² “·Announce [Proclaim] this to the nations [^Land let them hear].
    Lift up a banner [^Ca battle standard] and ·tell them [make them hear].
    ·Speak the whole message [^LDo not conceal anything] and say:
‘Babylon will be captured.
    The god Bel [^Canother name for Marduk] will be ·put to shame [humiliated],
    and the god Marduk [^Cthe chief god of the Babylonians] will be ·afraid [terrified].
·Babylon’s gods [^LIts images] will be ·put to shame [humiliated],
    and her idols will be ·afraid [terrified]!’
³ A nation from the north will attack Babylon [^CPersia]
    and make it like an ·empty desert [desolation].
No one will live there;
    both people and animals will ·run away [flee].”