38. Babylon’s people are like roaring young lions.They growl like baby lions.
39. While they are stirred up,I will give a feast for them.I will make them drunk.They will shout and laugh.And they will sleep forever and never wake up!” says the Lord.
40. “I will take the people of Babylon to be killed.They will be like lambs,like male sheep and goats waiting to be killed.
41. “How Babylon will be defeated!The pride of the whole earth will be taken captive.People from other nations will be shocked at what happened to Babylon.And the things they see will make them afraid.
42. The sea will rise over Babylon.Its roaring waves will cover her.
43. Babylon’s towns will be ruined and empty.Babylon will become a dry, desert land.It will become a land where no one lives.People will not even travel through Babylon.
44. I will punish the god Bel in Babylon.I will make him spit out what he has swallowed.Nations will no longer come to Babylon.And the wall around the city will fall.
45. “Come out of Babylon, my people!Run for your lives!Run from the Lord’s great anger.
46. Don’t lose courage.Rumors will spread, but don’t be afraid.One rumor comes this year, and another comes the next year.There will be rumors of terrible fighting in the country.There will be rumors of rulers fighting against rulers.
47. The time will surely comewhen I will punish the idols of Babylon.And the whole land will be disgraced.There will be many dead people lying all around.
48. Then heaven and earth and all that is in themwill shout for joy about Babylon.They will shout because the army came from the northand fought against Babylon,” says the Lord.
49. “Babylon killed people from Israel.Babylon killed people from everywhere on earth.So Babylon must fall.
50. You people escaped being killed with swords.You must hurry and leave Babylon.Don’t wait!Remember the Lord in the faraway land where you are.And think about Jerusalem.”
51. “We people of Judah are disgraced.We have been insulted.We have been shamed.This is because strangers have gone intothe holy places of the Lord’s Temple!”
52. The Lord says, “The time is comingwhen I will punish the idols of Babylon.Wounded people will cry with painall over that land.
53. Babylon might grow until she touches the sky.She might make her cities strong.But I will send people to destroy that city,” says the Lord.
54. “We can hear people crying in Babylon.We hear the sound of people destroying thingsin the land of the Babylonians.
55. The Lord will destroy Babylon.He will make the loud sounds of the city become silent.Enemies will come roaring in like ocean waves.People all around will hear that roar.
56. The army will come and destroy Babylon.Babylon’s soldiers will be taken captive.Their bows will be broken.This is because the Lord is a God who punishes people for the evil they do.He gives them the full punishment they deserve.