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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 are disgraced,(A)
    for we have been insulted
    and shame covers our faces,
because foreigners have entered
    the holy places of the Lord’s house.”(B)

52 “But days are coming,” declares the Lord,
    “when I will punish her idols,(C)
and throughout her land
    the wounded will groan.(D)
53 Even if Babylon ascends to the heavens(E)
    and fortifies her lofty stronghold,
    I will send destroyers(F) against her,”
declares the Lord.

54 “The sound of a cry(G) comes from Babylon,
    the sound of great destruction(H)
    from the land of the Babylonians.[a]
55 The Lord will destroy Babylon;
    he will silence(I) her noisy din.
Waves(J) of enemies will rage like great waters;
    the roar of their voices will resound.
56 A destroyer(K) will come against Babylon;
    her warriors will be captured,
    and their bows will be broken.(L)
For the Lord is a God of retribution;
    he will repay(M) in full.
57 I will make her officials(N) and wise(O) men drunk,(P)
    her governors, officers and warriors as well;
they will sleep(Q) forever and not awake,”
    declares the King,(R) whose name is the Lord Almighty.

58 This is what the Lord Almighty says:

“Babylon’s thick wall(S) will be leveled
    and her high gates(T) set on fire;
the peoples(U) exhaust(V) themselves for nothing,
    the nations’ labor is only fuel for the flames.”(W)

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 51:54 Or Chaldeans