16. Cut off from Babylon the sower,and the one who handles the sickle in time of harvest; because of the sword of the oppressor, every one shall turn to his own people,and every one shall flee to his own land.
17. “Israel is a hunted sheep driven away by lions. First the king of Assyria devoured him, and now at last Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has gnawed his bones.
18. Therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing punishment on the king of Babylon and his land, as I punished the king of Assyria.
19. I will restore Israel to his pasture, and he shall feed on Carmel and in Bashan, and his desire shall be satisfied on the hills of Ephraim and in Gilead.
20. In those days and in that time, declares the Lord, iniquity shall be sought in Israel, and there shall be none, and sin in Judah, and none shall be found, for I will pardon those whom I leave as a remnant.
21. “Go up against the land of Merathaim,and against the inhabitants of Pekod.Kill, and devote them to destruction,declares the Lord,and do all that I have commanded you.
22. The noise of battle is in the land,and great destruction!
23. How the hammer of the whole earthis cut down and broken! How Babylon has becomea horror among the nations!
24. I set a snare for you and you were taken, O Babylon,and you did not know it;you were found and caught,because you opposed the Lord.
25. The Lord has opened his armoryand brought out the weapons of his wrath,for the Lord God of hosts has a work to doin the land of the Chaldeans.
26. Come against her from every quarter;open her granaries; pile her up like heaps of grain, and devote her to destruction;let nothing be left of her.
27. Kill all her bulls;let them go down to the slaughter.Woe to them, for their day has come, the time of their punishment.
28. “A voice! They flee and escape from the land of Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of the Lord our God, vengeance for his temple.
29. “Summon archers against Babylon, all those who bend the bow. Encamp around her; let no one escape. Repay her according to her deeds; do to her according to all that she has done. For she has proudly defied the Lord, the Holy One of Israel.
30. Therefore her young men shall fall in her squares, and all her soldiers shall be destroyed on that day, declares the Lord.
31. “Behold, I am against you, O proud one,declares the Lord God of hosts, for your day has come,the time when I will punish you.
32. The proud one shall stumble and fall,with none to raise him up, and I will kindle a fire in his cities,and it will devour all that is around him.
33. “Thus says the Lord of hosts: The people of Israel are oppressed, and the people of Judah with them. All who took them captive have held them fast; they refuse to let them go.
34. Their Redeemer is strong; the Lord of hosts is his name. He will surely plead their cause, that he may give rest to the earth, but unrest to the inhabitants of Babylon.
35. “A sword against the Chaldeans, declares the Lord,and against the inhabitants of Babylon,and against her officials and her wise men!