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Against Babylon

50 The word that Adonai spoke about Babylon, about the land of the Chaldeans, through Jeremiah the prophet:
“Declare it among the nations and proclaim!
Raise a banner, announce, hide nothing!
Say: ‘Babylon will be captured,
Bel put to shame,
Merodach dismayed,
her images disgraced,
her idols shattered!’
For a nation comes up against her
out of the land of the north
—it will desolate her land.
No one will dwell there—
they have fled, gone, both man and beast.”

Declaration of Restoration

“In those days and at that time”
—it is a declaration of Adonai
“the children of Israel will come,
together with the children of Judah,
weeping as they come,
and will seek Adonai their God.
They will ask about Zion, the way—
here are their faces! Come!
They will join themselves to Adonai
in an everlasting covenant
that will never be forgotten.[a]
My people have been lost sheep.[b]
Their shepherds led them astray.
Turning around in the mountains,
they went from mountain to hill,
and forgot their resting place.
Everyone finding them devoured them.
Their foes said: ‘We’re not guilty!’
Instead, they sinned against Adonai,
the habitation of justice—
Adonai, the hope of their fathers.”

Doom of Babylon

“Flee from within Babylon,[c]
get out of the land of the Chaldeans,
and be like he-goats before the flock.
For I will soon stir up and bring against Babylon
an alliance of great nations from the north.
They will form battle lines against her,
from there she will be captured.
Their arrows will be like a warrior who bereaves,
not returning empty.
10 Chaldea will be a spoil—
all who plunder her will be satisfied.”
It is a declaration of Adonai.
11 “Because you rejoice, because you exult—
you who plunder My inheritance—
because you frolic like a trampling heifer
and neigh like stallions,
12 your mother will be utterly ashamed,
she who bore you will be humiliated.
Behold, the least of the nations will be a wilderness,
a dry land, a desert.”
13 Because of Adonai’s wrath,
it will be uninhabited, all waste.
Everyone who passes by Babylon will be appalled,
hissing at all her wounds.
14 Array against Babylon all around,
all you who bend the bow.
Shoot at her! Spare no arrows—
for she has sinned against Adonai.
15 Raise a war cry against her all around!
She has thrown up her hands,
her bulwarks are fallen,
her walls thrown down.
For it is Adonai’s vengeance:
take vengeance on her,
as she has done, do to her![d]
16 Cut off the sower from Babylon
and the one who wields a sickle in the time of harvest.
Before the sword of the oppressor
they will each turn to his people,
each will flee to his own land.
17 Israel is a scattered flock—
lions have driven them away.
First, Assyria’s king devoured him.
This last one who broke his bones
was King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.
18 Therefore thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot,
the God of Israel:
“Indeed, I will punish Babylon’s king and his land,
just as I punished Assyria’s king.
19 I will bring Israel back to his pasture.
He will feed on Carmel and Bashan,
and his soul will be satisfied on the hills of Ephraim and Gilead.
20 In those days and in that time”
—it is a declaration of Adonai
“Israel’s guilt will be sought,
but there will be none,
also for the sins of Judah,
but they will not be found.
For I will pardon those whom I leave as a remnant.
21 Go up against the land of Merathaim,
against the inhabitants of Pekod.
Put them to the sword
and utterly destroy them”
—it is a declaration of Adonai
“and do all that I commanded you.”
22 The noise of battle is in the land
and great crashing.
23 How the hammer of the whole earth
has been cut down and smashed!
How Babylon has become a horror
among the nations!
24 I set a snare for you, so you were caught,
O Babylon, when you were unaware.
You were found and also caught,
because you challenged Adonai.
25 Adonai has opened His armory
and brought out the weapons of His indignation.
For it is a work that my Lord Adonai-Tzva’ot has to do
in the land of Chaldea.
26 Come against her from afar,
open her granaries,
pile her up like heaps
and utterly destroy her!
Let nothing be left to her.
27 To the sword with all her bulls,
going down to the slaughter!
Oy to them! Their day has come—
the time of their visitation.
28 The sound of fugitives, escaping out of the land of Babylon—
declaring in Zion the vengeance of Adonai our God,
vengeance for His Temple.
29 Summon archers to Babylon,
all who bend the bow.
Encamp against her all around,
let no one there escape.
Repay her for her deed.
As all she has done, do to her.[e]
For she was arrogant against Adonai,
against the Holy One of Israel.
30 Therefore her young men will fall in her squares,
all her warriors silenced in that day.”
It is a declaration of Adonai.
31 “Look, I am against you, arrogant one”
—declares my Lord Adonai-Tzva’ot
“for your day has come,
the time when I will punish you.
32 The arrogant will stumble and fall,
and no one will lift him up.
I will kindle fire in his cities,
and it will devour all who are round about him.”
33 Thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot:
“The children of Israel and the children of Judah
are oppressed together.
All their captors hold them fast.
They refused to let them go.
34 Their Redeemer is strong
Adonai-Tzva’ot is His Name—
He will vigorously plead their case,
so He may give rest to the earth,
but trembling to the Babylonians.
35 “A sword is on the Chaldeans”
—it is a declaration of Adonai
“and on Babylon’s inhabitants,
and her officials and wise men.
36 A sword on the diviners—fools!
A sword on her warriors—shattered!
37 A sword on their horses, their chariots,
on all the mixed people within her,
so they will become like women!
A sword on her treasures—
so they may be plundered.
38 A drought is on her waters,
so they will be dried up.
For it is a land of idols—
they are mad about horrible things.
39 So wildcats and hyenas will live there
and ostriches settle there.
It will never again be inhabited
or dwelt in from generation to generation.[f]
40 As when Elohim overthrew Sodom, Gomorrah
and their neighbor towns”
—it is a declaration of Adonai
so no man will live there,
nor any son of man dwell in it.[g]
41 Look! A people coming from the north,
a great nation and many kings
will rise up from the ends of the earth.
42 They grasp bow and javelin.
They are cruel, with no compassion.
Their voice roars like the sea,
as they ride on horses,
arranged as warriors for battle,
against you, daughter of Babylon.
43 Babylon’s king heard news of them.
His hands droop;
anguish grabs him,
agony like a woman in labor.
44 Look, it is like a lion coming up from the thickets of the Jordan
to a secure pasture—
for abruptly I will make him run away from it.
I appoint over it whomever I choose.
For who is like Me?
Who will summon Me to court?
What shepherd stands up to Me?”
45 Therefore hear the plan that Adonai has drawn up against Babylon,
and His strategies that He designed against the land of the Chaldeans.
Surely the least of the flock will be dragged away,
Surely He will make their pasture desolate because of them.
46 The earth will tremble at the noise of Babylon’s capture.
The sound of their outcry will be heard among the nations.

