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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 We have been put to shame
    because we have heard insults.
Disgrace has covered our faces because foreigners have
    come into the Holy Places of the Lord’s house.

52 “Therefore, look, days are coming,”
    declares the Lord,
“when I’ll punish her idols,
    and throughout her land the wounded will groan.
53 Though Babylon should reach up to the heavens
    and fortify her high fortresses,
from me destroyers will come to her,”
    declares the Lord.

54 “The sound of a cry is coming from Babylon,
    great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans.
55 For the Lord is destroying Babylon,
    and he will make the loud sounds from her disappear.[a]
Their waves will roar like many waters,
    the noise of their voices will sound forth.
56 Indeed, the destroyer is coming against her,
    against Babylon.
Her warriors are captured,
    and her bows are broken.
For the Lord is a God of recompense,
    and he will repay in full.
57 I’ll make their leaders, their wise men,
    their governors, their deputies,
and their warriors drunk so that they sleep forever
    and don’t wake up,”
declares the King
    whose name is the Lord of the Heavenly Armies.
58 This is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says:

“The broad wall of Babylon will be completely leveled,
    and its high gate set on fire.
and so the peoples toil for nothing,
    and the nations weary themselves only for fire.”

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 51:55 Lit. perish