22. “The noise of battle can be heard all over the country.It is the noise of much destruction.
23. Babylon was the hammer of the whole earth.But how broken and shattered that hammer is now!Babylon is truly the most ruinedof all the nations.
24. Babylon, I set a trap for you.And you were caught before you knew it.You fought against the Lord.So you were found and taken prisoner.
25. The Lord has opened up his storeroom.He has brought out the weapons of his anger.This is because the Lord God of heaven’s armies has work to do.He has work to do in the land of the Babylonians.
26. Come against Babylon from far away.Break open her storehouses of grain.Pile up her dead bodies like big piles of grain.Completely destroy Babylonand do not leave anyone alive.
27. Kill all the young men in Babylon.Let them be killed.The time has come for their defeat.How terrible it will be for them!It is time for them to be punished.
28. Listen to the people running from the country of Babylon!They are telling Jerusalemhow the Lord our God is punishing Babylon as it deserves.This is because Babylon destroyed his Temple.
29. “Call for the men who shoot arrowsto come against Babylon.Tell them to surround the city.Don’t let anyone escape.Pay her back for the bad things she has done.Do to her what she has done to other nations.Babylon acted with pride against the Lord,the Holy One of Israel.
30. So Babylon’s young men will be killed in the streets.All her soldiers will die on that day,” says the Lord.
31. “Babylon, you are too proud. And I am against you,”says the Master, the Lord of heaven’s armies.“This is because the time has comefor you to be punished.
32. Proud Babylon will stumble and fall.And no one will help her get up.I will start a fire in her towns.It will completely burn up everything around her.”
33. This is what the Lord of heaven’s armies says:“The people of Israeland Judah both are slaves.The enemy took them as prisoners.And they won’t let them go.
34. But God is strong and will buy them back.His name is the Lord of heaven’s armies.He will defend them with powerso he can give rest to their land.But he will not give rest to those living in Babylon.”