50 הַדָּבָ֗ר אֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבֶּ֧ר יְהוָ֛ה אֶל־בָּבֶ֖ל אֶל־אֶ֣רֶץ כַּשְׂדִּ֑ים בְּיַ֖ד יִרְמְיָ֥הוּ הַנָּבִֽיא׃

הַגִּ֨ידוּ בַגּוֹיִ֤ם וְהַשְׁמִ֙יעוּ֙ וּֽשְׂאוּ־נֵ֔ס הַשְׁמִ֖יעוּ אַל־תְּכַחֵ֑דוּ אִמְרוּ֩ נִלְכְּדָ֨ה בָבֶ֜ל הֹבִ֥ישׁ בֵּל֙ חַ֣ת מְרֹדָ֔ךְ הֹבִ֣ישׁוּ עֲצַבֶּ֔יהָ חַ֖תּוּ גִּלּוּלֶֽיהָ׃

כִּ֣י עָלָה֩ עָלֶ֨יהָ גּ֜וֹי מִצָּפ֗וֹן הֽוּא־יָשִׁ֤ית אֶת־אַרְצָהּ֙ לְשַׁמָּ֔ה וְלֹֽא־יִהְיֶ֥ה יוֹשֵׁ֖ב בָּ֑הּ מֵאָדָ֥ם וְעַד־בְּהֵמָ֖ה נָ֥דוּ הָלָֽכוּ׃

בַּיָּמִ֨ים הָהֵ֜מָּה וּבָעֵ֤ת הַהִיא֙ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה יָבֹ֧אוּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל הֵ֥מָּה וּבְנֵֽי־יְהוּדָ֖ה יַחְדָּ֑ו הָל֤וֹךְ וּבָכוֹ֙ יֵלֵ֔כוּ וְאֶת־יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֖ם יְבַקֵּֽשׁוּ׃

