48. So heaven and earth and everything in them will shout for joy. They will be glad because of what will happen to Babylon. Armies will attack it from the north. And they will destroy it," announces the Lord.
49. "Babylon's people have killed my people Israel. They have also killed people all over the earth. So now Babylon itself must fall.
50. You who have not been killed in the war against Babylon, leave! Do not wait! In a land far away remember me. And think about Jerusalem."
51. The people of Judah reply, "No one honors us anymore. People make fun of us. Our faces are covered with shame. People from other lands have entered the holy places of the Lord's house."
52. "But a new day is coming," announces the Lord. "At that time I will punish the gods of Babylon. And all through its land wounded people will groan.
53. What if Babylon reached all the way to the sky? What if it made its high walls even stronger? I would still send destroyers against it," announces the Lord.
54. "The noise of people screaming comes from Babylon. A terrible sound comes from its land. It is the sound of a mighty city being destroyed.
55. I will destroy Babylon. I will put an end to all of its noise. Waves of enemies will sweep through it like great waters. The roar of their voices will fill the air.
56. A destroying army will come against Babylon. The soldiers in the city will be captured. Their bows will be broken. I am the Lord God who pays people back. I will pay them back in full.
57. I will make Babylon's officials and wise men drunk. I will do the same thing to its governors, officers and soldiers. They will lie down and die. They will never wake up," announces the King. His name is The Lord Who Rules Over All.
58. The Lord who rules over all says, "Babylon's thick walls will fall down flat. Its high gates will be set on fire. The nations wear themselves out for no reason at all. Their hard work will only be burned up in the flames."
59. I gave a message to the staff officer Seraiah, the son of Neriah. I told him to take it with him to Babylon. He went there with Zedekiah, the king of Judah. He left in the fourth year of Zedekiah's rule. Neriah was the son of Mahseiah.
60. I had written about all of the trouble that would come on Babylon. I had written it down on a scroll. It included everything that had been recorded about Babylon.
61. I said to Seraiah, "When you get to Babylon, here's what I want you to do. Make sure that you read all of these words out loud.
62. Then say, 'Lord, you have said you will destroy this place. You have said that no people or animals will live here. It will be empty forever.'
63. "Finish reading the scroll. Tie a stone to it. Throw it into the Euphrates River.