² I will go before you^(A)
    and will level^(B) the mountains^[a];
I will break down gates^(C) of bronze
    and cut through bars of iron.^(D)

⁴ Every valley shall be raised up,^(A)
    every mountain and hill^(B) made low;
the rough ground shall become level,^(C)
    the rugged places a plain.

¹⁶ I will lead^(A) the blind^(B) by ways they have not known,
    along unfamiliar paths I will guide them;
I will turn the darkness into light^(C) before them
    and make the rough places smooth.^(D)
These are the things I will do;
    I will not forsake^(E) them.

⁵ Every valley shall be filled in,
    every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
    the rough ways smooth.

¹⁶ for he breaks down gates of bronze
    and cuts through bars of iron.

³⁰ Babylon’s warriors^(A) have stopped fighting;
    they remain in their strongholds.
Their strength is exhausted;
    they have become weaklings.^(B)
Her dwellings are set on fire;^(C)
    the bars^(D) of her gates are broken.

⁴ Listen, a noise on the mountains,
    like that of a great multitude!^(A)
Listen, an uproar^(B) among the kingdoms,
    like nations massing together!
The Lord Almighty^(C) is mustering^(D)
    an army for war.
⁵ They come from faraway lands,
    from the ends of the heavens^(E)—
the Lord and the weapons^(F) of his wrath^(G)—
    to destroy^(H) the whole country.

⁶ Wail,^(I) for the day^(J) of the Lord is near;
    it will come like destruction^(K) from the Almighty.^[a](L)
7 Because of this, all hands will go limp,^(M)
    every heart will melt with fear.^(N)
8 Terror^(O) will seize them,
    pain and anguish will grip^(P) them;
    they will writhe like a woman in labor.^(Q)
They will look aghast at each other,
    their faces aflame.^(R)

⁹ See, the day^(S) of the Lord is coming
    —a cruel^(T) day, with wrath^(U) and fierce anger^(V)—
to make the land desolate
    and destroy the sinners within it.
¹⁰ The stars of heaven and their constellations
    will not show their light.^(W)
The rising sun^(X) will be darkened^(Y)
    and the moon will not give its light.^(Z)
11 I will punish^(AA) the world for its evil,
    the wicked^(AB) for their sins.
I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty^(AC)
    and will humble^(AD) the pride of the ruthless.^(AE)
12 I will make people^(AF) scarcer than pure gold,
    more rare than the gold of Ophir.^(AG)
13 Therefore I will make the heavens tremble;^(AH)
    and the earth will shake^(AI) from its place
at the wrath^(AJ) of the Lord Almighty,
    in the day of his burning anger.^(AK)

¹⁴ Like a hunted^(AL) gazelle,
    like sheep without a shepherd,^(AM)
they will all return to their own people,
    they will flee^(AN) to their native land.^(AO)
15 Whoever is captured will be thrust through;
    all who are caught will fall^(AP) by the sword.^(AQ)
16 Their infants^(AR) will be dashed to pieces before their eyes;
    their houses will be looted and their wives violated.^(AS)

¹⁷ See, I will stir up^(AT) against them the Medes,^(AU)
    who do not care for silver
    and have no delight in gold.^(AV)