¹² I will make people^(A) scarcer than pure gold,
    more rare than the gold of Ophir.^(B)

¹⁵ Whoever is captured will be thrust through;
    all who are caught will fall^(A) by the sword.^(B)
16 Their infants^(C) will be dashed to pieces before their eyes;
    their houses will be looted and their wives violated.^(D)

¹⁷ See, I will stir up^(E) against them the Medes,^(F)
    who do not care for silver
    and have no delight in gold.^(G)
18 Their bows^(H) will strike down the young men;^(I)
    they will have no mercy^(J) on infants,
    nor will they look with compassion on children.^(K)

²¹ Prepare a place to slaughter his children^(A)
    for the sins of their ancestors;^(B)
they are not to rise to inherit the land
    and cover the earth with their cities.

²² “I will rise up^(C) against them,”
    declares the Lord Almighty.
“I will wipe out Babylon’s name^(D) and survivors,
    her offspring and descendants,^(E)”
declares the Lord.
²³ “I will turn her into a place for owls^(F)
    and into swampland;
I will sweep her with the broom of destruction,^(G)”
    declares the Lord Almighty.^(H)

²⁶ Come against her from afar.^(A)
    Break open her granaries;
    pile her up like heaps of grain.^(B)
Completely destroy^(C) her
    and leave her no remnant.