4. The Lord says, “At that time the people of Israel and the people of Judah will be together. They will cry and cry together, and together, they will go look for the Lord their God.
5. They will ask how to go to Zion. They will start to go in that direction. They will say, ‘Come, let us join ourselves to the Lord. Let’s make an agreement that will last forever. Let’s make an agreement that we will never forget.’
6. “My people have been like lost sheep. Their shepherds led them the wrong way and caused them to wander away into the mountains and hills. They forgot where their resting place was.
7. They were attacked by all who saw them. And their attackers said, ‘We were not wrong to attack them because they sinned against the Lord. They should have stayed close to him, their true resting place. The Lord is the one their fathers trusted in.’
8. “Run away from Babylon. Leave the land of the Babylonians. Be like the goats that lead the flock.
9. I will bring many nations together from the north. This group of nations will get ready for war against Babylon. Babylon will be captured by people from the north. Those nations will shoot many arrows at Babylon. Their arrows will be like soldiers who don’t come back from war with their hands empty.
10. The enemy will take all the wealth from the Chaldeans. The soldiers will take all they want.” This is what the Lord said.
11. “Babylon, you are excited and happy. You took my land. You dance around like a young cow that got into the grain. Your laughter is like the happy sounds that horses make.
12. Now your mother will be very ashamed. The woman who gave you birth will be embarrassed. Babylon will be the least important of all the nations. She will be an empty, dry desert.
13. The Lord will show his anger, so no one will live there. Babylon will be completely empty. Everyone who passes by Babylon will be afraid. They will shake their heads when they see how badly it has been destroyed.
14. “Prepare for war against Babylon. All you soldiers with bows, shoot your arrows at Babylon. Don’t save any of your arrows. Babylon has sinned against the Lord.