צִיּ֣וֹן יִשְׁאָ֔לוּ דֶּ֖רֶךְ הֵ֣נָּה פְנֵיהֶ֑ם בֹּ֚אוּ וְנִלְו֣וּ אֶל־יְהוָ֔ה בְּרִ֥ית עוֹלָ֖ם לֹ֥א תִשָּׁכֵֽחַ׃ ס

צֹ֤אן אֹֽבְדוֹת֙ ׳הָיָה׳ ״הָי֣וּ״ עַמִּ֔י רֹעֵיהֶ֣ם הִתְע֔וּם הָרִ֖ים ׳שׁוֹבֵבִים׳ ״שֽׁוֹבְב֑וּם״ מֵהַ֤ר אֶל־גִּבְעָה֙ הָלָ֔כוּ שָׁכְח֖וּ רִבְצָֽם׃

כָּל־מוֹצְאֵיהֶ֣ם אֲכָל֔וּם וְצָרֵיהֶ֥ם אָמְר֖וּ לֹ֣א נֶאְשָׁ֑ם תַּ֗חַת אֲשֶׁ֨ר חָטְא֤וּ לַֽיהוָה֙ נְוֵה־צֶ֔דֶק וּמִקְוֵ֥ה אֲבֽוֹתֵיהֶ֖ם יְהוָֽה׃ ס

נֻ֚דוּ מִתּ֣וֹךְ בָּבֶ֔ל וּמֵאֶ֥רֶץ כַּשְׂדִּ֖ים ׳יָצְאוּ׳ ״צֵ֑אוּ״ וִהְי֕וּ כְּעַתּוּדִ֖ים לִפְנֵי־צֹֽאן׃

כִּ֣י הִנֵּ֣ה אָנֹכִ֡י מֵעִיר֩ וּמַעֲלֶ֨ה עַל־בָּבֶ֜ל קְהַל־גּוֹיִ֤ם גְּדֹלִים֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ צָפ֔וֹן וְעָ֣רְכוּ לָ֔הּ מִשָּׁ֖ם תִּלָּכֵ֑ד חִצָּיו֙ כְּגִבּ֣וֹר מַשְׁכִּ֔יל לֹ֥א יָשׁ֖וּב רֵיקָֽם׃

10 וְהָיְתָ֥ה כַשְׂדִּ֖ים לְשָׁלָ֑ל כָּל־שֹׁלְלֶ֥יהָ יִשְׂבָּ֖עוּ נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃

11 כִּ֤י ׳תִשְׂמְחִי׳ ״תִשְׂמְחוּ֙״ כִּ֣י ׳תַעֲלְזִי׳ ״תַֽעַלְז֔וּ״ שֹׁסֵ֖י נַחֲלָתִ֑י כִּ֚י ׳תָפוּשִׁי׳ ״תָפ֙וּשׁוּ֙״ כְּעֶגְלָ֣ה דָשָׁ֔ה ׳וְתִצְהֲלִי׳ ״וְתִצְהֲל֖וּ״ כָּאֲבִּרִֽים׃

12 בּ֤וֹשָׁה אִמְּכֶם֙ מְאֹ֔ד חָפְרָ֖ה יֽוֹלַדְתְּכֶ֑ם הִנֵּה֙ אַחֲרִ֣ית גּוֹיִ֔ם מִדְבָּ֖ר צִיָּ֥ה וַעֲרָבָֽה׃

13 מִקֶּ֤צֶף יְהוָה֙ לֹ֣א תֵשֵׁ֔ב וְהָיְתָ֥ה שְׁמָמָ֖ה כֻּלָּ֑הּ כֹּ֚ל עֹבֵ֣ר עַל־בָּבֶ֔ל יִשֹּׁ֥ם וְיִשְׁרֹ֖ק עַל־כָּל־מַכּוֹתֶֽיהָ׃

14 עִרְכ֨וּ עַל־בָּבֶ֤ל׀ סָבִיב֙ כָּל־דֹּ֣רְכֵי קֶ֔שֶׁת יְד֣וּ אֵלֶ֔יהָ אַֽל־תַּחְמְל֖וּ אֶל־חֵ֑ץ כִּ֥י לַֽיהוָ֖ה חָטָֽאָה׃

