14 Line up in battle formation around Babylon,
all you archers!
Shoot at her! Do not spare an arrow,
for she has sinned against the Lord.
15 Raise a war cry against her on every side!
She has thrown up her hands in surrender;
her defense towers have fallen;
her walls are demolished.(A)
Since this is the Lord’s vengeance,(B)
take out your vengeance on her;
as she has done, do the same to her.
16 Cut off the sower from Babylon
as well as him who wields the sickle at harvest time.
Because of the oppressor’s sword,(C)
each will turn to his own people,(D)
each will flee to his own land.

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14 Deploy the troops all around Babylon.
    All who bend the bow, shoot at her
and spare no arrows,
    for she has sinned against the Lord.
15 Raise a battle cry against her on every side.
    She has surrendered,[a] her pillars have fallen,
        her walls are thrown down.
For this is the vengeance of the Lord.
    Take vengeance on her;
        as she has done, do to her.
16 Eliminate from Babylon the one who plants seeds
    and the one who uses the sickle at harvest time.
Because of the oppressor’s sword, let each one turn
    toward his own people and flee to his own land.”

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 50:15 Lit. she has given her hand