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11 “Make the arrows sharp!
    Hold the shields firmly!
Yahweh has stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes,
    because his purpose is against Babylon, to destroy it;
for it is the vengeance of Yahweh,
    the vengeance of his temple.
12 Set up a standard against the walls of Babylon!
    Make the watch strong!
Set the watchmen,
    and prepare the ambushes;
for Yahweh has both purposed and done
    that which he spoke concerning the inhabitants of Babylon.
13 You who dwell on many waters, abundant in treasures,
    your end has come, the measure of your covetousness.
14 Yahweh of Armies has sworn by himself, saying,
    ‘Surely I will fill you with men,
    as with the canker worm;
    and they will lift up a shout against you.’

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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.