Jeremiah 50

¹ The word that the LORD spoke concerning Babylon, concerning the land of the Chaldeans, by Jeremiah the prophet.

² “ Declare among the nations and publish, say, ‘Babylon has been taken,

³ For a nation comes up out of the north against her,

⁴ “ In those days, and in that time, ” says the LORD, “ the children of Israel will come,

⁵ They will inquire concerning Zion with their faces turned toward it, saying, ‘Come, and join yourselves to the LORD in an everlasting covenant

⁶ My people have been lost sheep.

⁷ All who found them have devoured them.

⁸ “ Flee out of the middle of Babylon!

⁹ For, behold, I will stir up

¹⁰ Chaldea will be a prey.

¹¹ “ Because you are glad,

¹² your mother will be utterly disappointed. She who bore you will be confounded.

¹³ Because of the LORD ’s wrath she won’t be inhabited,

¹⁴ Set yourselves in array against Babylon all around,

¹⁵ Shout against her all around.

¹⁶ Cut off the sower from Babylon,

¹⁷ “ Israel is a hunted sheep.

¹⁸ Therefore the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: “ Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land,

¹⁹ I will bring Israel again to his pasture,

²⁰ In those days, and in that time, ” says the LORD, “ the iniquity of Israel will be sought for,

²¹ “ Go up against the land of Merathaim, “ and do according to all that I have commanded you.

²² A sound of battle is in the land,

²³ How the hammer of the whole earth is cut apart and broken! How Babylon has become a desolation among the nations!

²⁴ I have laid a snare for you,

²⁵ The LORD has opened his armory,

²⁶ Come against her from the farthest border. Cast her up as heaps.

²⁷ Kill all her bulls.

²⁸ Listen to those who flee and escape out of the land of Babylon,

²⁹ “ Call together the archers against Babylon,

³⁰ Therefore her young men will fall in her streets.

³¹ “ Behold, I am against you, you proud one, ” says the Lord, GOD of Armies; “ for your day has come,

³² The proud one will stumble and fall,

³³ The LORD of Armies says: “ The children of Israel and the children of Judah are oppressed together.

³⁴ Their Redeemer is strong.

³⁵ “ A sword is on the Chaldeans, ” says the LORD, “ and on the inhabitants of Babylon,

³⁶ A sword is on the boasters,

³⁷ A sword is on their horses,

³⁸ A drought is on her waters,

³⁹ Therefore the wild animals of the desert

⁴⁰ As when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and its neighbor cities, ” says the LORD, “ so no man will dwell there,

⁴¹ “ Behold, a people comes from the north.

⁴² They take up bow and spear. everyone set in array,

⁴³ The king of Babylon has heard the news of them, pains as of a woman in labor.

⁴⁴ Behold, the enemy will come up like a lion

⁴⁵ Therefore hear the counsel of the LORD

⁴⁶ The earth trembles at the noise of the taking of Babylon.