6. My people have been lost sheep; their shepherds have caused them to go astray; they have turned them away on the mountains; they have gone from mountain to hill; they have forgotten their restingplace.
7. All that found them have devoured them; and their adversaries said, We are not guilty because they have sinned against the Lord, the habitation of justice, even the Lord, the hope of their fathers.
8. Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the meek in front of the flocks.
9. For, behold, I awake and cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country, and from there they shall set themselves in array against her; she shall be taken; their arrows shall be as of a mighty expert one, who shall not return in vain.
10. And the land of the Chaldeans shall be for a spoil; all that spoil her shall come forth full, saith the Lord.
11. Because ye were glad, because ye rejoiced destroying my heritage, because ye filled yourselves as a heifer on grass and neighed like horses;
12. your mother was sore confounded; she that bore you was ashamed: see here the latter end of the Gentiles: wilderness, dry land, and desert.
13. Because of the wrath of the Lord, she shall not be inhabited, but she shall be completely desolate; every one that goes by Babylon shall be astonished and hiss at all her plagues.
14. Put yourselves in array against Babylon round about; all ye that bend the bow, shoot at her, spare no arrows; for she has sinned against the Lord.
15. Shout against her round about; she has given her hand; her foundations are fallen; her walls are thrown down: for it is the vengeance of the Lord; take vengeance upon her; as she has done, do unto her.
16. Cut off the sower from Babylon and him that handles the sickle in the time of harvest; for fear of the oppressing sword they shall turn each one to his people, and they shall flee each one to his own land.
17. Israel has been like scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away; first the king of Assyria has devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon has broken his bones.
18. Therefore thus hath the Lord of the hosts, the God of Israel said; Behold, I visit the king of Babylon and his land as I have visited the king of Assyria.
19. And I will bring Israel again to his habitation, and he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan, and his soul shall be satisfied upon Mount Ephraim and Gilead.
20. In those days, and in that time, said the Lord, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon those whom I shall have left.
21. Go up against the land of Merathaim, even against it and against the inhabitants of Pekod; waste and utterly destroy after them, said the Lord, and do according to all that I have commanded thee.