The Conquest of Babylon

41 Look! A people comes from the north.(A)
A great nation and many kings will be stirred up
from the remote regions of the earth.(B)
42 They grasp bow and javelin.
They are cruel and show no mercy.
Their voice roars like the sea,(C)
and they ride on horses,
lined up like men in battle formation
against you, Daughter Babylon.
43 The king of Babylon has heard about them;
his hands have become weak.
Distress has seized him—
pain, like a woman in labor.(D)

44 “Look, it will be like a lion coming from the thickets[a](E) of the Jordan to the watered grazing land. I will chase Babylon[b] away from her land in a flash. I will appoint whoever is chosen for her. For who is like me? Who will issue me a summons? Who is the shepherd who can stand against me?”

45 Therefore, hear the plans that the Lord has drawn up against Babylon and the strategies he has devised against the land of the Chaldeans:(F) Certainly the flock’s little lambs will be dragged away; certainly the grazing land will be made desolate because of them. 46 At the sound of Babylon’s conquest the earth will quake; a cry will be heard among the nations.(G)

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Footnotes

  1. 50:44 Lit pride
  2. 50:44 Lit them

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

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

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