13. I will rattle the heavens;the earth will shake loose from its place—because of the rageof the Lord of heavenly forceson the day his anger burns.
14. They will be like hunted gazelles, like sheep without a shepherd;all will turn to their own peopleand flee to their own lands.
15. Whoever is found will be stabbed;whoever is caught will fall by the sword.
16. Their infants will be crushed before their eyes;their houses plundered, their women raped.
17. Look! I’m rousing the Medes against them;the Medes pay no mind to silver, no desire for gold.
18. Their bows will smash youths;they will be merciless to newborns, pitiless to children.
19. So Babylon, a jewel among kingdoms,the Chaldeans’ splendor and pride,will be like Sodom and Gomorrah,destroyed by God.
20. No one will ever resettleor live there for generations.No Arab will camp there;no shepherds will rest flocks there.
21. Wildcats will rest there;houses will be filled with owls.Ostriches will live there,and goat demons will dance there.
22. Hyenas will howl in its strongholds,and jackals in its luxurious palaces.Babylon’s time is coming soon;its days won’t drag on.