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Jeremiah 51:54-52:34
English Standard Version
Jeremiah 51:54-52:34
English Standard Version
54 (A)“A voice! A cry from Babylon!
The noise of great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans!
55 For the Lord is laying Babylon waste
and stilling her mighty voice.
(B)Their waves roar like many waters;
the noise of their voice is raised,
56 for a destroyer has come upon her,
upon Babylon;
her warriors are taken;
their bows are broken in pieces,
(C)for the Lord is a God of recompense;
he will surely repay.
57 (D)I will make drunk her officials and her wise men,
(E)her governors, her commanders, and her warriors;
they shall sleep a perpetual sleep and not wake,
declares (F)the King, whose name is the Lord of hosts.
58 “Thus says the Lord of hosts:
The broad (G)wall of Babylon
shall be leveled to the ground,
(H)and her high gates
shall be burned with fire.
(I)The peoples labor for nothing,
and (J)the nations weary themselves only for fire.”
59 The word that Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah (K)the son of Neriah, son of Mahseiah, when he went with Zedekiah king of Judah to Babylon, (L)in the fourth year of his reign. Seraiah was the quartermaster. 60 (M)Jeremiah wrote in a book all the disaster that should come upon Babylon, (N)all these words that are written concerning Babylon. 61 And Jeremiah said to Seraiah: “When you come to Babylon, see that you read all these words, 62 and say, ‘O Lord, you have said concerning this place that you will cut it off, so (O)that nothing shall dwell in it, neither man nor beast, and it shall be (P)desolate forever.’ 63 When you finish reading this book, (Q)(R)tie a stone to it (S)and cast it into the midst of the Euphrates, 64 and say, (T)‘Thus shall Babylon sink, to rise no more, because of the disaster that I am bringing upon her, (U)and they shall become exhausted.’”
Thus far are the words of Jeremiah.
The Fall of Jerusalem Recounted
52 (V)Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. 2 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, (W)according to all that Jehoiakim had done. 3 For because of the anger of the Lord it came to the point in Jerusalem and Judah that he cast them out from his presence.
And Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon. 4 (X)And in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came with all his army against Jerusalem, and laid siege to it. And they built siegeworks all around it. 5 So the city was besieged till the eleventh year of King Zedekiah. 6 On the ninth day of the fourth month the famine was so severe in the city that there was no food for the people of the land. 7 Then a breach was made in the city, and all the men of war fled and went out from the city by night by the way of a gate between the two walls, by the king's garden, and the Chaldeans were around the city. And they went in the direction of the Arabah. 8 But the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho, and all his army was scattered from him. 9 Then they captured the king and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, and he passed sentence on him. 10 The king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and also slaughtered all the officials of Judah at (Y)Riblah. 11 (Z)He put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him in chains, and the king of Babylon took him to Babylon, and put him in prison (AA)till the day of his death.
The Temple Burned
12 (AB)In the fifth month, on (AC)the tenth day of the month—that was (AD)the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon—Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguard, who (AE)served the king of Babylon, entered Jerusalem. 13 And he burned the house of the Lord, and the king's house and all the houses of Jerusalem; every great house he burned down. 14 And all the army of the Chaldeans, who were with the captain of the guard, broke down all the walls around Jerusalem. 15 And Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive some of the poorest of the people and the rest of the people who were left in the city and (AF)the deserters who had deserted to the king of Babylon, together with the rest of the artisans. 16 But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left some of the poorest of the land to be vinedressers and plowmen.
17 And the (AG)pillars of bronze that were in the house of the Lord, and the stands and the (AH)bronze sea that were in the house of the Lord, the Chaldeans broke in pieces, and (AI)carried all the bronze to Babylon. 18 And they took away (AJ)the pots and the shovels and the snuffers and the basins and the dishes for incense and all the vessels of bronze used in the temple service; 19 (AK)also the small bowls and the fire pans and the basins and the pots and (AL)the lampstands and (AM)the dishes for incense (AN)and the bowls for drink offerings. What was of gold the captain of the guard took away as gold, and what was of silver, as silver. 20 As for the two pillars, the one sea, (AO)the twelve bronze bulls that were under the sea,[a] and the stands, which Solomon the king had made for the house of the Lord, the bronze of all these things was beyond weight. 21 As for the pillars, the height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits,[b] (AP)its circumference was twelve cubits, and its thickness was four fingers, and it was hollow. 22 On it was a capital of bronze. The height of the one capital was (AQ)five cubits. A network and pomegranates, all of bronze, were around the capital. And the second pillar had the same, with pomegranates. 23 There were ninety-six pomegranates on the sides; all the pomegranates were a hundred upon the network all around.