15 הָרִ֨יעוּ עָלֶ֤יהָ סָבִיב֙ נָתְנָ֣ה יָדָ֔הּ נָֽפְלוּ֙ ׳אַשְׁוִיֹּתֶיהָ׳ ״אָשְׁיוֹתֶ֔יהָ״ נֶהֶרְס֖וּ חֽוֹמוֹתֶ֑יהָ כִּי֩ נִקְמַ֨ת יְהוָ֥ה הִיא֙ הִנָּ֣קְמוּ בָ֔הּ כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשְׂתָ֖ה עֲשׂוּ־לָֽהּ׃

16 כִּרְת֤וּ זוֹרֵ֙עַ֙ מִבָּבֶ֔ל וְתֹפֵ֥שׂ מַגָּ֖ל בְּעֵ֣ת קָצִ֑יר מִפְּנֵי֙ חֶ֣רֶב הַיּוֹנָ֔ה אִ֤ישׁ אֶל־עַמּוֹ֙ יִפְנ֔וּ וְאִ֥ישׁ לְאַרְצ֖וֹ יָנֻֽסוּ׃ ס

17 שֶׂ֧ה פְזוּרָ֛ה יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֲרָי֣וֹת הִדִּ֑יחוּ הָרִאשׁ֤וֹן אֲכָלוֹ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ אַשּׁ֔וּר וְזֶ֤ה הָאַחֲרוֹן֙ עִצְּמ֔וֹ נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֖ר מֶ֥לֶךְ בָּבֶֽל׃ ס

18 לָכֵ֗ן כֹּֽה־אָמַ֞ר יְהוָ֤ה צְבָאוֹת֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הִנְנִ֥י פֹקֵ֛ד אֶל־מֶ֥לֶךְ בָּבֶ֖ל וְאֶל־אַרְצ֑וֹ כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר פָּקַ֖דְתִּי אֶל־מֶ֥לֶךְ אַשּֽׁוּר׃

19 וְשֹׁבַבְתִּ֤י אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֶל־נָוֵ֔הוּ וְרָעָ֥ה הַכַּרְמֶ֖ל וְהַבָּשָׁ֑ן וּבְהַ֥ר אֶפְרַ֛יִם וְהַגִּלְעָ֖ד תִּשְׂבַּ֥ע נַפְשֽׁוֹ׃

20 בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵם֩ וּבָעֵ֨ת הַהִ֜יא נְאֻם־יְהוָ֗ה יְבֻקַּ֞שׁ אֶת־עֲוֺ֤ן יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וְאֵינֶ֔נּוּ וְאֶת־חַטֹּ֥את יְהוּדָ֖ה וְלֹ֣א תִמָּצֶ֑אינָה כִּ֥י אֶסְלַ֖ח לַאֲשֶׁ֥ר אַשְׁאִֽיר׃

21 עַל־הָאָ֤רֶץ מְרָתַ֙יִם֙ עֲלֵ֣ה עָלֶ֔יהָ וְאֶל־יוֹשְׁבֵ֖י פְּק֑וֹד חֲרֹ֨ב וְהַחֲרֵ֤ם אַֽחֲרֵיהֶם֙ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה וַעֲשֵׂ֕ה כְּכֹ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוִּיתִֽיךָ׃ ס

22 ק֥וֹל מִלְחָמָ֖ה בָּאָ֑רֶץ וְשֶׁ֖בֶר גָּדֽוֹל׃

23 אֵ֤יךְ נִגְדַּע֙ וַיִּשָּׁבֵ֔ר פַּטִּ֖ישׁ כָּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ אֵ֣יךְ הָיְתָ֧ה לְשַׁמָּ֛ה בָּבֶ֖ל בַּגּוֹיִֽם׃

24 יָקֹ֨שְׁתִּי לָ֤ךְ וְגַם־נִלְכַּדְתְּ֙ בָּבֶ֔ל וְאַ֖תְּ לֹ֣א יָדָ֑עַתְּ נִמְצֵאת֙ וְגַם־נִתְפַּ֔שְׂתְּ כִּ֥י בַֽיהוָ֖ה הִתְגָּרִֽית׃

