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.
25. The Lord says,“Babylon, you are a destroying mountain.And I am against you.You have destroyed the whole land.I will put my hand out against you.I will roll you off the cliffs.I will make you a burned-out mountain.
26. People will not find any rocks in Babylon big enough for cornerstones.People will not take any rocks from Babylon to use for the foundation of a building.This is because your city will be just a pile of ruins forever,” says the Lord.
27. “Lift up the banner in the land!Blow the trumpet among the nations!Get the nations ready for battle against Babylon.Call these kingdoms to come fight against Babylon:Ararat, Minni and Ashkenaz.Choose a commander to lead the army against Babylon.Send so many horses that they are like a swarm of locusts.
28. Get the nations ready for battle against Babylon.Get the kings of the Medes ready.Get their governors and all their officers ready.Get all the countries they rule ready for battle against Babylon.