“I will ·soon defend you [L present your case; C addressed to Judah],
and make sure that Babylon is punished.
I will dry up Babylon’s sea
and make her springs become dry [Is. 24:4; Nah. 1:4].
37 Babylon will become a pile of ruins,
a ·home [den; haunt] for wild dogs [jackals; 9:11; 10:22; 49:33; Lam. 5:18].
People will be shocked and hiss at what happened there.
No one will live there anymore.
38 Babylon’s people roar like young lions;
they growl like baby lions.
39 While they are ·stirred [heated] up,
I will give ·a feast for [drinks to] them
and make them drunk.
They will shout and laugh.
And they will sleep forever and never wake up!” says the Lord.
40 “I will take them [C people of Babylon] to be ·killed [slaughtered].
They will be like lambs,
like sheep and goats [11:19; 12:3].
41 “How ·Babylon [L Sheshach; C an alternate name for Babylon; 25:26] has been ·defeated [captured]!
The pride of the whole earth has been ·taken captive [seized].
·People from other nations are shocked at what happened to Babylon,
and the things they see make them afraid [L How Babylon has become a horror among the nations].
42 The sea has risen over Babylon;
its ·roaring [tumultuous] waves cover her.
43 ·Babylon’s [L Its] towns are ·ruined and empty [desolate].
It has become a dry, desert land,
a land where no one lives.
People do not even travel through it .
44 I will punish the god Bel [C another name for Marduk, the chief god of Babylon] in Babylon.
I will make him spit out what he has swallowed.
Nations will no longer ·come [L stream] to Babylon;
even the wall around the city will fall.
45 “Come out of it [C Babylon], my people!
·Run for [Escape with] your lives!
·Run [Escape] from the Lord’s great anger.
46 Don’t lose ·courage [heart];
rumors will spread through the land, but don’t be afraid.
One rumor comes this year, and another comes the next year.
There will be rumors of ·terrible fighting [violence] in the country,
of rulers fighting against rulers.
47 The ·time will surely come [L days are coming]
when I will punish the idols of Babylon,
and the whole land will be disgraced.
There will be many ·dead people [corpses] ·lying all around [L falling in its midst].
48 Then heaven and earth and all that is in them
will shout for joy about Babylon.
They will shout because the army comes from the north [C Persia and its allies]
to destroy Babylon,” says the Lord.
49 “Babylon must fall, because ·she killed people from [L of the corpses of] Israel.
·She killed people from everywhere on [L …and the corpses of all the] earth.
50 You who have escaped being killed with swords,
·leave Babylon [go; flee; depart]! Don’t wait!
Remember the Lord in the faraway land
and ·think about Jerusalem [L let Jerusalem come up in your heart/mind].”
51 “We people of Judah are disgraced,
because we have been ·insulted [reproached].
·We have been shamed [L Shame/Humiliation covers our face],
because strangers have gone into
the holy places of the Lord’s Temple [L house]!”
52 So the Lord says, “The ·time is [L days are] coming soon
when I will punish the idols of Babylon.
Wounded people will ·cry with pain [groan]
all over that land.
53 Even if Babylon grows until she touches the ·sky [heavens],
and even if she ·makes her highest cities strong [fortifies her lofty stronghold],
I will send people to destroy her,” says the Lord.
54 “Sounds of people crying are heard in Babylon.
Sounds of ·people destroying things [great destruction]
are heard in the land of the Babylonians.
55 The Lord is destroying Babylon
and making the loud sounds of the city become silent.
Enemies come roaring in like ocean waves.
The roar of their voices is heard all around.
56 ·The army has come to destroy [L Destroyers have come to] Babylon.
Her soldiers have been captured,
and their bows are broken,
because the Lord is a God who punishes people for the evil they do.
He ·gives them the full punishment they deserve [repays them in full].
57 I will make Babylon’s rulers and wise men drunk [C with the cup of God’s wrath; 25:15–38],
and her governors, officers, and soldiers, too.
Then they will sleep forever and never wake up [v. 39],” says the King,
whose name is the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts].
58 This is what the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts] says:
“Babylon’s ·thick [broad] wall will be completely ·pulled down [leveled]
and her high gates burned with fire.
The people will ·work hard [weary themselves], but it won’t help;
their work will only become fuel for the flames!”
A Message to Babylon
59 This is the message that Jeremiah the prophet gave to the officer Seraiah son of Neriah, who was the son of Mahseiah [C probably Baruch’s brother; 32:12]. Seraiah went to Babylon with Zedekiah king of Judah in the fourth year Zedekiah was king of Judah [C 593 bc]. ·His duty was to arrange the king’s food and housing on the trip [L He was the quartermaster]. 60 Jeremiah had written on a scroll all the ·terrible [disastrous; evil] things that would happen to Babylon, all these words about Babylon. 61 Jeremiah said to Seraiah, “As soon as you come to Babylon, be sure to read this message so all the people can hear you. 62 Then say, ‘Lord, you have said that you will ·destroy [L cut off] this place so that no people or animals will live in it. It will be an ·empty ruin [desolation] forever.’ 63 After you finish reading this scroll, tie a stone to it and throw it into the Euphrates River. 64 Then say, ‘In the same way Babylon will sink and will not rise again because of the ·terrible [disastrous; evil] things I will make happen here. Her people will fall.’”
·The words of Jeremiah end here [Thus far are the words of Jeremiah].
The Fall of Jerusalem
52 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he was king in Jerusalem for eleven years [C from 597–586 bc]. His mother’s name was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah [C not the prophet], and she was from Libnah. 2 Zedekiah did ·what the Lord said was wrong [L evil in the eyes of the Lord], just as Jehoiakim [C his brother who ruled from 609–597 bc] had done. 3 All this happened in Jerusalem and Judah because the Lord was angry with them. Finally, he threw them out of his presence.