25 פָּתַ֤ח יְהוָה֙ אֶת־א֣וֹצָר֔וֹ וַיּוֹצֵ֖א אֶת־כְּלֵ֣י זַעְמ֑וֹ כִּי־מְלָאכָ֣ה הִ֗יא לַֽאדֹנָ֧י יְהוִ֛ה צְבָא֖וֹת בְּאֶ֥רֶץ כַּשְׂדִּֽים׃

26 בֹּֽאוּ־לָ֤הּ מִקֵּץ֙ פִּתְח֣וּ מַאֲבֻסֶ֔יהָ סָלּ֥וּהָ כְמוֹ־עֲרֵמִ֖ים וְהַחֲרִימ֑וּהָ אַל־תְּהִי־לָ֖הּ שְׁאֵרִֽית׃

27 חִרְבוּ֙ כָּל־פָּרֶ֔יהָ יֵרְד֖וּ לַטָּ֑בַח ה֣וֹי עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם כִּֽי־בָ֥א יוֹמָ֖ם עֵ֥ת פְּקֻדָּתָֽם׃ ס

28 ק֥וֹל נָסִ֛ים וּפְלֵטִ֖ים מֵאֶ֣רֶץ בָּבֶ֑ל לְהַגִּ֣יד בְּצִיּ֗וֹן אֶת־נִקְמַת֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ נִקְמַ֖ת הֵיכָלֽוֹ׃

29 הַשְׁמִ֣יעוּ אֶל־בָּבֶ֣ל׀ רַ֠בִּים כָּל־דֹּ֨רְכֵי קֶ֜שֶׁת חֲנ֧וּ עָלֶ֣יהָ סָבִ֗יב ׳אַל־יְהִי־…׳ ״אַל־יְהִי־לָהּ֙״ פְּלֵטָ֔ה שַׁלְּמוּ־לָ֣הּ כְּפָעֳלָ֔הּ כְּכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשְׂתָ֖ה עֲשׂוּ־לָ֑הּ כִּ֧י אֶל־יְהוָ֛ה זָ֖דָה אֶל־קְד֥וֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

30 לָכֵ֛ן יִפְּל֥וּ בַחוּרֶ֖יהָ בִּרְחֹבֹתֶ֑יהָ וְכָל־אַנְשֵׁ֨י מִלְחַמְתָּ֥הּ יִדַּ֛מּוּ בַּיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃ ס

31 הִנְנִ֤י אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ זָד֔וֹן נְאֻם־אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִ֖ה צְבָא֑וֹת כִּ֛י בָּ֥א יוֹמְךָ֖ עֵ֥ת פְּקַדְתִּֽיךָ׃

32 וְכָשַׁ֤ל זָדוֹן֙ וְנָפַ֔ל וְאֵ֥ין ל֖וֹ מֵקִ֑ים וְהִצַּ֤תִּי אֵשׁ֙ בְּעָרָ֔יו וְאָכְלָ֖ה כָּל־סְבִיבֹתָֽיו׃ ס

33 כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת עֲשׁוּקִ֛ים בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל וּבְנֵי־יְהוּדָ֖ה יַחְדָּ֑ו וְכָל־שֹֽׁבֵיהֶם֙ הֶחֱזִ֣יקוּ בָ֔ם מֵאֲנ֖וּ שַׁלְּחָֽם׃

34 גֹּאֲלָ֣ם׀ חָזָ֗ק יְהוָ֤ה צְבָאוֹת֙ שְׁמ֔וֹ רִ֥יב יָרִ֖יב אֶת־רִיבָ֑ם לְמַ֙עַן֙ הִרְגִּ֣יעַ אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ וְהִרְגִּ֖יז לְיֹשְׁבֵ֥י בָבֶֽל׃

35 חֶ֥רֶב עַל־כַּשְׂדִּ֖ים נְאֻם־יְהוָ֑ה וְאֶל־יֹשְׁבֵ֣י בָבֶ֔ל וְאֶל־שָׂרֶ֖יהָ וְאֶל־חֲכָמֶֽיהָ׃