The People Exiled to Babylon
24 And the captain of the guard took (AR)Seraiah the chief priest, and (AS)Zephaniah the second priest and the three keepers of the threshold; 25 and from the city he took an officer who had been in command of the men of war, and (AT)seven men of the king's council, who were found in the city; and the secretary of the commander of the army, who mustered the people of the land; and sixty men of the people of the land, who were found in the midst of the city. 26 And Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took them and brought them to the king of Babylon at (AU)Riblah. 27 And the king of Babylon struck them down and put them to death at (AV)Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was taken into exile out of its land.
28 This is the number of the people whom Nebuchadnezzar carried away captive: (AW)in the seventh year, 3,023 Judeans; 29 (AX)in the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar he carried away captive from Jerusalem 832 persons; 30 in the twenty-third year of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive of the Judeans 745 persons; all the persons were 4,600.
Jehoiachin Released from Prison
31 (AY)And in the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-fifth day of the month, Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, graciously freed[c] (AZ)Jehoiachin king of Judah and brought him out of prison. 32 And he spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat above the seats of (BA)the kings who were with him in Babylon. 33 So Jehoiachin put off his prison garments. And every day of his life he dined regularly at the king's table, 34 and for his allowance, a regular allowance was given him by the king, according to his daily needs, until the day of his death, as long as he lived.
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 52:20 Hebrew lacks the sea
- Jeremiah 52:21 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters
- Jeremiah 52:31 Hebrew reign, lifted up the head of
Jeremiah 51:54-52:34
New International Version
Jeremiah 51:54-52:34
New International Version
54 “The sound of a cry(A) comes from Babylon,
the sound of great destruction(B)
from the land of the Babylonians.[a]
55 The Lord will destroy Babylon;
he will silence(C) her noisy din.
Waves(D) of enemies will rage like great waters;
the roar of their voices will resound.
56 A destroyer(E) will come against Babylon;
her warriors will be captured,
and their bows will be broken.(F)
For the Lord is a God of retribution;
he will repay(G) in full.
57 I will make her officials(H) and wise(I) men drunk,(J)
her governors, officers and warriors as well;
they will sleep(K) forever and not awake,”
declares the King,(L) whose name is the Lord Almighty.
58 This is what the Lord Almighty says:
“Babylon’s thick wall(M) will be leveled
and her high gates(N) set on fire;
the peoples(O) exhaust(P) themselves for nothing,
the nations’ labor is only fuel for the flames.”(Q)
59 This is the message Jeremiah the prophet gave to the staff officer Seraiah son of Neriah,(R) the son of Mahseiah, when he went to Babylon with Zedekiah(S) king of Judah in the fourth(T) year of his reign. 60 Jeremiah had written on a scroll(U) about all the disasters that would come upon Babylon—all that had been recorded concerning Babylon. 61 He said to Seraiah, “When you get to Babylon, see that you read all these words aloud. 62 Then say, ‘Lord, you have said you will destroy this place, so that neither people nor animals will live in it; it will be desolate(V) forever.’ 63 When you finish reading this scroll, tie a stone to it and throw it into the Euphrates.(W) 64 Then say, ‘So will Babylon sink to rise no more(X) because of the disaster I will bring on her. And her people(Y) will fall.’”(Z)
The words of Jeremiah end(AA) here.
The Fall of Jerusalem(AB)(AC)(AD)
52 Zedekiah(AE) was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. His mother’s name was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah; she was from Libnah.(AF) 2 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, just as Jehoiakim(AG) had done. 3 It was because of the Lord’s anger that all this happened to Jerusalem and Judah,(AH) and in the end he thrust them from his presence.(AI)
Now Zedekiah rebelled(AJ) against the king of Babylon.
4 So in the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, on the tenth(AK) day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem(AL) with his whole army. They encamped outside the city and built siege works(AM) all around it.(AN) 5 The city was kept under siege until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah.
