18. Therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel:I will punish the king of Babylon and his land,as I once punished the king of Assyria;
19. But I will bring Israel back to its pasture,to feed on Carmel and Bashan,And on Mount Ephraim and Gilead,until they have their fill.
20. In those days, at that time—oracle of the Lord:The guilt of Israel may be sought, but it no longer exists,the sin of Judah, but it can no longer be found;for I will forgive the remnant I preserve.
21. Attack the land of Merathaim,and those who live in Pekod;Slaughter and put them under the ban—oracle of the Lord—do all I have commanded you.
22. Battle alarm in the land,great destruction!
23. How the hammer of the whole earthhas been cut off and broken!What an object of horrorBabylon has become among the nations!
24. You ensnared yourself and were caught,Babylon, before you knew it!You were discovered and seized,because you challenged the Lord.
25. The Lord opens his armory,brings out the weapons of his wrath;The Lord God of hosts has work to doin the land of the Chaldeans.
26. Come upon them from every side,open their granaries,Pile them up in heaps and put them under the ban;do not leave a remnant.
27. Slay all the oxen,take them down to slaughter;Woe to them! their day has come,the time of their punishment.
28. Listen! the fugitives, the refugeesfrom the land of Babylon:They announce in Zionthe retribution of the Lord, our God.
29. Call archers out against Babylon,all who bend the bow;Encamp around them;let no one escape.Repay them for their deeds;what they have done, do to them,For they insulted the Lord,the Holy One of Israel.
30. Therefore their young men shall fall in the squares,all their warriors shall be stilled on that day—oracle of the Lord.
31. I am against you, O Insolence—oracle of the Lord God of hosts;For your day has come,the time for me to punish you.
32. Insolence stumbles and falls;there is no one to raise him up.I will kindle a fire in his citiesto devour everything around him.
33. Thus says the Lord of hosts:Oppressed are the people of Israel,together with the people of Judah;All their captors hold them fastand refuse to let them go.
34. Strong is their Redeemer,whose name is Lord of hosts,The sure defender of their cause,who gives rest to their land,but unrest to those who live in Babylon.
35. A sword upon the Chaldeans—oracle of the Lord—upon the inhabitants of Babylon, her princes and sages!
36. A sword upon the soothsayers,and they become fools!A sword upon the warriors,and they tremble;