Zedekiah ·turned [rebelled] against the king of Babylon. 4 Then Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his whole army. They made a camp around the city and built ·devices [siege towers] all around the city walls to attack it. This happened on Zedekiah’s ninth year, tenth month, and tenth day as king [C January 15, 588]. 5 And the city was under ·attack [siege] until Zedekiah’s eleventh year as king [C 586 bc].
6 By the ninth day of the fourth month [C July 18], the ·hunger [famine] was ·terrible [severe] in the city; there was no food for the people to eat. 7 Then the city wall was ·broken through [breeched], and the whole army [C of Judah] ·ran away [fled] at night. They left the city through the gate between the two walls by the king’s garden. Even though the ·Babylonians [L Chaldeans] were surrounding the city, Zedekiah and his men headed toward the ·Jordan Valley [L Arabah].
8 But the ·Babylonian [L Chaldean] army chased King Zedekiah and caught him in the ·plains [L Arabah] of Jericho. All of his army was scattered from him. 9 So the Babylonians ·captured [seized] Zedekiah and took him to the king of Babylon at the town of Riblah in the land of Hamath. There he ·passed sentence on [judged] Zedekiah. 10 At Riblah the king of Babylon ·killed [slaughtered] Zedekiah’s sons ·as he watched [L before his eyes]. The king also ·killed [slaughtered] all the officers of Judah. 11 Then he ·put out Zedekiah’s eyes [blinded the eyes of Zedekiah], and put bronze chains on him, and took him to Babylon. And the king kept Zedekiah in prison there until the day he died.
12 Nebuzaradan, commander of the king’s special guards and servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem on the tenth day of the fifth month. This was in Nebuchadnezzar’s nineteenth year as king of Babylon [C August 17, 586 bc]. 13 Nebuzaradan set fire to the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord, the ·palace [L house of the king], and all the houses of Jerusalem; every ·important building [L great/big house] was burned. 14 The whole ·Babylonian [L Chaldean] army, led by the commander of the king’s special guards, ·broke down [demolished] all the walls around Jerusalem. 15 Nebuzaradan, the commander of the king’s special guards, took captive some of the poorest people, those who ·were left [remained] in Jerusalem, those who had ·surrendered [deserted; defected] to the king of Babylon, and the ·skilled craftsmen [artisans] who were left in Jerusalem. 16 But Nebuzaradan left behind some of the poorest people of the land to take care of the vineyards and fields.
17 The ·Babylonians [L Chaldeans] broke into pieces the bronze pillars [1 Kin. 7:15–22], the bronze stands [1 Kin. 7:27], and the large bronze ·bowl [basin], called the Sea [1 Kin. 7:23–26], which were in the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord. Then they carried all the bronze pieces to Babylon. 18 They also took the pots, shovels, ·wick trimmers [snuffers], bowls, dishes, and all the bronze objects used to serve in the Temple. 19 The commander of the king’s special guards took away bowls, ·pans for carrying hot coals [firepans], large bowls, pots, lampstands, pans, and bowls used for drink offerings. He took everything that was made of pure gold or silver.
20 There was so much bronze that it could not be weighed: two pillars, the large bronze bowl called the Sea with the twelve bronze bulls under it, and the movable stands, which King Solomon had made for the Temple of the Lord.
21 Each of the pillars was about ·twenty-seven feet [L eighteen cubits] high, eighteen feet [L twelve cubits] around, and hollow inside. The wall of each pillar was ·three inches [L four fingers] thick. 22 The bronze capital on top of the one pillar was about ·seven and one-half feet [L five cubits] high. It was decorated with ·a net design [network; latticework] and bronze pomegranates all around it. The other pillar also had pomegranates and was like the first pillar. 23 There were ninety-six pomegranates on the sides of the pillars. There was a total of a hundred pomegranates above the ·net design [network; latticework].
24 The commander of the king’s special guards took as prisoners Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the priest next in rank, and the three doorkeepers. 25 He also took from the city the officer in charge of the soldiers, seven people ·who advised the king [of the king’s council], the ·royal secretary [scribe] who selected people for the army, and sixty other men from Judah who were in the city when it fell. 26 Nebuzaradan, the commander, took these people and brought them to the king of Babylon at the town of Riblah. 27 There at Riblah, in the land of Hamath, the king had them killed.
So the people of Judah were led away from their country as ·captives [exiles]. 28 This is the number of the people Nebuchadnezzar took away as ·captives [exiles]: in the seventh year [C 597 bc], 3,023 ·Jews [L Judeans]; 29 in Nebuchadnezzar’s eighteenth year [C 586 bc], 832 people from Jerusalem; 30 in Nebuchadnezzar’s twenty-third year [C 582 bc], Nebuzaradan, commander of the king’s special guards, took 745 ·Jews [L Judeans] as ·captives [exiles].
In all 4,600 people were ·taken captive [exiled].
Jehoiachin Is Set Free
31 Jehoiachin king of Judah was in prison in Babylon for thirty-seven years. The year Evil-Merodach became king of Babylon [C a son of Nebuchadnezzar, he ruled 562–560 bc] he let Jehoiachin king of Judah out of ·prison [L house of confinement]. He set Jehoiachin free on the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month [C March 31, 561 bc]. 32 Evil-Merodach spoke kindly to Jehoiachin and gave him a seat of honor above the seats of the other kings who were with him in Babylon [C he honored him above other defeated vassal kings]. 33 So Jehoiachin put away his prison clothes, and for the rest of his life, he ate at the king’s table. 34 Every day the king of Babylon gave Jehoiachin an allowance. This lasted as long as he lived, until the day Jehoiachin died.
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.