6 By the ninth day of the fourth month the famine in the city had become so severe that there was no food for the people to eat.(AO) 7 Then the city wall was broken through, and the whole army fled.(AP) They left the city at night through the gate between the two walls near the king’s garden, though the Babylonians[b] were surrounding the city. They fled toward the Arabah,[c] 8 but the Babylonian[d] army pursued King Zedekiah and overtook him in the plains of Jericho. All his soldiers were separated from him and scattered, 9 and he was captured.(AQ)
He was taken to the king of Babylon at Riblah(AR) in the land of Hamath,(AS) where he pronounced sentence on him. 10 There at Riblah the king of Babylon killed the sons(AT) of Zedekiah before his eyes; he also killed all the officials of Judah. 11 Then he put out Zedekiah’s eyes, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon, where he put him in prison till the day of his death.(AU)
12 On the tenth day of the fifth(AV) month, in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan(AW) commander of the imperial guard, who served the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. 13 He set fire(AX) to the temple(AY) of the Lord, the royal palace and all the houses(AZ) of Jerusalem. Every important building he burned down. 14 The whole Babylonian army, under the commander of the imperial guard, broke down all the walls(BA) around Jerusalem. 15 Nebuzaradan the commander of the guard carried into exile(BB) some of the poorest people and those who remained in the city, along with the rest of the craftsmen[e] and those who had deserted(BC) to the king of Babylon. 16 But Nebuzaradan left behind(BD) the rest of the poorest people of the land to work the vineyards and fields.
17 The Babylonians broke up the bronze pillars,(BE) the movable stands(BF) and the bronze Sea(BG) that were at the temple of the Lord and they carried all the bronze to Babylon.(BH) 18 They also took away the pots, shovels, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls,(BI) dishes and all the bronze articles used in the temple service.(BJ) 19 The commander of the imperial guard took away the basins, censers,(BK) sprinkling bowls, pots, lampstands,(BL) dishes(BM) and bowls used for drink offerings(BN)—all that were made of pure gold or silver.(BO)
20 The bronze from the two pillars, the Sea and the twelve bronze bulls(BP) under it, and the movable stands, which King Solomon had made for the temple of the Lord, was more than could be weighed.(BQ) 21 Each pillar was eighteen cubits high and twelve cubits in circumference[f]; each was four fingers thick, and hollow.(BR) 22 The bronze capital(BS) on top of one pillar was five cubits[g] high and was decorated with a network and pomegranates(BT) of bronze all around. The other pillar, with its pomegranates, was similar. 23 There were ninety-six pomegranates on the sides; the total number of pomegranates(BU) above the surrounding network was a hundred.(BV)
24 The commander of the guard took as prisoners Seraiah(BW) the chief priest, Zephaniah(BX) the priest next in rank and the three doorkeepers.(BY) 25 Of those still in the city, he took the officer in charge of the fighting men, and seven royal advisers. He also took the secretary(BZ) who was chief officer in charge of conscripting the people of the land, sixty of whom were found in the city. 26 Nebuzaradan(CA) the commander took them all and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah. 27 There at Riblah,(CB) in the land of Hamath, the king had them executed.
So Judah went into captivity, away(CC) from her land. 28 This is the number of the people Nebuchadnezzar carried into exile:(CD)
in the seventh year, 3,023 Jews;
29 in Nebuchadnezzar’s eighteenth year,
832 people from Jerusalem;
30 in his twenty-third year,
745 Jews taken into exile(CE) by Nebuzaradan the commander of the imperial guard.
There were 4,600 people in all.(CF)
Jehoiachin Released(CG)
31 In the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin(CH) king of Judah, in the year Awel-Marduk became king of Babylon, on the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month, he released Jehoiachin king of Judah and freed him from prison. 32 He spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat of honor higher than those of the other kings who were with him in Babylon. 33 So Jehoiachin put aside his prison clothes and for the rest of his life ate regularly at the king’s table.(CI) 34 Day by day the king of Babylon gave Jehoiachin a regular allowance(CJ) as long as he lived, till the day of his death.
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 51:54 Or Chaldeans
- Jeremiah 52:7 Or Chaldeans; also in verse 17
- Jeremiah 52:7 Or the Jordan Valley
- Jeremiah 52:8 Or Chaldean; also in verse 14
- Jeremiah 52:15 Or the populace
- Jeremiah 52:21 That is, about 27 feet high and 18 feet in circumference or about 8.1 meters high and 5.4 meters in circumference
- Jeremiah 52:22 That is, about 7 1/2 feet or about 2.3 meters
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.