1. This is the message that I was given about Babylon:
2. From high on a barren hillgive a signal, shout the orders,and point the wayto enter the gatesof Babylon's proud rulers.
3. The Lord has commandedhis very best warriorsand his proud heroesto show how angry he is.
4. Listen to the noisy crowdson the mountains!Kingdoms and nationsare joining forces.The Lord All-Powerfulis bringing togetheran army for battle.
5. From a distant landthe Lord is comingfierce and furious—he brings his weaponsto destroy the earth.
6. Cry and weep!The day is comingwhen the mighty Lordwill bring destruction.
7-8. All people will be terrified.Hands will grow limp;courage will melt away.Everyone will tremble with painlike a woman giving birth;they will stare at each otherwith horror on their faces.
9. I, the Lord,will show no mercy or pitywhen that time comes.In my anger I will destroythe earth and every sinnerwho lives on it.
10. Light will disappearfrom the stars in the sky;the dawning sun will turn dark,and the moonwill lose its glow.
11. I will punish this evil worldand its peoplebecause of their sins.I will crush the horrible prideof those who are cruel.
12. Survivors will be harder to findthan the purest gold.
13. I, the Lord All-Powerful,am terribly angry—I will make the sky trembleand the earth shake loose.
14. Everyone will runto their homelands,just as hunted deer run,and sheep scatterwhen they have no shepherd.
15. Those who are capturedwill be killed by a sword.
16. They will see their childrenbeaten against rocks,their homes robbed,and their wives abused.
17. The Medes can't be bought offwith silver or gold,and I'm sending themto attack Babylonia.
18. Their arrows will slaughterthe young men;no pity will be shownto babies and children.
19. The city of Babylonis glorious and powerful,the pride of the nation.But it will be like the citiesof Sodom and Gomorrahafter I, the Lord,destroyed them.
20. No one will live in Babylon.Even nomads won't camp nearby,and shepherds won't lettheir sheep rest there.
21. Only desert creatures,owls, and ostricheswill live in its ruins,and goats will leap about.
22. Hyenas and wolves will howlfrom Babylon's fortressesand beautiful palaces.Its time is almost up!