45 “Go out of the midst of her, (A)my people!
    Let every one save his life
    from (B)the fierce anger of the Lord!
46 Let not your heart faint, and be not fearful
    (C)at the report heard in the land,
(D)when a report comes in one year
    and afterward a report in another year,
and violence is in the land,
    (E)and ruler is against ruler.

47 “Therefore, behold, the days are coming
    when (F)I will punish the images of Babylon;
(G)her whole land shall be put to shame,
    and all her slain shall fall in the midst of her.
48 (H)Then the heavens and the earth,
    and all that is in them,
shall sing for joy over Babylon,
    (I)for the destroyers shall come against them out of the north,
declares the Lord.
49 Babylon must fall for the slain of Israel,
    (J)just as for Babylon have fallen the slain of all the earth.

50 (K)“You who have escaped from the sword,
    go, do not stand still!
Remember the Lord from far away,
    and let Jerusalem come into your mind:

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A Message for the Exiles

45 “Come out, my people, flee from Babylon.
    Save yourselves! Run from the Lord’s fierce anger.
46 But do not panic; don’t be afraid
    when you hear the first rumor of approaching forces.
    For rumors will keep coming year by year.
Violence will erupt in the land
    as the leaders fight against each other.
47 For the time is surely coming
    when I will punish this great city and all her idols.
Her whole land will be disgraced,
    and her dead will lie in the streets.
48 Then the heavens and earth will rejoice,
    for out of the north will come destroying armies
    against Babylon,” says the Lord.
49 “Just as Babylon killed the people of Israel
    and others throughout the world,
    so must her people be killed.
50 Get out, all you who have escaped the sword!
    Do not stand and watch—flee while you can!
Remember the Lord, though you are in a far-off land,
    and think about your home in Jerusalem.”

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