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!”
59. This is the message that Jeremiah the prophet gave to the officer Seraiah. Seraiah was the son of Neriah, who was the son of Mahseiah. Seraiah went to Babylon with Zedekiah king of Judah. This happened in the fourth year Zedekiah was king of Judah.
60. Jeremiah had written on a scroll all the terrible things that would happen to Babylon. He had written all these words about Babylon.
61. Jeremiah said to Seraiah, “Go to Babylon. Be sure to read this message so all the people can hear you.
62. Then say, ‘Lord, you have said that you will destroy this place. You will destroy it so that no people or animals will live in it. It will be an empty ruin forever.’
63. After you finish reading this scroll, tie a stone to it. And throw it into the Euphrates River.
64. Then say, ‘In the same way Babylon will sink. It will not rise again. It will sink because of the terrible things I will make happen here. Her people will fall.’”The words of Jeremiah end here.