14 Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer,
The Holy One of Israel:
“For your sake I will send to Babylon,
And bring them all down as fugitives—
The Chaldeans, who rejoice in their ships.

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God’s Mercy and Israel’s Unfaithfulness

14 This is what the Lord says—
    your Redeemer,(A) the Holy One(B) of Israel:
“For your sake I will send to Babylon
    and bring down as fugitives(C) all the Babylonians,[a](D)
    in the ships in which they took pride.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 43:14 Or Chaldeans

There Is No Other God

“Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel,
And his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts:
(A)‘I am the First and I am the Last;
Besides Me there is no God.

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The Lord, Not Idols

“This is what the Lord says—
    Israel’s King(A) and Redeemer,(B) the Lord Almighty:
I am the first and I am the last;(C)
    apart from me there is no God.(D)

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13 Behold, the land of the (A)Chaldeans,
This people which was not;
Assyria founded it for (B)wild beasts of the desert.
They set up its towers,
They raised up its palaces,
And brought it to ruin.

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13 Look at the land of the Babylonians,[a](A)
    this people that is now of no account!
The Assyrians(B) have made it
    a place for desert creatures;(C)
they raised up their siege towers,(D)
    they stripped its fortresses bare
    and turned it into a ruin.(E)

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 23:13 Or Chaldeans

11 “And (A)the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore: 12 (B)merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; 13 and cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and (C)souls of men. 14 The fruit that your soul longed for has gone from you, and all the things which are rich and splendid have [a]gone from you, and you shall find them no more at all. 15 The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, 16 and saying, ‘Alas, alas, (D)that great city (E)that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls! 17 (F)For in one hour such great riches [b]came to nothing.’ (G)Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance 18 (H)and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, (I)‘What is like this great city?’

19 (J)“They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! (K)For in one hour she [c]is made desolate.’

20 (L)“Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you [d]holy apostles and prophets, for (M)God has avenged you on her!”

Finality of Babylon’s Fall

21 Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, (N)“Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and (O)shall not be found anymore.

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 18:14 NU, M been lost to you
  2. Revelation 18:17 have been laid waste
  3. Revelation 18:19 have been laid waste
  4. Revelation 18:20 NU, M saints and apostles

11 “The merchants(A) of the earth will weep and mourn(B) over her because no one buys their cargoes anymore(C) 12 cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble;(D) 13 cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and human beings sold as slaves.(E)

14 “They will say, ‘The fruit you longed for is gone from you. All your luxury and splendor have vanished, never to be recovered.’ 15 The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her(F) will stand far off,(G) terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn(H) 16 and cry out:

“‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,(I)
    dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet,
    and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls!(J)
17 In one hour(K) such great wealth has been brought to ruin!’(L)

“Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea,(M) will stand far off.(N) 18 When they see the smoke of her burning,(O) they will exclaim, ‘Was there ever a city like this great city(P)?’(Q) 19 They will throw dust on their heads,(R) and with weeping and mourning(S) cry out:

“‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,(T)
    where all who had ships on the sea
    became rich through her wealth!
In one hour she has been brought to ruin!’(U)

20 “Rejoice over her, you heavens!(V)
    Rejoice, you people of God!
    Rejoice, apostles and prophets!
For God has judged her
    with the judgment she imposed on you.”(W)

The Finality of Babylon’s Doom

21 Then a mighty angel(X) picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea,(Y) and said:

“With such violence
    the great city(Z) of Babylon will be thrown down,
    never to be found again.

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And (A)they sang a new song, saying:

(B)“You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And (C)have redeemed us to God (D)by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,

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And they sang a new song, saying:(A)

“You are worthy(B) to take the scroll
    and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
    and with your blood(C) you purchased(D) for God
    persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.(E)

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29 “All (A)who handle the oar,
The mariners,
All the pilots of the sea
Will come down from their ships and stand on the [a]shore.
30 They will make their voice heard because of you;
They will cry bitterly and (B)cast dust on their heads;
They (C)will roll about in ashes;
31 They will (D)shave themselves completely bald because of you,
Gird themselves with sackcloth,
And weep for you
With bitterness of heart and bitter wailing.
32 In their wailing for you
They will (E)take up a lamentation,
And lament for you:
(F)‘What city is like Tyre,
Destroyed in the midst of the sea?

