8. “Flee from the midst of Babylon, and go out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as male goats before the flock.
9. For behold, I am stirring up and bringing against Babylon a gathering of great nations, from the north country. And they shall array themselves against her. From there she shall be taken. Their arrows are like a skilled warrior who does not return empty-handed.
10. Chaldea shall be plundered; all who plunder her shall be sated, declares the Lord.
11. “Though you rejoice, though you exult,O plunderers of my heritage,though you frolic like a heifer in the pasture,and neigh like stallions,
12. your mother shall be utterly shamed,and she who bore you shall be disgraced.Behold, she shall be the last of the nations, a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert.
13. Because of the wrath of the Lord she shall not be inhabitedbut shall be an utter desolation; everyone who passes by Babylon shall be appalled, and hiss because of all her wounds.
14. Set yourselves in array against Babylon all around, all you who bend the bow;shoot at her, spare no arrows, for she has sinned against the Lord.
15. Raise a shout against her all around;she has surrendered;her bulwarks have fallen; her walls are thrown down.For this is the vengeance of the Lord:take vengeance on her; do to her as she has done.
16. Cut off from Babylon the sower,and the one who handles the sickle in time of harvest; because of the sword of the oppressor, every one shall turn to his own people,and every one shall flee to his own land.
17. “Israel is a hunted sheep driven away by lions. First the king of Assyria devoured him, and now at last Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has gnawed his bones.