Add parallel Print Page Options

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.”

Read full chapter

51 We are humiliated
    because we have heard reproach.
    Shame has covered our faces,
for strangers have come into
    the holy places of the house of the Lord.

52 Therefore, surely the days are coming, says the Lord,
    when I will punish her graven images,
and the mortally wounded shall groan
    through all her land.
53 Though Babylon should mount up to heaven,
    and though she should fortify the height of her strength,
    yet from Me will destroyers come to her,
    says the Lord.

54 A sound of an outcry comes from Babylon,
    and great destruction
    from the land of the Chaldeans,
55 because the Lord has devastated Babylon,
    and destroyed the great voice out of her.
When her waves roar like great waters,
    a noise of their voice is uttered.
56 Because the destroyer is coming against her, even upon Babylon,
    and her mighty men will be captured,
    every one of their bows are broken.
For the Lord is a God of recompense;
    He will completely repay.
57 I will make her officials drunk, and her wise men,
    her captains, and her rulers, and her mighty men;
and they will sleep a perpetual sleep, and not awake,
    says the King whose name is the Lord of Hosts.

58 Thus says the Lord of Hosts:

The broad wall of Babylon will be utterly broken,
    and her high gates will be burned with fire;
and the peoples will labor in vain,
    and the nations become exhausted only for fire.

Read full chapter