28. Listen to the fugitives and refugees from Babylondeclaring in Zionhow the Lord our God has taken vengeance,vengeance for his temple.
29. ‘Summon archers against Babylon,all those who draw the bow.Encamp all round her;let no one escape.Repay her for her deeds;do to her as she has done.For she defied the Lord,the Holy One of Israel.
30. Therefore, her young men will fall in the streets;all her soldiers will be silenced in that day,’declares the Lord.
31. ‘See, I am against you, you arrogant one,’declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty,‘for your day has come,the time for you to be punished.
32. The arrogant one will stumble and falland no one will help her up;I will kindle a fire in her townsthat will consume all who are around her.’
33. This is what the Lord Almighty says:‘The people of Israel are oppressed,and the people of Judah as well.All their captors hold them fast,refusing to let them go.
34. Yet their Redeemer is strong;the Lord Almighty is his name.He will vigorously defend their causeso that he may bring rest to their land,but unrest to those who live in Babylon.
35. ‘A sword against the Babylonians!’declares the Lord –‘against those who live in Babylonand against her officials and wise men!
36. A sword against her false prophets!They will become fools.A sword against her warriors!They will be filled with terror.
37. A sword against her horses and chariotsand all the foreigners in her ranks!They will become weaklings.A sword against her treasures!They will be plundered.
38. A drought on her waters!They will dry up.For it is a land of idols,idols that will go mad with terror.
39. ‘So desert creatures and hyenas will live there,and there the owl will dwell.It will never again be inhabitedor lived in from generation to generation.
40. As I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrahalong with their neighbouring towns,’declares the Lord,‘so no one will live there;no people will dwell in it.
41. ‘Look! An army is coming from the north;a great nation and many kingsare being stirred up from the ends of the earth.
42. They are armed with bows and spears;they are cruel and without mercy.They sound like the roaring seaas they ride on their horses;they come like men in battle formationto attack you, Daughter Babylon.
43. The king of Babylon has heard reports about them,and his hands hang limp.Anguish has gripped him,pain like that of a woman in labour.
44. Like a lion coming up from Jordan’s thicketsto a rich pasture-land,I will chase Babylon from its land in an instant.Who is the chosen one I will appoint for this?Who is like me and who can challenge me?And what shepherd can stand against me?’