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

45 Therefore, hear what the Lord has planned against Babylon,
    what he has purposed(N) against the land of the Babylonians:(O)
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;(P)
    its cry(Q) will resound among the nations.

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41 Look! An army is on the move
    from the northern regions.
A powerful nation and many kings are coming
    from the ends of the earth.
42 Equipped with bow and spear,
    they are cruel and show no mercy.
Their horsemen sound like the roaring sea,
    arrayed in battle formation against you,
    Daughter Babylon.
43 The king of Babylon has heard reports of them
    and is panic-stricken;
    distress overwhelms him,
        pain like that of a woman in labor.

44 Like a lion coming up from
        the jungle of the Jordan
    to a well-watered meadow,[a]
        so I will suddenly chase down Babylon
        and single out its choicest of rams.
Who is like me?
    Who can direct me?
    What shepherd can withstand me?
45 Therefore, listen to the counsel
    that the Lord has for Babylon
    and the plans he’s devised
        against the land of Babylon:
    The little ones of the flock
        will be dragged off,
        as their pasture watches
        in utter disbelief.[b]
46 The earth quakes
    at the sound of Babylon’s capture;
        its screams echo throughout the world.

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 50:44 Heb uncertain
  2. Jeremiah 50:45 Heb uncertain