12. But Mother Babylon will be humiliated;the one who bore you will be disgraced.She will become the least of the nations:a wilderness, a desert, and parched land.
13. Because of the Lord’s anger,no one will live there;she will be reduced to total ruin.All who pass by Babylon will be shocked;they will gasp at all her injuries.
14. Take up your positions around Babylon,all you archers;now shoot at her;save none of your arrows,because she’s sinnedagainst the Lord.
15. Raise a victory shoutagainst her on every side!She’s surrendered;her towers have collapsed;her walls are destroyed.This is the Lord’s retribution;now pay her back:do to her what she’s done to others!
16. Cut Babylon off from those who plantand those who harvest the crops,because of its ruthless sword.Now return, all of you, to your people;flee to your homeland!
17. Israelites are scattered sheep,driven away by lions.First the king of Assyria devoured them,and now Babylon’s King Nebuchadnezzar has ravaged them.
18. Therefore, the Lord of heavenly forces, the God of Israel, proclaims:I’m going to punish the king of Babylon and his land,just as I punished the king of Assyria.
19. But I will restore Israel to their pasture;they will graze on Carmel and Bashan;they will eat their fillin the highlands of Ephraim and Gilead.
20. In those days and at that time,declares the Lord, if one searches for the sin of Israel,they will find nothing;if one seeks outthe wrongdoing of Judah,they will look in vain.I will forgive those I have spared.
21. Attack the land of Merathaim;crush those living in Pekod.Ruin and destroy them,declares the Lord;do all I have commanded you.
22. There’s the sound of war in the landand enormous devastation.
23. How the hammer of the whole earthhas been broken and shatteredinto pieces!How Babylon has become a wastelandamong the nations!
24. You set a trap for others, Babylon,but you yourself were caughtin it unaware;you have been found and capturedbecause you have defied the Lord.