16. Cut off from Babylon the sower,and the reaper with his sickle at harvest.Because of the sword of the oppressorlet everyone return to their own people,let everyone flee to their own land.
17. ‘Israel is a scattered flockthat lions have chased away.The first to devour themwas the king of Assyria;the last to crush their boneswas Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.’
18. Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says:‘I will punish the king of Babylon and his landas I punished the king of Assyria.
19. But I will bring Israel back to their own pasture,and they will graze on Carmel and Bashan;their appetite will be satisfiedon the hills of Ephraim and Gilead.
20. In those days, at that time,’declares the Lord,‘search will be made for Israel’s guilt,but there will be none,and for the sins of Judah,but none will be found,for I will forgive the remnant I spare.
21. ‘Attack the land of Merathaimand those who live in Pekod.Pursue, kill and completely destroy them,’declares the Lord.‘Do everything I have commanded you.
22. The noise of battle is in the land,the noise of great destruction!