^12 (A)“Set up a standard against the walls of Babylon;
    ^(B)make the watch strong;
set up watchmen;
    prepare the ambushes;
^(C)for the Lord has both planned and done
    what he spoke concerning the inhabitants of Babylon.

^11 (A)“Sharpen the arrows!
    Take up the shields!

² On a bare hill ^(A)raise a signal;
    cry aloud to them;
wave the hand for ^(B)them to enter
    the gates of the nobles.

^14 (A)Draw water for the siege;
    ^(B)strengthen your forts;
go into the clay;
    tread the mortar;
    take hold of the brick mold!
¹⁵ There will the fire devour you;
    the sword will cut you off.
    It will ^(C)devour you ^(D)like the locust.
Multiply yourselves ^(E)like the locust;
    multiply ^(F)like the grasshopper!

⁹ Proclaim this among the nations:
^(A)Consecrate for war;^[a]
    stir up the mighty men.
Let all the men of war draw near;
    let them come up.
^10 (B)Beat your plowshares into swords,
    and ^(C)your pruning hooks into spears;
    let the weak say, “I am a warrior.”

^11 (D)Hasten and come,
    all you surrounding nations,
    and gather yourselves there.
^(E)Bring down your warriors, O Lord.
¹² Let the nations stir themselves up
    and come up to ^(F)the Valley of Jehoshaphat;
^(G)for there I will sit to judge
    all the surrounding nations.

^13 (H)Put in the sickle,
    ^(I)for the harvest is ripe.
^(J)Go in, tread,
    ^(K)for the winepress is full.
The vats overflow,
    for their evil is great.

¹⁴ Multitudes, multitudes,
    in the valley of decision!
For ^(L)the day of the Lord is near
    in the valley of decision.

¹⁷ The Lord has done what he purposed;
    he has carried out ^(A)his word,
which he commanded ^(B)long ago;
    ^(C)he has thrown down ^(D)without pity;
^(E)he has made the enemy rejoice over you
    and exalted the ^(F)might of your foes.