11. I will punish this evil worldand its peoplebecause of their sins.I will crush the horrible prideof those who are cruel.
12. Survivors will be harder to findthan the purest gold.
13. I, the Lord All-Powerful,am terribly angry—I will make the sky trembleand the earth shake loose.
14. Everyone will runto their homelands,just as hunted deer run,and sheep scatterwhen they have no shepherd.
15. Those who are capturedwill be killed by a sword.
16. They will see their childrenbeaten against rocks,their homes robbed,and their wives abused.
17. The Medes can't be bought offwith silver or gold,and I'm sending themto attack Babylonia.
18. Their arrows will slaughterthe young men;no pity will be shownto babies and children.
19. The city of Babylonis glorious and powerful,the pride of the nation.But it will be like the citiesof Sodom and Gomorrahafter I, the Lord,destroyed them.
20. No one will live in Babylon.Even nomads won't camp nearby,and shepherds won't lettheir sheep rest there.
21. Only desert creatures,owls, and ostricheswill live in its ruins,and goats will leap about.