17. “The people of Israel are like a flock of sheep that are scattered.They are like sheep that have been chased away by lions.The first lion to eat them upwas the king of Assyria.The last lion to crush their boneswas Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.”
18. So this is what the Lord of heaven’s armies, the God of Israel, says:“I will punish the king of Babylon and his country.I will punish him as I punished the king of Assyria.
19. But I will bring the people of Israel back to their own pasture.They will eat on Mount Carmel and in Bashan.They will eat and be full.They will eat on the hills of Ephraim and Gilead.”
20. The Lord says,“At that time people will try to find Israel’s guilt.But there will be no guilt.People will try to find Judah’s sins.But no sins will be found.This is because I am saving the few people left alive from Israel and Judah.And I am forgiving their sins.
21. “Attack the land of Merathaim.Attack the people who live in Pekod.Chase them, kill them and completely destroy them.Do everything I commanded you!” says the Lord.
22. “The noise of battle can be heard all over the country.It is the noise of much destruction.
23. Babylon was the hammer of the whole earth.But how broken and shattered that hammer is now!Babylon is truly the most ruinedof all the nations.