50. You who have escaped the sword, go and do not stand still!Remember the Lord from far away,and let Jerusalem come to your mind.
51. We are ashamedbecause we have heard insults. Humiliation covers our facesbecause foreigners have enteredthe holy places of the Lord’s temple.
52. Therefore, look, the days are coming —this is the Lord’s declaration —when I will punish her carved images,and the wounded will groanthroughout her land.
53. Even if Babylon should ascend to the heavens and fortify her tall fortresses,destroyers will come against her from Me.This is the Lord’s declaration.
54. The sound of a cry from Babylon! The sound of great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans!
55. For the Lord is going to devastate Babylon;He will silence her mighty voice.Their waves roar like abundant waters;the tumult of their voice resounds,
56. for a destroyer is coming against her,against Babylon.Her warriors will be captured,their bows shattered,for the Lord is a God of retribution;He will certainly repay.
57. I will make her princes and sages drunk,along with her governors, officials, and warriors.Then they will fall asleep foreverand never wake up. This is the King’s declaration;Yahweh of Hosts is His name.
58. This is what Yahweh of Hosts says:Babylon’s thick walls will be totally demolished, and her high gates consumed by fire.The peoples will have labored for nothing; the nations will exhaust themselves only to feed the fire.