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.
24. Babylon, I set a trap for you.And you were caught before you knew it.You fought against the Lord.So you were found and taken prisoner.
25. The Lord has opened up his storeroom.He has brought out the weapons of his anger.This is because the Lord God of heaven’s armies has work to do.He has work to do in the land of the Babylonians.
26. Come against Babylon from far away.Break open her storehouses of grain.Pile up her dead bodies like big piles of grain.Completely destroy Babylonand do not leave anyone alive.
27. Kill all the young men in Babylon.Let them be killed.The time has come for their defeat.How terrible it will be for them!It is time for them to be punished.
28. Listen to the people running from the country of Babylon!They are telling Jerusalemhow the Lord our God is punishing Babylon as it deserves.This is because Babylon destroyed his Temple.
29. “Call for the men who shoot arrowsto come against Babylon.Tell them to surround the city.Don’t let anyone escape.Pay her back for the bad things she has done.Do to her what she has done to other nations.Babylon acted with pride against the Lord,the Holy One of Israel.
30. So Babylon’s young men will be killed in the streets.All her soldiers will die on that day,” says the Lord.
31. “Babylon, you are too proud. And I am against you,”says the Master, the Lord of heaven’s armies.“This is because the time has comefor you to be punished.