36 חֶ֥רֶב אֶל־הַבַּדִּ֖ים וְנֹאָ֑לוּ חֶ֥רֶב אֶל־גִּבּוֹרֶ֖יהָ וָחָֽתּוּ׃

37 חֶ֜רֶב אֶל־סוּסָ֣יו וְאֶל־רִכְבּ֗וֹ וְאֶל־כָּל־הָעֶ֛רֶב אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּתוֹכָ֖הּ וְהָי֣וּ לְנָשִׁ֑ים חֶ֥רֶב אֶל־אוֹצְרֹתֶ֖יהָ וּבֻזָּֽזוּ׃

38 חֹ֥רֶב אֶל־מֵימֶ֖יהָ וְיָבֵ֑שׁוּ כִּ֣י אֶ֤רֶץ פְּסִלִים֙ הִ֔יא וּבָאֵימִ֖ים יִתְהֹלָֽלוּ׃

39 לָכֵ֗ן יֵשְׁב֤וּ צִיִּים֙ אֶת־אִיִּ֔ים וְיָ֥שְׁבוּ בָ֖הּ בְּנ֣וֹת יַֽעֲנָ֑ה וְלֹֽא־תֵשֵׁ֥ב עוֹד֙ לָנֶ֔צַח וְלֹ֥א תִשְׁכּ֖וֹן עַד־דּ֥וֹר וָדֽוֹר׃

40 כְּמַהְפֵּכַ֨ת אֱלֹהִ֜ים אֶת־סְדֹ֧ם וְאֶת־עֲמֹרָ֛ה וְאֶת־שְׁכֵנֶ֖יהָ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֑ה לֹֽא־יֵשֵׁ֥ב שָׁם֙ אִ֔ישׁ וְלֹֽא־יָג֥וּר בָּ֖הּ בֶּן־אָדָֽם׃

41 הִנֵּ֛ה עַ֥ם בָּ֖א מִצָּפ֑וֹן וְג֤וֹי גָּדוֹל֙ וּמְלָכִ֣ים רַבִּ֔ים יֵעֹ֖רוּ מִיַּרְכְּתֵי־אָֽרֶץ׃

42 קֶ֣שֶׁת וְכִידֹ֞ן יַחֲזִ֗יקוּ אַכְזָרִ֥י הֵ֙מָּה֙ וְלֹ֣א יְרַחֵ֔מוּ קוֹלָם֙ כַּיָּ֣ם יֶהֱמֶ֔ה וְעַל־סוּסִ֖ים יִרְכָּ֑בוּ עָר֗וּךְ כְּאִישׁ֙ לַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה עָלַ֖יִךְ בַּת־בָּבֶֽל׃

43 שָׁמַ֧ע מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֛ל אֶת־שִׁמְעָ֖ם וְרָפ֣וּ יָדָ֑יו צָרָה֙ הֶחֱזִיקַ֔תְהוּ חִ֖יל כַּיּוֹלֵדָֽה׃

44 הִ֠נֵּה כְּאַרְיֵ֞ה יַעֲלֶ֨ה מִגְּא֣וֹן הַיַּרְדֵּן֮ אֶל־נְוֵ֣ה אֵיתָן֒ כִּֽי־אַרְגִּ֤עָה ׳אֲרוּצֵם׳ ״אֲרִיצֵם֙״ מֵֽעָלֶ֔יהָ וּמִ֥י בָח֖וּר אֵלֶ֣יהָ אֶפְקֹ֑ד כִּ֣י מִ֤י כָמ֙וֹנִי֙ וּמִ֣י יוֹעִדֶ֔נִּי וּמִֽי־זֶ֣ה רֹעֶ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר יַעֲמֹ֖ד לְפָנָֽי׃

45 לָכֵ֞ן שִׁמְע֣וּ עֲצַת־יְהוָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר יָעַץ֙ אֶל־בָּבֶ֔ל וּמַ֨חְשְׁבוֹתָ֔יו אֲשֶׁ֥ר חָשַׁ֖ב אֶל־אֶ֣רֶץ כַּשְׂדִּ֑ים אִם־לֹ֤א יִסְחָבוּם֙ צְעִירֵ֣י הַצֹּ֔אן אִם־לֹ֥א יַשִּׁ֛ים עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם נָוֶֽה׃

46 מִקּוֹל֙ נִתְפְּשָׂ֣ה בָבֶ֔ל נִרְעֲשָׁ֖ה הָאָ֑רֶץ וּזְעָקָ֖ה בַּגּוֹיִ֥ם נִשְׁמָֽע׃ ס

