Jeremiah 50:33-46

New International Version

³³This is what the Lord Almighty says:

“The people of Israel are oppressed,^(A)
    and the people of Judah as well.
All their captors hold them fast,
    refusing to let them go.^(B)
³⁴Yet their Redeemer^(C) is strong;
    the Lord Almighty^(D) is his name.
He will vigorously defend their cause^(E)
    so that he may bring rest^(F) to their land,
    but unrest to those who live in Babylon.

³⁵“A sword^(G) against the Babylonians!”^(H)
    declares the Lord—
“against those who live in Babylon
    and against her officials and wise^(I) men!
³⁶A sword against her false prophets!
    They will become fools.
A sword against her warriors!^(J)
    They will be filled with terror.^(K)
³⁷A sword against her horses and chariots^(L)
    and all the foreigners in her ranks!
    They will become weaklings.^(M)
A sword against her treasures!^(N)
    They will be plundered.
³⁸A drought on^[a] her waters!^(O)
    They will dry^(P) up.
For it is a land of idols,^(Q)
    idols that will go mad with terror.

³⁹“So desert creatures^(R) and hyenas will live there,
    and there the owl will dwell.
It will never again be inhabited
    or lived in from generation to generation.^(S)
⁴⁰As I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah^(T)
    along with their neighboring towns,”
declares the Lord,
“so no one will live there;
    no people will dwell in it.^(U)

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

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