43. Her cities now lie in ruins;she is a dry wastelandwhere no one lives or even passes by.
44. And I will punish Bel, the god of Babylon,and make him vomit up all he has eaten.The nations will no longer come and worship him.The wall of Babylon has fallen!
45. “Come out, my people, flee from Babylon.Save yourselves! Run from the lord’s fierce anger.
46. But do not panic; don’t be afraidwhen you hear the first rumor of approaching forces.For rumors will keep coming year by year.Violence will erupt in the landas the leaders fight against each other.
47. For the time is surely comingwhen I will punish this great city and all her idols.Her whole land will be disgraced,and her dead will lie in the streets.
48. Then the heavens and earth will rejoice,for out of the north will come destroying armiesagainst Babylon,” says the lord.
49. “Just as Babylon killed the people of Israeland others throughout the world,so must her people be killed.
50. Get out, all you who have escaped the sword!Do not stand and watch—flee while you can!Remember the lord, though you are in a far-off land,and think about your home in Jerusalem.”
51. “We are ashamed,” the people say.“We are insulted and disgracedbecause the lord’s Templehas been defiled by foreigners.”