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.
57. I will make Babylon’s rulers and wise men drunk.I will make her governors, officers and soldiers drunk, too.Then they will sleep forever and never wake up,” says the King.His name is the Lord of heaven’s armies.
58. This is what the Lord of heaven’s armies says:“Babylon’s thick wall will be pulled down.Her high gates will be burned.The people will work hard, but it won’t help.Their work will only become fuel for the flames!”