¹⁸ All the kings of the nations lie in state,
    each in his own tomb.^(A)
19 But you are cast out^(B) of your tomb
    like a rejected branch;
you are covered with the slain,^(C)
    with those pierced by the sword,^(D)
    those who descend to the stones of the pit.^(E)
Like a corpse trampled underfoot,
²⁰     you will not join them in burial,^(F)
for you have destroyed your land
    and killed your people.

Let the offspring^(G) of the wicked^(H)
    never be mentioned^(I) again.

² A dire^(A) vision has been shown to me:
    The traitor betrays,^(B) the looter takes loot.
Elam,^(C) attack! Media,^(D) lay siege!
    I will bring to an end all the groaning she caused.

³ At this my body is racked with pain,^(E)
    pangs seize me, like those of a woman in labor;^(F)
I am staggered by what I hear,
    I am bewildered^(G) by what I see.
⁴ My heart^(H) falters,
    fear makes me tremble;^(I)
the twilight I longed for
    has become a horror^(J) to me.

⁵ They set the tables,
    they spread the rugs,
    they eat, they drink!^(K)
Get up, you officers,
    oil the shields!^(L)

“Go, post a lookout^(M)
    and have him report what he sees.
⁷ When he sees chariots^(N)
    with teams of horses,
riders on donkeys
    or riders on camels,^(O)
let him be alert,
    fully alert.”

“Day after day, my lord, I stand on the watchtower;
    every night I stay at my post.
⁹ Look, here comes a man in a chariot^(Q)
    with a team of horses.
And he gives back the answer:
    ‘Babylon^(R) has fallen,^(S) has fallen!
All the images of its gods^(T)
    lie shattered^(U) on the ground!’”

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

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

³⁵ “A sword^(T) against the Babylonians!”^(U)
    declares the Lord—
“against those who live in Babylon
    and against her officials and wise^(V) men!

⁵⁷ I will make her officials^(A) and wise^(B) men drunk,^(C)
    her governors, officers and warriors as well;
they will sleep^(D) forever and not awake,”
    declares the King,^(E) whose name is the Lord Almighty.