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51 “We are confounded,
    because we have heard reproach.
Confusion has covered our faces,
    for strangers have come into the sanctuaries of Yahweh’s house.”

52 “Therefore behold, the days come,” says Yahweh,
    “that I will execute judgment on her engraved images;
    and through all her land the wounded will groan.
53 Though Babylon should mount up to the sky,
    and though she should fortify the height of her strength,
    yet destroyers will come to her from me,” says Yahweh.

54 “The sound of a cry comes from Babylon,
    and of great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans!
55 For Yahweh lays Babylon waste,
    and destroys out of her the great voice!
Their waves roar like many waters.
    The noise of their voice is uttered.
56 For the destroyer has come on her,
    even on Babylon.
Her mighty men are taken.
    Their bows are broken in pieces,
for Yahweh is a God of retribution.
    He will surely repay.
57 I will make her princes, her wise men,
    her governors, her deputies, and her mighty men drunk.
They will sleep a perpetual sleep,
    and not wake up,”
    says the King, whose name is Yahweh of Armies.

58 Yahweh of Armies says:

“The wide walls of Babylon will be utterly overthrown.
    Her high gates will be burned with fire.
The peoples will labor for vanity,
    and the nations for the fire;
    and they will be weary.”

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51 (A)‘We are put to shame, for we have heard reproach;
    (B)dishonor has covered our face,
(C)for foreigners have come
    into the holy places of the Lord's house.’

52 “Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord,
    when (D)I will execute judgment upon her images,
(E)and through all her land
    the wounded shall groan.
53 Though Babylon should (F)mount up to heaven,
    and though she should (G)fortify her strong height,
yet destroyers would come from me against her,
    declares the Lord.

54 (H)“A voice! A cry from Babylon!
    The noise of great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans!
55 For the Lord is laying Babylon waste
    and stilling her mighty voice.
(I)Their waves roar like many waters;
    the noise of their voice is raised,
56 for a destroyer has come upon her,
    upon Babylon;
her warriors are taken;
    their bows are broken in pieces,
(J)for the Lord is a God of recompense;
    he will surely repay.
57 (K)I will make drunk her officials and her wise men,
    (L)her governors, her commanders, and her warriors;
they shall sleep a perpetual sleep and not wake,
    declares (M)the King, whose name is the Lord of hosts.

58 “Thus says the Lord of hosts:
The broad (N)wall of Babylon
    shall be leveled to the ground,
(O)and her high gates
    shall be burned with fire.
(P)The peoples labor for nothing,
    and (Q)the nations weary themselves only for fire.”

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