21. The Lord said:I have toldthe enemies of Babylonia,“Attack the people of Merathaimand Pekod.Kill them all!Destroy their possessions!”
22. Sounds of warand the noise of destructioncan be heard.
23. Babylonia was a hammerpounding every country,but now it lies broken.What a shock to the nationsof the world!
24. Babylonia challenged me,the Lord God All-Powerful,but that nation doesn't knowit is caught in a trapthat I set.
25. I've brought out my weapons,and with them I will put a curseon Babylonia.
26. Come from far away,you enemies of Babylon!Pile up the grainfrom its storehouses,and destroy it completely,along with everything else.
27. Kill the soldiers of Babylonia,because the time has comefor them to be punished.
28. The Babylonian armydestroyed my temple,but soon I will take revenge.Then refugees from Babylonwill tell about it in Zion.
29. Attack Babylon, enemy archers;set up camp around the city,and don't let anyone escape.It challenged me, the holy God,so do to itwhat it did to other cities.
30. People of Babylon,I, the Lord, promisethat even your best soldierswill lie dead in the streets.
31. Babylon, you should be named,“The Proud One”.But the time has come when I,the Lord All-Powerful,will punish you.
32. You are proud,but you will stumble and fall,and no one will help you up.I will set your villages on fire,and everything around youwill go up in flames.
33. You Babylonians were cruelto Israel and Judah.You took them captive, and nowyou refuse to let them go.
34. But I, the Lord All-Powerful,will rescue and protect them.I will bring peace to their landand trouble to yours.
35. I have declared war on you,your officials, and advisers.
36. This war will provethat your prophetsare liars and fools.And it will frightenyour warriors.
37. Then your chariot horsesand the foreigners in your armywill refuse to go into battle,and the enemy will carry awayeverything you treasure.