53. Babylon might grow until she touches the sky. Babylon might make her forts strong, but I will send people to fight against that city. And they will destroy her.” This is what the Lord said.
54. “We can hear people crying in Babylon. We hear the sound of people destroying things in the land of Babylon.
55. The Lord will destroy Babylon very soon. He will stop the loud noises in that city. Enemies will come roaring in like ocean waves. People all around will hear that roar.
56. The army will come and destroy Babylon. Its soldiers will be captured, and their bows will be broken, This will happen because the Lord punishes people for the bad things they do. He gives them the full punishment they deserve.
57. I will make Babylon’s wise men and important officials drunk. I will make the governors, officers, and soldiers drunk too. Then they will sleep forever. They will never wake up.” This is what the King said. His name is the Lord All-Powerful.
58. This is what the Lord All-Powerful says: “Babylon’s thick, strong wall will be pulled down. Her high gates will be burned. The people of Babylon will work hard, but it will not help. They will get very tired trying to save the city. But they will only be fuel for the flames.”
59. This is the message that Jeremiah gave to the officer Seraiah son of Neriah. Neriah was the son of Mahseiah. Seraiah went to Babylon with King Zedekiah of Judah. This happened in the fourth year that Zedekiah was king of Judah. At that time Jeremiah gave this message to Seraiah, the officer.
60. Jeremiah had written on a scroll all the terrible things that would happen to Babylon. He had written all these things about Babylon.
61. Jeremiah said to Seraiah, “Seraiah, go to Babylon. Be sure to read this message so that all the people can hear you.
62. Then say, ‘Lord, you have said that you will destroy this place, Babylon. You will destroy it so that no people or animals will live in it. This place will be an empty ruin forever.’
63. After you finish reading this scroll, tie a stone to it and throw it into the Euphrates River.