41. ‘How Sheshak will be captured,the boast of the whole earth seized!How desolate Babylon will beamong the nations!
42. The sea will rise over Babylon;its roaring waves will cover her.
43. Her towns will be desolate,a dry and desert land,a land where no one lives,through which no one travels.
44. I will punish Bel in Babylonand make him spew out what he has swallowed.The nations will no longer stream to him.And the wall of Babylon will fall.
45. ‘Come out of her, my people!Run for your lives!Run from the fierce anger of the Lord.
46. Do not lose heart or be afraidwhen rumours are heard in the land;one rumour comes this year, another the next,rumours of violence in the landand of ruler against ruler.
47. For the time will surely comewhen I will punish the idols of Babylon;her whole land will be disgracedand her slain will all lie fallen within her.
48. Then heaven and earth and all that is in themwill shout for joy over Babylon,for out of the northdestroyers will attack her,’declares the Lord.
49. ‘Babylon must fall because of Israel’s slain,just as the slain in all the earthhave fallen because of Babylon.
50. You who have escaped the sword,leave and do not linger!Remember the Lord in a distant land,and call to mind Jerusalem.’
51. ‘We are disgraced,for we have been insultedand shame covers our faces,because foreigners have enteredthe holy places of the Lord’s house.’
52. ‘But days are coming,’ declares the Lord,‘when I will punish her idols,and throughout her landthe wounded will groan.
53. Even if Babylon ascends to the heavensand fortifies her lofty stronghold,I will send destroyers against her,’declares the Lord.
54. ‘The sound of a cry comes from Babylon,the sound of great destructionfrom the land of the Babylonians.
55. The Lord will destroy Babylon;he will silence her noisy din.Waves of enemies will rage like great waters;the roar of their voices will resound.
56. A destroyer will come against Babylon;her warriors will be captured,and their bows will be broken.For the Lord is a God of retribution;he will repay in full.