19. But I will bring Israel back to their own grasslands. I will feed them on Mount Carmel and in Bashan. I will satisfy their hunger on the hills of Ephraim and Gilead.
20. A new day is coming," announces the Lord. "At that time people will search for Israel's guilt. But they will not find any. They will search for Judah's sins. But they will not find any. That is because I will forgive the people I have spared.
21. "Enemies of Babylonia, attack their land of Merathaim. Make war against those who live in Pekod. Chase them and kill them. Destroy them completely," announces the Lord. "Do everything I have commanded you to do.
22. The noise of battle is heard in the land. It is the noise of a great city being destroyed!
23. It has been broken to pieces. It was the hammer that broke the whole earth. How empty Babylonia is among the nations!
24. Babylonia , I set a trap for you. And you were caught before you knew it. You were found and captured. That is because you opposed me.
25. I have opened up my storeroom. I have brought out the weapons I use when I am angry. I am the Lord and King who rules over all. I have work to do in the land of the Babylonians.
26. So come against it from far away. Open up its storerooms. Stack everything up like piles of grain. Completely destroy that country. Do not leave anyone alive there.
27. Kill all of its people. Let them die in battle. How terrible it will be for them! Their time to be judged has come. Now they will be punished.
28. Listen to those who have escaped. Listen to those who have returned from Babylonia. They are announcing in Zion how I have paid Babylonia back. I have paid it back for destroying my temple.
29. "Send for men who are armed with bows and arrows. Send them against Babylon. Set up camp all around it. Do not let anyone escape. Pay it back for what its people have done. Do to them what they have done to others. They have dared to disobey me. I am the Holy One of Israel.
30. You can be sure its young men will fall dead in the streets. All of its soldiers will be put to death at that time," announces the Lord.
31. "Proud Babylonians, I am against you," announces the Lord. The Lord who rules over all says, "Your day to be judged has come. It is time for you to be punished.
32. You proud people will trip and fall. No one will help you up. I will start a fire in your towns. It will burn up everyone who is around you."