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.”
52. “Yes,” says the lord, “but the time is comingwhen I will destroy Babylon’s idols.The groans of her wounded peoplewill be heard throughout the land.
53. Though Babylon reaches as high as the heavensand makes her fortifications incredibly strong,I will still send enemies to plunder her.I, the lord, have spoken!
54. “Listen! Hear the cry of Babylon,the sound of great destruction from the land of the Babylonians.
55. For the lord is destroying Babylon.He will silence her loud voice.Waves of enemies pound against her;the noise of battle rings through the city.
56. Destroying armies come against Babylon.Her mighty men are captured,and their weapons break in their hands.For the lord is a God who gives just punishment;he always repays in full.
57. I will make her officials and wise men drunk,along with her captains, officers, and warriors.They will fall asleepand never wake up again!”says the King, whose name isthe lord of Heaven’s Armies.
58. This is what the lord of Heaven’s Armies says:“The thick walls of Babylon will be leveled to the ground,and her massive gates will be burned.The builders from many lands have worked in vain,for their work will be destroyed by fire!”
59. The prophet Jeremiah gave this message to Seraiah son of Neriah and grandson of Mahseiah, a staff officer, when Seraiah went to Babylon with King Zedekiah of Judah. This was during the fourth year of Zedekiah’s reign.
60. Jeremiah had recorded on a scroll all the terrible disasters that would soon come upon Babylon—all the words written here.
61. He said to Seraiah, “When you get to Babylon, read aloud everything on this scroll.
62. Then say, ‘lord, you have said that you will destroy Babylon so that neither people nor animals will remain here. She will lie empty and abandoned forever.’
63. When you have finished reading the scroll, tie it to a stone and throw it into the Euphrates River.