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41 “Look! An army is coming from the north.
    A powerful nation and many kings
    are coming together from all around the world.
42 Their armies have bows and spears.
    The soldiers are cruel and have no mercy.
As the soldiers come riding on their horses,
    the sound is loud like the roaring sea.
They stand in their places, ready for battle.
    They are ready to attack you, city of Babylon.
43 The king of Babylon heard about those armies,
    and he became helpless with fear.
Distress has gripped him.
    His pain is like that of a woman giving birth to a baby.

44 “Like a lion coming up from the thick bushes near the Jordan River
    to attack a strong pen for sheep,
I will suddenly chase the people of Babylon from their land.
    Who is the one I have chosen to do this?
There is no one like me,
    no one who can take me to court.
    None of their leaders can stand up against me.”

45 So listen to what the Lord has planned to do against Babylon.
    Listen to what he has decided to do to the people in the city of Babylon.
He will surely drag away the young ones of Babylon.
    Their hometowns will surely be shocked at what happens to them.
46 At the sound of Babylon’s capture, the earth will shake.
    People in all nations will hear Babylon’s cry of distress.

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41 “Look! An army is coming from the north;(A)
    a great nation and many kings
    are being stirred(B) up from the ends of the earth.(C)
42 They are armed with bows(D) and spears;
    they are cruel(E) and without mercy.(F)
They sound like the roaring sea(G)
    as they ride on their horses;
they come like men in battle formation
    to attack you, Daughter Babylon.(H)
43 The king of Babylon has heard reports about them,
    and his hands hang limp.(I)
Anguish has gripped him,
    pain like that of a woman in labor.(J)
44 Like a lion coming up from Jordan’s thickets(K)
    to a rich pastureland,
I will chase Babylon from its land in an instant.
    Who is the chosen(L) one I will appoint for this?
Who is like me and who can challenge me?(M)
    And what shepherd can stand against me?”

45 Therefore, hear what the Lord has planned against Babylon,
    what he has purposed(N) against the land of the Babylonians:(O)
The young of the flock will be dragged away;
    their pasture will be appalled at their fate.
46 At the sound of Babylon’s capture the earth will tremble;(P)
    its cry(Q) will resound among the nations.

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