33 ‘When(G) your wares went out by sea,
You satisfied many people;
You enriched the kings of the earth
With your many luxury goods and your merchandise.
34 But (H)you are broken by the seas in the depths of the waters;
(I)Your merchandise and the entire company will fall in your midst.
35 (J)All the inhabitants of the isles will be astonished at you;
Their kings will be greatly afraid,
And their countenance will be troubled.
36 The merchants among the peoples (K)will hiss at you;
(L)You will become a horror, and be no (M)more forever.’ ” ’ ”

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 27:29 Lit. land

29 All who handle the oars
    will abandon their ships;
the mariners and all the sailors
    will stand on the shore.
30 They will raise their voice
    and cry bitterly over you;
they will sprinkle dust(A) on their heads
    and roll(B) in ashes.(C)
31 They will shave their heads(D) because of you
    and will put on sackcloth.
They will weep(E) over you with anguish of soul
    and with bitter mourning.(F)
32 As they wail and mourn over you,
    they will take up a lament(G) concerning you:
“Who was ever silenced like Tyre,
    surrounded by the sea?(H)
33 When your merchandise went out on the seas,(I)
    you satisfied many nations;
with your great wealth(J) and your wares
    you enriched the kings of the earth.
34 Now you are shattered by the sea
    in the depths of the waters;
your wares and all your company
    have gone down with you.(K)
35 All who live in the coastlands(L)
    are appalled(M) at you;
their kings shudder with horror
    and their faces are distorted with fear.(N)
36 The merchants among the nations scoff at you;(O)
    you have come to a horrible end
    and will be no more.(P)’”

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34 “Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon
Has (A)devoured me, he has crushed me;
He has made me an (B)empty vessel,
He has swallowed me up like a monster;
He has filled his stomach with my delicacies,
He has spit me out.
35 Let the violence done to me and my flesh be upon Babylon,”
The inhabitant of Zion will say;
“And my blood be upon the inhabitants of Chaldea!”
Jerusalem will say.

36 Therefore thus says the Lord:

“Behold, (C)I will plead your case and take vengeance for you.
(D)I will dry up her sea and make her springs dry.
37 (E)Babylon shall become a heap,
A dwelling place for jackals,
(F)An astonishment and a hissing,
Without an inhabitant.

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34 “Nebuchadnezzar(A) king of Babylon has devoured(B) us,(C)
    he has thrown us into confusion,
    he has made us an empty jar.
Like a serpent he has swallowed us
    and filled his stomach with our delicacies,
    and then has spewed(D) us out.
35 May the violence(E) done to our flesh[a] be on Babylon,”
    say the inhabitants of Zion.
“May our blood be on those who live in Babylonia,”
    says Jerusalem.(F)

36 Therefore this is what the Lord says:

“See, I will defend your cause(G)
    and avenge(H) you;
I will dry up(I) her sea
    and make her springs dry.
37 Babylon will be a heap of ruins,
    a haunt(J) of jackals,
an object of horror and scorn,(K)
    a place where no one lives.(L)

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 51:35 Or done to us and to our children

24 “And(A) I will repay Babylon
And all the inhabitants of Chaldea
For all the evil they have done
In Zion in your sight,” says the Lord.

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24 “Before your eyes I will repay(A) Babylon(B) and all who live in Babylonia[a] for all the wrong they have done in Zion,” declares the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 51:24 Or Chaldea; also in verse 35

The Utter Destruction of Babylon

51 Thus says the Lord:

“Behold, I will raise up against (A)Babylon,
Against those who dwell in [a]Leb Kamai,
(B)A destroying wind.
And I will send (C)winnowers to Babylon,
Who shall winnow her and empty her land.
(D)For in the day of doom
They shall be against her all around.
Against her (E)let the archer bend his bow,
And lift himself up against her in his armor.
Do not spare her young men;
(F)Utterly destroy all her army.
Thus the slain shall fall in the land of the Chaldeans,
(G)And those thrust through in her streets.
For Israel is (H)not forsaken, nor Judah,
By his God, the Lord of hosts,
Though their land was filled with sin against the Holy One of Israel.”

