51 We are ashamed
because we have heard insults.(A)
Humiliation covers our faces
because foreigners have entered
the holy places of the Lord’s temple.(B)

52 Therefore, look, the days are coming—
this is the Lord’s declaration—
when I will punish her carved images,
and the wounded will groan
throughout her land.
53 Even if Babylon should ascend to the heavens(C)
and fortify her tall fortresses,
destroyers will come against her from Me.
This is the Lord’s declaration.

54 The sound of a cry from Babylon!(D)
The sound of great destruction
from the land of the Chaldeans!
55 For the Lord is going to devastate Babylon;
He will silence her mighty voice.
Their waves roar like abundant waters;
the tumult of their voice resounds,
56 for a destroyer is coming against her,
against Babylon.
Her warriors will be captured,
their bows shattered,
for the Lord is a God of retribution;
He will certainly repay.
57 I will make her princes and sages drunk,
along with her governors, officials, and warriors.
Then they will fall asleep forever
and never wake up.(E)
This is the King’s declaration;
Yahweh of Hosts is His name.(F)

58 This is what Yahweh of Hosts says:

Babylon’s thick walls will be totally demolished,
and her high gates consumed by fire.
The peoples will have labored for nothing;(G)
the nations will exhaust themselves only to feed the fire.

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51 We’re humiliated by their taunts;
    we’re disgraced that strangers have violated the sacred places
        of the Lord’s temple.

52 The time is coming,
    declares the Lord,
        when I will deal with her idols,
        and the wounded in her land will groan.
53 Even if Babylon scales the heavens
    and strengthens its towering defenses,
        the destroying armies will still come
        against her, at my command,
            declares the Lord.
54 Listen to the cries for help from Babylon,
    signs of massive devastation in the land,
        declares the Lord.
55 The Lord is destroying Babylon
    and silencing her outcry,
        whose roar is like the crushing waves,
        a deafening crash.
56 He certainly comes against her;
    the destroyer comes against Babylon.
Her warriors are captured;
    their bows are broken.
The Lord is an exacting God
    who repays in full.
57 I’ll make her leaders and sages drunk,
    her governors, officials, and warriors as well.
They will sleep forever, never to get up,
    declares the king,
        whose name is the Lord of heavenly forces.
58 The Lord of heavenly forces proclaims:
    Babylon’s massive walls will come down,
        down to the ground;
        and its high gates will be burned to the ground.

People labor in vain;
    nations toil for nothing but ashes!

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