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.
59. This is what Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah son of Neriah son of Mahseiah, the quartermaster, when he went to Babylon with King Zedekiah of Judah in the fourth year of Zedekiah’s reign.
60. Jeremiah wrote on one scroll about all the disaster that would come to Babylon; all these words were written against Babylon.
61. Jeremiah told Seraiah, “When you get to Babylon, see that you read all these words aloud.
62. You must say, ‘Lord, You have threatened to cut off this place so that no one will live in it — man or beast. Indeed, it will remain desolate forever.’