51 “We are disgraced,(A)
    for we have been insulted
    and shame covers our faces,
because foreigners have entered
    the holy places of the Lord’s house.”(B)

52 “But days are coming,” declares the Lord,
    “when I will punish her idols,(C)
and throughout her land
    the wounded will groan.(D)
53 Even if Babylon ascends to the heavens(E)
    and fortifies her lofty stronghold,
    I will send destroyers(F) against her,”
declares the Lord.

54 “The sound of a cry(G) comes from Babylon,
    the sound of great destruction(H)
    from the land of the Babylonians.[a]
55 The Lord will destroy Babylon;
    he will silence(I) her noisy din.
Waves(J) of enemies will rage like great waters;
    the roar of their voices will resound.
56 A destroyer(K) will come against Babylon;
    her warriors will be captured,
    and their bows will be broken.(L)
For the Lord is a God of retribution;
    he will repay(M) in full.
57 I will make her officials(N) and wise(O) men drunk,(P)
    her governors, officers and warriors as well;
they will sleep(Q) forever and not awake,”
    declares the King,(R) whose name is the Lord Almighty.

58 This is what the Lord Almighty says:

“Babylon’s thick wall(S) will be leveled
    and her high gates(T) set on fire;
the peoples(U) exhaust(V) themselves for nothing,
    the nations’ labor is only fuel for the flames.”(W)

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 51:54 Or Chaldeans

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