A Message About Babylon(A)

50 This is the word the Lord spoke through Jeremiah the prophet concerning Babylon(B) and the land of the Babylonians[a]:

“Announce and proclaim(C) among the nations,
    lift up a banner(D) and proclaim it;
    keep nothing back, but say,
‘Babylon will be captured;(E)
    Bel(F) will be put to shame,(G)
    Marduk(H) filled with terror.
Her images will be put to shame
    and her idols(I) filled with terror.’
A nation from the north(J) will attack her
    and lay waste her land.
No one will live(K) in it;
    both people and animals(L) will flee away.

“In those days, at that time,”
    declares the Lord,
“the people of Israel and the people of Judah together(M)
    will go in tears(N) to seek(O) the Lord their God.
They will ask the way(P) to Zion
    and turn their faces toward it.
They will come(Q) and bind themselves to the Lord
    in an everlasting covenant(R)
    that will not be forgotten.

“My people have been lost sheep;(S)
    their shepherds(T) have led them astray(U)
    and caused them to roam on the mountains.
They wandered over mountain and hill(V)
    and forgot their own resting place.(W)
Whoever found them devoured(X) them;
    their enemies said, ‘We are not guilty,(Y)
for they sinned against the Lord, their verdant pasture,
    the Lord, the hope(Z) of their ancestors.’

“Flee(AA) out of Babylon;(AB)
    leave the land of the Babylonians,
    and be like the goats that lead the flock.
For I will stir(AC) up and bring against Babylon
    an alliance of great nations(AD) from the land of the north.(AE)
They will take up their positions against her,
    and from the north she will be captured.(AF)
Their arrows(AG) will be like skilled warriors
    who do not return empty-handed.
10 So Babylonia[b] will be plundered;(AH)
    all who plunder her will have their fill,”
declares the Lord.

11 “Because you rejoice and are glad,
    you who pillage my inheritance,(AI)
because you frolic like a heifer(AJ) threshing grain
    and neigh like stallions,
12 your mother will be greatly ashamed;
    she who gave you birth will be disgraced.(AK)
She will be the least of the nations—
    a wilderness, a dry land, a desert.(AL)
13 Because of the Lord’s anger she will not be inhabited
    but will be completely desolate.(AM)
All who pass Babylon will be appalled;(AN)
    they will scoff(AO) because of all her wounds.(AP)

14 “Take up your positions around Babylon,
    all you who draw the bow.(AQ)
Shoot at her! Spare no arrows,(AR)
    for she has sinned against the Lord.
15 Shout(AS) against her on every side!
    She surrenders, her towers fall,
    her walls(AT) are torn down.
Since this is the vengeance(AU) of the Lord,
    take vengeance on her;
    do to her(AV) as she has done to others.(AW)
16 Cut off from Babylon the sower,
    and the reaper with his sickle at harvest.
Because of the sword(AX) of the oppressor
    let everyone return to their own people,(AY)
    let everyone flee to their own land.(AZ)

17 “Israel is a scattered flock(BA)
    that lions(BB) have chased away.
The first to devour(BC) them
    was the king(BD) of Assyria;
the last to crush their bones(BE)
    was Nebuchadnezzar(BF) king(BG) of Babylon.”

18 Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says:

“I will punish the king of Babylon and his land
    as I punished the king(BH) of Assyria.(BI)
19 But I will bring(BJ) Israel back to their own pasture,
    and they will graze on Carmel and Bashan;
their appetite will be satisfied(BK)
    on the hills(BL) of Ephraim and Gilead.(BM)
20 In those days, at that time,”
    declares the Lord,
“search will be made for Israel’s guilt,
    but there will be none,(BN)
and for the sins(BO) of Judah,
    but none will be found,
    for I will forgive(BP) the remnant(BQ) I spare.

