14. I’ll go up to the cloud tops;I’ll be like the Most High!
15. But down to the underworld you are brought,to the depths of the pit.
16. Those who see you will stare at you;they will examine you closely:"Is this the man who rattled the earth,who shook kingdoms,
17. who made the world a wastelandand tore down its cities,and wouldn’t let his prisoners go home?"
18. All the kings of the nations lie down honored,all of them, each in his own tomb.
19. But you are cast away from your own gravelike a rejected branch,covered by the deadand those pierced by the sword—who go down to the stony pit—like a trampled corpse.
20. You won’t join them in burial,for you destroyed your own land;you killed your own people.Such evil offspring will never be mentioned again!
21. Prepare a place to slaughter his sons for the guilt of their father. Don’t let them arise to take over the earth or fill the world with cities.
22. I will arise against them, says the Lord of heavenly forces. I will cut off Babylon’s renown and remnant, offshoot and offspring.
23. I will make it the home of herons, a swampland. I will sweep it away with the broom of destruction, says the Lord of heavenly forces.
24. The Lord of heavenly forces has promised:As I intended, so it will be;and as I have planned, so it will happen:
25. I will break Assyria in my land;on my mountains I will trample itand remove its yoke from my people;his burden will be taken from their shoulders.
26. This is the plan that has been made for all the earth;this is the hand extended over all the nations.