(I)Flee from the midst of Babylon,
And every one save his life!
Do not be cut off in her iniquity,
For (J)this is the time of the Lord’s vengeance;
(K)He shall recompense her.
(L)Babylon was a golden cup in the Lord’s hand,
That made all the earth drunk.
(M)The nations drank her wine;
Therefore the nations (N)are deranged.
Babylon has suddenly (O)fallen and been destroyed.
(P)Wail for her!
(Q)Take balm for her pain;
Perhaps she may be healed.

We would have healed Babylon,
But she is not healed.
Forsake her, and (R)let us go everyone to his own country;
(S)For her judgment reaches to heaven and is lifted up to the skies.
10 The Lord has (T)revealed our righteousness.
Come and let us (U)declare in Zion the work of the Lord our God.

11 (V)Make[b] the arrows bright!
Gather the shields!
(W)The Lord has raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes.
(X)For His plan is against Babylon to destroy it,
Because it is (Y)the vengeance of the Lord,
The vengeance for His temple.

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 51:1 Lit. The Midst of Those Who Rise Up Against Me; a code word for Chaldea, Babylonia
  2. Jeremiah 51:11 Polish the arrows!

51 This is what the Lord says:

“See, I will stir(A) up the spirit of a destroyer
    against Babylon(B) and the people of Leb Kamai.[a]
I will send foreigners(C) to Babylon
    to winnow(D) her and to devastate her land;
they will oppose her on every side
    in the day(E) of her disaster.
Let not the archer string his bow,(F)
    nor let him put on his armor.(G)
Do not spare her young men;
    completely destroy[b] her army.
They will fall(H) down slain in Babylon,[c]
    fatally wounded in her streets.(I)
For Israel and Judah have not been forsaken(J)
    by their God, the Lord Almighty,
though their land[d] is full of guilt(K)
    before the Holy One of Israel.

“Flee(L) from Babylon!
    Run for your lives!
    Do not be destroyed because of her sins.(M)
It is time(N) for the Lord’s vengeance;(O)
    he will repay(P) her what she deserves.
Babylon was a gold cup(Q) in the Lord’s hand;
    she made the whole earth drunk.
The nations drank her wine;
    therefore they have now gone mad.
Babylon will suddenly fall(R) and be broken.
    Wail over her!
Get balm(S) for her pain;
    perhaps she can be healed.

“‘We would have healed Babylon,
    but she cannot be healed;
let us leave(T) her and each go to our own land,
    for her judgment(U) reaches to the skies,
    it rises as high as the heavens.’

10 “‘The Lord has vindicated(V) us;
    come, let us tell in Zion
    what the Lord our God has done.’(W)

11 “Sharpen the arrows,(X)
    take up the shields!(Y)
The Lord has stirred up the kings(Z) of the Medes,(AA)
    because his purpose(AB) is to destroy Babylon.
The Lord will take vengeance,(AC)
    vengeance for his temple.(AD)

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 51:1 Leb Kamai is a cryptogram for Chaldea, that is, Babylonia.
  2. Jeremiah 51:3 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them.
  3. Jeremiah 51:4 Or Chaldea
  4. Jeremiah 51:5 Or Almighty, / and the land of the Babylonians

27 Slay all her (A)bulls,
Let them go down to the slaughter.
Woe to them!
For their day has come, the time of (B)their punishment.
28 The voice of those who flee and escape from the land of Babylon
(C)Declares in Zion the vengeance of the Lord our God,
The vengeance of His temple.

