12. “Set up a standard against the walls of Babylon; make the watch strong;set up watchmen;prepare the ambushes; for the Lord has both planned and donewhat he spoke concerning the inhabitants of Babylon.
13. O you who dwell by many waters,rich in treasures,your end has come;the thread of your life is cut.
14. The Lord of hosts has sworn by himself:Surely I will fill you with men, as many as locusts, and they shall raise the shout of victory over you.
15. “It is he who made the earth by his power,who established the world by his wisdom,and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.
16. When he utters his voice there is a tumult of waters in the heavens,and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth.He makes lightning for the rain,and he brings forth the wind from his storehouses.
17. Every man is stupid and without knowledge;every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols,for his images are false,and there is no breath in them.
18. They are worthless, a work of delusion;at the time of their punishment they shall perish.
19. Not like these is he who is the portion of Jacob,for he is the one who formed all things,and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance;the Lord of hosts is his name.
20. “You are my hammer and weapon of war:with you I break nations in pieces;with you I destroy kingdoms;
21. with you I break in pieces the horse and his rider;with you I break in pieces the chariot and the charioteer;
22. with you I break in pieces man and woman;with you I break in pieces the old man and the youth;with you I break in pieces the young man and the young woman;
23. with you I break in pieces the shepherd and his flock;with you I break in pieces the farmer and his team;with you I break in pieces governors and commanders.
24. “I will repay Babylon and all the inhabitants of Chaldea before your very eyes for all the evil that they have done in Zion, declares the Lord.
25. “Behold, I am against you, O destroying mountain,declares the Lord,which destroys the whole earth;I will stretch out my hand against you,and roll you down from the crags, and make you a burnt mountain.
26. No stone shall be taken from you for a cornerand no stone for a foundation,but you shall be a perpetual waste,declares the Lord.