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51 “We are confounded,
    because we have heard reproach.
Confusion has covered our faces,
    for strangers have come into the sanctuaries of Yahweh’s house.”

52 “Therefore behold, the days come,” says Yahweh,
    “that I will execute judgment on her engraved images;
    and through all her land the wounded will groan.
53 Though Babylon should mount up to the sky,
    and though she should fortify the height of her strength,
    yet destroyers will come to her from me,” says Yahweh.

54 “The sound of a cry comes from Babylon,
    and of great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans!
55 For Yahweh lays Babylon waste,
    and destroys out of her the great voice!
Their waves roar like many waters.
    The noise of their voice is uttered.
56 For the destroyer has come on her,
    even on Babylon.
Her mighty men are taken.
    Their bows are broken in pieces,
for Yahweh is a God of retribution.
    He will surely repay.
57 I will make her princes, her wise men,
    her governors, her deputies, and her mighty men drunk.
They will sleep a perpetual sleep,
    and not wake up,”
    says the King, whose name is Yahweh of Armies.

58 Yahweh of Armies says:

“The wide walls of Babylon will be utterly overthrown.
    Her high gates will be burned with fire.
The peoples will labor for vanity,
    and the nations for the fire;
    and they will be weary.”

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51 (A)We are ashamed because we have heard rebuke;
Disgrace has covered our faces,
Because (B)strangers have entered
The holy places of the Lords house.

52 “Therefore behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord,
“When I will punish her (C)idols,
And the mortally wounded will groan throughout her land.
53 Though Babylon (D)ascends to the heavens,
And though she fortifies [a]her lofty stronghold,
Destroyers will come from (E)Me to her,” declares the Lord.

54 The (F)sound of an outcry from Babylon,
And of great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans!
55 For the Lord is going to destroy Babylon,
And He will make her loud [b]noise vanish from her.
And their (G)waves will roar like many waters;
The clamor of their voices [c]sounds forth.
56 For the (H)destroyer is coming against her, against Babylon,
And her warriors will be captured,
Their (I)bows shattered;
For the Lord is a God of (J)retribution,
He will fully repay.
57 “I will (K)make her leaders and her wise men drunk,
Her governors, her officials, and her warriors,
So that they will sleep a (L)perpetual sleep and not wake up,”
(M)Declares the King, whose name is the Lord of armies.

58 This is what the Lord of armies says:

“The broad (N)wall of Babylon will be completely demolished,
And her high (O)gates will be set on fire;
So the peoples will (P)labor for nothing,
And the nations become (Q)exhausted only for fire.”

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 51:53 Lit the height of her strength
  2. Jeremiah 51:55 Or voice
  3. Jeremiah 51:55 Lit is given