11. “Sharpen the arrows!Pick up your shields!The Lord has stirred up the kings of the Medes,because he wants to destroy Babylon.The Lord will punish them as they deservefor destroying his Temple.
12. Lift up a banner against the walls of Babylon!Bring more guards.Put the watchmen in their places,and get ready for a secret attack!The Lord will certainly do what he has plannedand what he said he would do against the people of Babylon.
13. People of Babylon, you live near much waterand are rich with many treasures,but your end as a nation has come.It is time to stop you from robbing other nations.
14. The Lord All-Powerful 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 worldand 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 rainand brings out the wind from his storehouses.
17. “People are so stupid and know so little.Goldsmiths are made ashamed by their idols,because 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.He made everything,and he chose Israel to be his special people.The Lord All-Powerful is his name.
20. “You are my war club,my battle weapon.I use you to smash nations.I use you to destroy kingdoms.
21. I use you to smash horses and riders.I use you to smash chariots and drivers.
22. I use you to smash men and women.I use you to smash old people and young people.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 back Babylon and all the Babylonians for all the evil things they did to Jerusalem in your sight,” 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,and I will make you a burned-out mountain.