1. The word that the Lord spoke concerning Babylon, concerning the land of the Kasdim, by Jeremiah the prophet.
2. “Declare amongst the nations and publish,and set up a standard;publish, and don’t conceal:say, ‘Babylon has been taken,Bel is disappointed,Merodach is dismayed!Her images are disappointed.Her idols are dismayed.’
3. For a nation comes up out of the north against her,which will make her land desolate,and no one will dwell in it.They have fled.They are gone,both man and animal.
4. “In those days, and in that time,” says the Lord,“the children of Israel will come,they and the children of Judah together;they will go on their way weeping,and will seek the Lord their God.
5. They will enquire concerning Zion with their faces turned towards it,saying, ‘Come, and join yourselves to the Lord in an everlasting covenantthat will not be forgotten.’
6. My people have been lost sheep.Their shepherds have caused them to go astray.They have turned them away on the mountains.They have gone from mountain to hill.They have forgotten their resting place.
7. All who found them have devoured them.Their adversaries said, ‘We are not guilty,because they have sinned against the Lord,the habitation of righteousness,even the Lord, the hope of their fathers.’
8. “Flee out of the middle of Babylon!Go out of the land of the Kasdim,and be as the male goats before the flocks.
9. For, behold, I will stir upand cause to come up against Babylon a company of great nations from the north country;and they will set themselves in array against her.She will be taken from there.Their arrows will be as of an expert mighty man.None of them will return in vain.
10. Kasdim will be a prey.All who prey on her will be satisfied,” says the Lord.
11. “Because you are glad,because you rejoice,O you who plunder my heritage,because you are wanton as a heifer that treads out the grain,and neigh as strong horses;