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11 Sharpen the arrows!
    Lift up the shields![a]
For the Lord has inspired the kings of the Medes
    to march against Babylon and destroy her.
This is his vengeance against those
    who desecrated his Temple.
12 Raise the battle flag against Babylon!
    Reinforce the guard and station the watchmen.
Prepare an ambush,
    for the Lord will fulfill all his plans against Babylon.
13 You are a city by a great river,
    a great center of commerce,
but your end has come.
    The thread of your life is cut.
14 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has taken this vow
    and has sworn to it by his own name:
“Your cities will be filled with enemies,
    like fields swarming with locusts,
    and they will shout in triumph over you.”

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Footnotes

  1. 51:11 Greek version reads Fill up the quivers.

11 Sharpen the arrows, fill the quivers!
The Lord has stirred up the spirit
    of the kings of the Medes—
        he has decided to destroy Babylon.
Indeed, it’s the Lord’s vengeance,
    vengeance for his Temple.
12 Lift up the battle standard[a] against Babylon’s walls.
    Strengthen the guard;
        post watchmen.[b]
Set men in position for an ambush.
    For the Lord will both plan and carry out what he has
        declared against the inhabitants of Babylon.
13 You who live beside many waters,
    rich in treasures,
your end has come,
    your life thread is cut.[c]
14 The Lord of the Heavenly Armies
    has sworn by himself:
“I’ll surely fill you with soldiers[d] like a swarm of locusts,
    and they’ll sing songs of victory over you.”

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 51:12 I.e. Give the signal to attack
  2. Jeremiah 51:12 Or guards
  3. Jeremiah 51:13 Or the measure of your unjust gain
  4. Jeremiah 51:14 Lit. men