10. “The people of Judah say, ‘The Lord has shown us to be right.Come, let us tell about it in Jerusalem.Let us tell about what the Lord our God has done.’
11. “Sharpen the arrows.Pick up your shields!The Lord has stirred up the kings of the Medes.He has stirred them up because he wants to destroy Babylon.The Lord will give the people of Babylon the punishment they deserve.This is because Babylon destroyed his Temple in Jerusalem.
12. Lift up a banner against the walls of Babylon!Bring more guards.Put the watchmen in their places.Get ready for a secret attack!The Lord will do what he has planned.He will do what he said he would do against the people of Babylon.
13. People of Babylon, you live near much water.You are rich with treasures.But your end as a nation has come.It is time for you to be destroyed.
14. The Lord of heaven’s armies has promised in his own name:‘Babylon, I will surely fill you with so many enemy soldiers they will be like a swarm of locusts.They will stand over you and shout their victory.’
15. “The Lord made the earth by his power.He used his wisdom to build the world.He used his understanding to stretch out the skies.
16. When he thunders, the waters in the skies roar.He makes clouds rise in the sky all over the earth.He sends lightning with the rain.He brings out the wind from his storehouses.
17. “People are so stupid and know so little.Goldsmiths are made ashamed by their idols.Those statues are only false gods.They have no breath in them.
18. They are worth nothing.People make fun of them.When they are judged, they will be destroyed.
19. But God, who is Jacob’s Portion, is not like the idols.God made everything.And he made Israel to be his special people.The Lord of heaven’s armies is his name.
20. “You are my war club.You are my battle weapon.I use you to smash nations.I use you to destroy kingdoms.
21. I use you to smash horse and rider.I use you to smash chariot and driver.
22. I use you to smash men and women.I use you to smash old men and young men.I use you to smash young men and young women.
23. I use you to smash shepherds and flocks.I use you to smash farmers and oxen.I use you to smash governors and officers.
24. “But I will pay Babylon back, and I will pay back all the Babylonians for all the evil things they did to Jerusalem,” says the Lord.