21 “Attack the land of Merathaim
    and those who live in Pekod.(BR)
Pursue, kill and completely destroy[c] them,”
declares the Lord.
    “Do everything I have commanded you.
22 The noise(BS) of battle is in the land,
    the noise of great destruction!
23 How broken and shattered
    is the hammer(BT) of the whole earth!(BU)
How desolate(BV) is Babylon
    among the nations!
24 I set a trap(BW) for you, Babylon,
    and you were caught before you knew it;
you were found and captured(BX)
    because you opposed(BY) the Lord.
25 The Lord has opened his arsenal
    and brought out the weapons(BZ) of his wrath,
for the Sovereign Lord Almighty has work to do
    in the land of the Babylonians.(CA)
26 Come against her from afar.(CB)
    Break open her granaries;
    pile her up like heaps of grain.(CC)
Completely destroy(CD) her
    and leave her no remnant.
27 Kill all her young bulls;(CE)
    let them go down to the slaughter!(CF)
Woe to them! For their day(CG) has come,
    the time(CH) for them to be punished.
28 Listen to the fugitives(CI) and refugees from Babylon
    declaring in Zion(CJ)
how the Lord our God has taken vengeance,(CK)
    vengeance for his temple.(CL)

29 “Summon archers against Babylon,
    all those who draw the bow.(CM)
Encamp all around her;
    let no one escape.(CN)
Repay(CO) her for her deeds;(CP)
    do to her as she has done.
For she has defied(CQ) the Lord,
    the Holy One(CR) of Israel.
30 Therefore, her young men(CS) will fall in the streets;
    all her soldiers will be silenced in that day,”
declares the Lord.
31 “See, I am against(CT) you, you arrogant one,”
    declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty,
“for your day(CU) has come,
    the time for you to be punished.
32 The arrogant(CV) one will stumble and fall(CW)
    and no one will help her up;(CX)
I will kindle a fire(CY) in her towns
    that will consume all who are around her.”

33 This is what the Lord Almighty says:

“The people of Israel are oppressed,(CZ)
    and the people of Judah as well.
All their captors hold them fast,
    refusing to let them go.(DA)
34 Yet their Redeemer(DB) is strong;
    the Lord Almighty(DC) is his name.
He will vigorously defend their cause(DD)
    so that he may bring rest(DE) to their land,
    but unrest to those who live in Babylon.

35 “A sword(DF) against the Babylonians!”(DG)
    declares the Lord
“against those who live in Babylon
    and against her officials and wise(DH) men!
36 A sword against her false prophets!
    They will become fools.
A sword against her warriors!(DI)
    They will be filled with terror.(DJ)
37 A sword against her horses and chariots(DK)
    and all the foreigners in her ranks!
    They will become weaklings.(DL)
A sword against her treasures!(DM)
    They will be plundered.
38 A drought on[d] her waters!(DN)
    They will dry(DO) up.
For it is a land of idols,(DP)
    idols that will go mad with terror.

39 “So desert creatures(DQ) and hyenas will live there,
    and there the owl will dwell.
It will never again be inhabited
    or lived in from generation to generation.(DR)
40 As I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah(DS)
    along with their neighboring towns,”
declares the Lord,
“so no one will live there;
    no people will dwell in it.(DT)

41 “Look! An army is coming from the north;(DU)
    a great nation and many kings
    are being stirred(DV) up from the ends of the earth.(DW)
42 They are armed with bows(DX) and spears;
    they are cruel(DY) and without mercy.(DZ)
They sound like the roaring sea(EA)
    as they ride on their horses;
they come like men in battle formation
    to attack you, Daughter Babylon.(EB)
43 The king of Babylon has heard reports about them,
    and his hands hang limp.(EC)
Anguish has gripped him,
    pain like that of a woman in labor.(ED)
44 Like a lion coming up from Jordan’s thickets(EE)
    to a rich pastureland,
I will chase Babylon from its land in an instant.
    Who is the chosen(EF) one I will appoint for this?
Who is like me and who can challenge me?(EG)
    And what shepherd can stand against me?”

45 Therefore, hear what the Lord has planned against Babylon,
    what he has purposed(EH) against the land of the Babylonians:(EI)
The young of the flock will be dragged away;
    their pasture will be appalled at their fate.
46 At the sound of Babylon’s capture the earth will tremble;(EJ)
    its cry(EK) will resound among the nations.

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 50:1 Or Chaldeans; also in verses 8, 25, 35 and 45
  2. Jeremiah 50:10 Or Chaldea
  3. Jeremiah 50:21 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them; also in verse 26.
  4. Jeremiah 50:38 Or A sword against