29 “Call together the archers against Babylon.
All you who bend the bow, encamp against it all around;
Let none of them [a]escape.
(D)Repay her according to her work;
According to all she has done, do to her;
(E)For she has been proud against the Lord,
Against the Holy One of Israel.
30 (F)Therefore her young men shall fall in the streets,
And all her men of war shall be cut off in that day,” says the Lord.
31 “Behold, I am against you,
O most haughty one!” says the Lord God of hosts;
“For your day has come,
[b]The time that I will punish you.
32 The most (G)proud shall stumble and fall,
And no one will raise him up;
(H)I will kindle a fire in his cities,
And it will devour all around him.”

33 Thus says the Lord of hosts:

“The children of Israel were oppressed,
Along with the children of Judah;
All who took them captive have held them fast;
They have refused to let them go.
34 (I)Their Redeemer is strong;
(J)The Lord of hosts is His name.
He will thoroughly plead their (K)case,
That He may give rest to the land,
And disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 50:29 Qr., some Heb. mss., LXX, Tg. add to her
  2. Jeremiah 50:31 So with MT, Tg.; LXX, Vg. The time of your punishment

27 Kill all her young bulls;(A)
    let them go down to the slaughter!(B)
Woe to them! For their day(C) has come,
    the time(D) for them to be punished.
28 Listen to the fugitives(E) and refugees from Babylon
    declaring in Zion(F)
how the Lord our God has taken vengeance,(G)
    vengeance for his temple.(H)

29 “Summon archers against Babylon,
    all those who draw the bow.(I)
Encamp all around her;
    let no one escape.(J)
Repay(K) her for her deeds;(L)
    do to her as she has done.
For she has defied(M) the Lord,
    the Holy One(N) of Israel.
30 Therefore, her young men(O) will fall in the streets;
    all her soldiers will be silenced in that day,”
declares the Lord.
31 “See, I am against(P) you, you arrogant one,”
    declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty,
“for your day(Q) has come,
    the time for you to be punished.
32 The arrogant(R) one will stumble and fall(S)
    and no one will help her up;(T)
I will kindle a fire(U) in her towns
    that will consume all who are around her.”

33 This is what the Lord Almighty says:

“The people of Israel are oppressed,(V)
    and the people of Judah as well.
All their captors hold them fast,
    refusing to let them go.(W)
34 Yet their Redeemer(X) is strong;
    the Lord Almighty(Y) is his name.
He will vigorously defend their cause(Z)
    so that he may bring rest(AA) to their land,
    but unrest to those who live in Babylon.

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17 “Israel is like (A)scattered sheep;
(B)The lions have driven him away.
First (C)the king of Assyria devoured him;
Now at last this (D)Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has broken his bones.”

18 Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel:

“Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land,
As I have punished the king of (E)Assyria.

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17 “Israel is a scattered flock(A)
    that lions(B) have chased away.
The first to devour(C) them
    was the king(D) of Assyria;
the last to crush their bones(E)
    was Nebuchadnezzar(F) king(G) of Babylon.”

18 Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says:

“I will punish the king of Babylon and his land
    as I punished the king(H) of Assyria.(I)

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“Declare among the nations,
Proclaim, and [a]set up a standard;
Proclaim—do not conceal it
Say, ‘Babylon is (A)taken, (B)Bel is shamed.
[b]Merodach is broken in pieces;
(C)Her idols are humiliated,
Her images are broken in pieces.’
(D)For out of the north (E)a nation comes up against her,
Which shall make her land desolate,
And no one shall dwell therein.
They shall [c]move, they shall depart,
Both man and beast.

“In those days and in that time,” says the Lord,
“The children of Israel shall come,
(F)They and the children of Judah together;
(G)With continual weeping they shall come,
(H)And seek the Lord their God.
They shall ask the way to Zion,
With their faces toward it, saying,
‘Come and let us join ourselves to the Lord
In (I)a perpetual covenant
That will not be forgotten.’

“My people have been (J)lost sheep.
Their shepherds have led them (K)astray;
They have turned them away on (L)the mountains.
They have gone from mountain to hill;
They have forgotten their resting place.
All who found them have (M)devoured them;
And (N)their adversaries said, (O)‘We have not offended,
Because they have sinned against the Lord, (P)the habitation of justice,
The Lord, (Q)the hope of their fathers.’

