49. Because the people of Babylon have killed many Israelitesand because they have killed many people throughout the earth,Babylon must fall.
50. You people who escaped from the sword, leave!Don’t just stand there.Remember the Lord in a distant land, and think about Jerusalem.
51. We have been put to shame, and we have been disgraced.Shame covers our faces, because foreigners have goneinto the holy places of the Lord’s temple.
52. “That is why the days are coming,” declares the Lord,“when I will punish their idols,and those who are wounded will moan everywhere in the land.
53. The people of Babylon might go up to heaven.They might fortify their strongholds.But destroyers will still come from me against them,”declares the Lord.
54. Cries of agony are heard from Babylon.Sounds of terrible destruction are heardfrom the land of the Babylonians.
55. The Lord will destroy Babylon.He will silence the loud noise coming from it.Waves of enemies will come roaring in like raging water.The noise will be heard everywhere.
56. A destroyer will attack Babylon,its soldiers will be captured,and their bows and arrows will be broken.“I, the Lord, am a God who punishes evil.I will certainly punish them.
57. I will make their officials and wise men drunk,along with their governors, officers, and soldiers.They will fall into a deep sleep and never wake up,”declares the king, whose name is the Lord of Armies.
58. This is what the Lord of Armies says:The thick walls of Babylon will be leveled,and its high gates will be set on fire.People exhaust themselves for nothing.The nations wear themselves out only to have a fire.