²⁰ She will never be inhabited^(A)
    or lived in through all generations;
there no nomads^(B) will pitch their tents,
    there no shepherds will rest their flocks.

⁴³ Her towns will be desolate,
    a dry and desert^(A) land,
a land where no one lives,
    through which no one travels.^(B)

²³ “I will turn her into a place for owls^(A)
    and into swampland;
I will sweep her with the broom of destruction,^(B)”
    declares the Lord Almighty.^(C)

“With such violence
    the great city^(C) of Babylon will be thrown down,
    never to be found again.
²² The music of harpists and musicians, pipers and trumpeters,
    will never be heard in you again.^(D)
No worker of any trade
    will ever be found in you again.
The sound of a millstone
    will never be heard in you again.^(E)
23 The light of a lamp
    will never shine in you again.
The voice of bridegroom and bride
    will never be heard in you again.^(F)
Your merchants were the world’s important people.^(G)
    By your magic spell^(H) all the nations were led astray.

³⁷ Babylon will be a heap of ruins,
    a haunt^(A) of jackals,
an object of horror and scorn,^(B)
    a place where no one lives.^(C)

²⁹ The land trembles^(A) and writhes,
    for the Lord’s purposes^(B) against Babylon stand—
to lay waste^(C) the land of Babylon
    so that no one will live there.^(D)

²⁵ “I am against^(A) you, you destroying mountain,
    you who destroy the whole earth,”^(B)
declares the Lord.
“I will stretch out my hand^(C) against you,
    roll you off the cliffs,
    and make you a burned-out mountain.^(D)

⁴⁵ Therefore, hear what the Lord has planned against Babylon,
    what he has purposed^(A) against the land of the Babylonians:^(B)
The young of the flock will be dragged away;
    their pasture will be appalled at their fate.