12. Give the signal to attack Babylon's walls. Strengthen the guard! Post the sentries! Place men in ambush!”The Lord has done what he said he would do to the people of Babylonia.
13. That country has many rivers and rich treasures, but its time is up, and its thread of life is cut.
14. The Lord Almighty has sworn by his own life that he will bring many men to attack Babylonia like a swarm of locusts, and they will shout with victory.
15. The Lord made the earth by his power;by his wisdom he created the worldand stretched out the heavens.
16. At his command the waters above the sky roar;he brings clouds from the ends of the earth.He makes lightning flash in the rainand sends the wind from his storeroom.
17. At the sight of this, people feel stupid and senseless;those who make idols are disillusionedbecause the gods they make are false and lifeless.
18. They are worthless and should be despised;they will be destroyed when the Lord comes to deal with them.
19. The God of Jacob is not like them;he is the one who made everything,and he has chosen Israel to be his very own people.The Lord Almighty is his name.
20. The Lord says,“Babylonia, you are my hammer, my weapon of war.I used you to crush nations and kingdoms,
21. to shatter horses and riders,to shatter chariots and their drivers,
22. to kill men and women,to slay old and young,to kill boys and girls,
23. to slaughter shepherds and their flocks,to slaughter ploughmen and their horses,to crush rulers and high officials.”
24. The Lord says, “You will see me repay Babylonia and its people for all the evil they did to Jerusalem.
25. Babylonia, you are like a mountain that destroys the whole world, but I, the Lord, am your enemy. I will take hold of you, level you to the ground, and leave you in ashes.