24. Babylonia, you fought against me, and you have been caught in the trap I set for you, even though you did not know it.
25. I have opened the place where my weapons are stored, and in my anger I have taken them out, because I, the Sovereign Lord Almighty, have work to do in Babylonia.
26. Attack it from every side and break open the places where its grain is stored! Pile up the loot like piles of grain! Destroy the country! Leave nothing at all!
27. Kill all their soldiers! Slaughter them! The people of Babylonia are doomed! The time has come for them to be punished!”
28. (Refugees escape from Babylonia and come to Jerusalem, and they tell how the Lord our God took revenge for what the Babylonians had done to his Temple.)
29. “Tell the archers to attack Babylon. Send out everyone who knows how to use the bow and arrow. Surround the city and don't let anyone escape. Pay it back for all it has done, and treat it as it has treated others, because it acted with pride against me, the Holy One of Israel.
30. So its young men will be killed in the city streets, and all its soldiers will be destroyed on that day. I, the Lord, have spoken.
31. “Babylonia, you are filled with pride, so I, the Sovereign Lord Almighty, am against you! The time has come for me to punish you.
32. Your proud nation will stumble and fall, and no one will help you up. I will set your cities on fire, and everything around will be destroyed.”
33. The Lord Almighty says, “The people of Israel and of Judah are oppressed. All who captured them are guarding them closely and will not let them go.
34. But the one who will rescue them is strong — his name is the Lord Almighty. He himself will take up their cause and will bring peace to the earth, but trouble to the people of Babylonia.”
35. The Lord says,“Death to Babylonia!Death to its people,to its rulers, to its men of wisdom.
36. Death to its lying prophets —what fools they are!Death to its soldiers —how terrified they are!
37. Destroy its horses and chariots!Death to its hired soldiers —how weak they are!Destroy its treasures;plunder and loot.
38. Bring a drought on its landand dry up its rivers.Babylonia is a land of terrifying idols,that have made fools of the people.