“Move(R) from the midst of Babylon,
Go out of the land of the Chaldeans;
And be like the [d]rams before the flocks.
(S)For behold, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon
An assembly of great nations from the north country,
And they shall array themselves against her;
From there she shall be captured.
Their arrows shall be like those of [e]an expert warrior;
(T)None shall return in vain.
10 And Chaldea shall become plunder;
(U)All who plunder her shall be satisfied,” says the Lord.

11 “Because(V) you were glad, because you rejoiced,
You destroyers of My heritage,
Because you have grown fat (W)like a heifer threshing grain,
And you [f]bellow like bulls,

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 50:2 lift
  2. Jeremiah 50:2 Or Marduk; a Babylonian god
  3. Jeremiah 50:3 Or wander
  4. Jeremiah 50:8 male goats
  5. Jeremiah 50:9 So with some Heb. mss., LXX, Syr.; MT, Tg., Vg. a warrior who makes childless
  6. Jeremiah 50:11 Or neigh like steeds

“Announce and proclaim(A) among the nations,
    lift up a banner(B) and proclaim it;
    keep nothing back, but say,
‘Babylon will be captured;(C)
    Bel(D) will be put to shame,(E)
    Marduk(F) filled with terror.
Her images will be put to shame
    and her idols(G) filled with terror.’
A nation from the north(H) will attack her
    and lay waste her land.
No one will live(I) in it;
    both people and animals(J) will flee away.

“In those days, at that time,”
    declares the Lord,
“the people of Israel and the people of Judah together(K)
    will go in tears(L) to seek(M) the Lord their God.
They will ask the way(N) to Zion
    and turn their faces toward it.
They will come(O) and bind themselves to the Lord
    in an everlasting covenant(P)
    that will not be forgotten.

“My people have been lost sheep;(Q)
    their shepherds(R) have led them astray(S)
    and caused them to roam on the mountains.
They wandered over mountain and hill(T)
    and forgot their own resting place.(U)
Whoever found them devoured(V) them;
    their enemies said, ‘We are not guilty,(W)
for they sinned against the Lord, their verdant pasture,
    the Lord, the hope(X) of their ancestors.’

“Flee(Y) out of Babylon;(Z)
    leave the land of the Babylonians,
    and be like the goats that lead the flock.
For I will stir(AA) up and bring against Babylon
    an alliance of great nations(AB) from the land of the north.(AC)
They will take up their positions against her,
    and from the north she will be captured.(AD)
Their arrows(AE) will be like skilled warriors
    who do not return empty-handed.
10 So Babylonia[a] will be plundered;(AF)
    all who plunder her will have their fill,”
declares the Lord.

11 “Because you rejoice and are glad,
    you who pillage my inheritance,(AG)
because you frolic like a heifer(AH) threshing grain
    and neigh like stallions,

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 50:10 Or Chaldea

(A)For your Maker is your husband,
The Lord of hosts is His name;
And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel;
He is called (B)the God of the whole earth.
For the Lord (C)has called you
Like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit,
Like a youthful wife when you were refused,”
Says your God.
“For(D) a mere moment I have forsaken you,
But with great mercies (E)I will gather you.
With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment;
(F)But with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you,”
Says the Lord, your Redeemer.

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For your Maker(A) is your husband(B)
    the Lord Almighty is his name—
the Holy One(C) of Israel is your Redeemer;(D)
    he is called the God of all the earth.(E)
The Lord will call you back(F)
    as if you were a wife deserted(G) and distressed in spirit—
a wife who married young,(H)
    only to be rejected,” says your God.
“For a brief moment(I) I abandoned(J) you,
    but with deep compassion(K) I will bring you back.(L)
In a surge of anger(M)
    I hid(N) my face from you for a moment,
but with everlasting kindness(O)
    I will have compassion(P) on you,”
    says the Lord your Redeemer.(Q)

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