15. Raise a war cry against her on every side!She has thrown up her hands in surrender;her defense towers have fallen;her walls are demolished. Since this is the Lord’s vengeance, take out your vengeance on her;as she has done, do the same to her.
16. Cut off the sower from Babylonas well as him who wields the sickle at harvest time.Because of the oppressor’s sword, each will turn to his own people, each will flee to his own land.
17. Israel is a stray lamb, chased by lions. The first who devoured him was the king of Assyria;the last one who crushed his boneswas Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.
18. Therefore, this is what the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “I am about to punish the king of Babylon and his land just as I punished the king of Assyria.
19. I will return Israel to his grazing land, and he will feed on Carmel and Bashan;he will be satisfiedin the hill country of Ephraim and of Gilead.
20. In those days and at that time —this is the Lord’s declaration —one will search for Israel’s guilt,but there will be none,and for Judah’s sins,but they will not be found,for I will forgive those I leave as a remnant.
21. “Go against the land of Merathaim,and against those living in Pekod.Put them to the sword;completely destroy them —this is the Lord’s declaration —do everything I have commanded you.
22. The sound of war is in the land —a great destruction.