40. Babylon will be like Sodom, Gomorrah, and their neighboring citieswhen I, God, destroyed them.No one will live there.No human will stay there,” declares the Lord.
41. “People are going to come from the north.A great nation and many kings will rise from the ends of the earth.
42. They will take hold of bows and spears.They will be cruel and have no compassion.They will sound like the sea when it roars.They will ride horses.They are ready for war, ready to attack you, people of Babylon.
43. The king of Babylon has heard reports about them, and he loses courage.Anguish will grip him as pain grips a woman in labor.
44. I will suddenly chase them from their placeslike a lion coming out of the junglealong the Jordan River into pastureland.I will appoint over Babylon whomever I choose.Who is like me? Who can challenge me?Is there any leader who can stand up to me?
45. Listen to the plans that the Lord is making against Babylonand the things he intends to do to the land of the Babylonians.He will surely drag away the little ones of the flock.He will surely destroy the pasture because of the Babylonians.
46. The earth will quake at the news that Babylon has been captured.Its cry will be heard among the nations.”