5. Everyone in Israel and Judahis guilty.But I, the Lord All-Powerful,their holy God,have not abandoned them.
6. Get out of Babylon!Run for your lives!If you stay, you will be killedwhen I take revenge on the cityand punish it for its sins.
7. Babylon was my golden cup,filled with the wineof my anger.The nations of the worldgot drunk on this wineand went insane.
8. But suddenly, Babylon will falland be destroyed.I, the Lord, told the foreignerswho lived there,“Weep for the city!Get medicine for its wounds;perhaps they will heal.”
9. The foreigners answered,“We have already triedto treat Babylon's wounds,but they would not heal.Come on, let's all go hometo our own countries.Nothing is left in Babylonia;everything is destroyed.”
10. The people of Israel said,“Tell everyone in Zion!The Lord has taken revengefor what Babylon did to us.”
11. I, the Lord,want Babylon destroyed,because its armydestroyed my temple.So, you kings of Media,sharpen your arrowsand pick up your shields.
12. Raise the signal flagand attack the city walls.Post more guards.Command soldiers to watch the cityand set up ambushes.I have made plansto destroy Babylon,and nothing will stop me.
13. People of Babylon, you livealong the River Euphratesand are surrounded by canals.You are rich,but now the time has comefor you to die.
14. I, the Lord All-Powerful,swear by my own lifethat enemy soldierswill fill your streetslike a swarm of locusts.They will shoutand celebrate their victory.
15. God used his wisdom and powerto create the earthand spread out the heavens.
16. The waters in the heavens roarat his command.He makes clouds appear;he sends the windfrom his storehouseand makes lightning flashin the rain.
17. People who make idolsare stupid!They will be disappointed,because their false godscannot breathe.