6. Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and save every man his life; be not cut off in her iniquity: for it is the time of the LORD'S vengeance; he will render unto her a recompence.
7. Babylon hath been a golden cup in the LORD'S hand; that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunk of her wine; therefore the nations are mad.
8. Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed.
9. We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country: for her judgment reacheth unto heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies.
10. The LORD hath brought forth our righteousness: come, and let us declare in Zion the work of the LORD our God.
11. Make sharp the arrows; hold firm the shields: the LORD hath stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes; because his device is against Babylon, to destroy it: for it is the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance of his temple.
12. Set up a standard against the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set the watchmen, prepare the ambushes: for the LORD hath both devised and done that which he spake concerning the inhabitants of Babylon.
13. O thou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in treasures, thine end is come, the measure of thy covetousness.
14. The LORD of hosts hath sworn by himself, saying, Surely I will fill thee with men, as with the cankerworm; and they shall lift up a shout against thee.
15. He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding hath he stretched out the heavens:
16. when he uttereth his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasuries.
17. Every man is become brutish and is without knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.
18. They are vanity, a work of delusion: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.
19. The portion of Jacob is not like these; for he is the former of all things; and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance: the LORD of hosts is his name.
20. Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: and with thee will I break in pieces the nations; and with thee will I destroy kingdoms;
21. and with thee will I break in pieces the horse and his rider; and with thee will I break in pieces the chariot and him that rideth therein;
22. and with thee will I break in pieces man and woman; and with thee will I break in pieces the old man and the youth; and with thee will I break in pieces the young man and the maid;
23. and with thee will I break in pieces the shepherd and his flock; and with thee will I break in pieces the husbandman and his yoke of oxen; and with thee will I break in pieces governors and deputies.