Jeremías 51
Lutherbibel 1912
1So spricht der HERR: Siehe, ich will einen scharfen Wind erwecken wider Babel und wider ihre Einwohner, die sich wider mich gesetzt haben.
2Ich will auch Worfler gen Babel schicken, die sie worfeln sollen und ihr Land ausfegen, die allenthalben um sie sein werden am Tage ihres Unglücks;
3denn ihre Schützen werden nicht schießen, und ihre Geharnischten werden sich nicht wehren können. So verschont nun ihre junge Mannschaft nicht, verbannet all ihr Heer,
4daß die Erschlagenen daliegen im Lande der Chaldäer und die Erstochenen auf ihren Gassen!
5Denn Israel und Juda sollen nicht Witwen von ihrem Gott, dem HERRN Zebaoth, gelassen werden. Denn jener Land hat sich hoch verschuldet am Heiligen in Israel.
6Fliehet aus Babel, damit ein jeglicher seine Seele errette, daß ihr nicht untergeht in ihrer Missetat! Denn dies ist die Zeit der Rache des HERRN, der ein Vergelter ist und will ihnen bezahlen.
7Ein goldener Kelch, der alle Welt trunken gemacht hat, war Babel in der Hand des HERRN; alle Heiden haben von ihrem Wein getrunken, darum sind die Heiden so toll geworden.
8Wie plötzlich ist Babel gefallen und zerschmettert! Heulet über sie, nehmet auch Salbe zu ihren Wunden, ob sie vielleicht möchte heil werden!
9Wir heilen Babel; aber sie will nicht heil werden. So laßt sie fahren und laßt uns ein jeglicher in sein Land ziehen! Denn ihre Strafe reicht bis an den Himmel und langt hinauf bis an die Wolken.
10Der HERR hat unsre Gerechtigkeit hervorgebracht; kommt, laßt uns zu Zion erzählen die Werke des HERRN, unsers Gottes!
11Ja, schärft nun die Pfeile wohl und rüstet die Schilde! Der HERR hat den Mut der Könige in Medien erweckt; denn seine Gedanken stehen wider Babel, daß er sie verderbe. Denn dies ist die Rache des HERRN, die Rache seines Tempels.
12Ja, steckt nun Panier auf die Mauern zu Babel, nehmt die Wache ein, setzt Wächter, bestellt die Hut! denn der HERR gedenkt etwas und wird auch tun, was er wider die Einwohner zu Babel geredet hat.
13Die du an großen Wassern wohnst und große Schätze hast, dein Ende ist gekommen, und dein Geiz ist aus!
14Der HERR Zebaoth hat bei seiner Seele geschworen: Ich will dich mit Menschen füllen, als wären's Käfer; die sollen dir ein Liedlein singen!
15Er hat die Erde durch seine Kraft gemacht und den Weltkreis durch seine Weisheit bereitet und den Himmel ausgebreitet durch seinen Verstand.
16Wenn er donnert, so ist da Wasser die Menge unter dem Himmel; er zieht die Nebel auf vom Ende der Erde; er macht die Blitze im Regen und läßt den Wind kommen aus seinen Vorratskammern.
17Alle Menschen sind Narren mit ihrer Kunst, und die Goldschmiede bestehen mit Schanden mit ihren Bildern; denn ihre Götzen sind Trügerei und haben kein Leben.
18Es ist eitel Nichts und verführerisches Werk; sie müssen umkommen, wenn sie heimgesucht werden.
19Aber also ist der nicht, der Jakobs Schatz ist; sondern der alle Dinge schafft, der ist's, und Israel ist sein Erbteil. Er heißt HERR Zebaoth.
20Du bist mein Hammer, meine Kriegswaffe; durch dich zerschmettere ich die Heiden und zerstöre die Königreiche;
21durch dich zerschmettere ich Rosse und Reiter und zerschmettere Wagen und Fuhrmänner;
22durch dich zerschmettere ich Männer und Weiber und zerschmettere Alte und Junge und zerschmettere Jünglinge und Jungfrauen;
23durch dich zerschmettere ich Hirten und Herden und zerschmettere Bauern und Joche und zerschmettere Fürsten und Herren.
24Und ich will Babel und allen Einwohnern in Chaldäa vergelten alle ihre Bosheit, die sie an Zion begangen haben, vor euren Augen, spricht der HERR.
25Siehe, ich will an dich, du schädlicher Berg, der du alle Welt verderbest, spricht der HERR; ich will meine Hand über dich strecken und dich von den Felsen herabwälzen und will einen verbrannten Berg aus dir machen,
26daß man weder Eckstein noch Grundstein aus dir nehmen könne, sondern eine ewige Wüste sollst du sein, spricht der HERR.
27Werfet Panier auf im Lande, blaset die Posaune unter den Heiden, heiliget die Heiden wider sie; rufet wider sie die Königreiche Ararat, Minni und Askenas; bestellt Hauptleute wider sie; bringt Rosse herauf wie flatternde Käfer!
28Heiligt die Heiden wider sie, die Könige aus Medien samt allen ihren Fürsten und Herren und das ganze Land ihrer Herrschaft,
29daß das Land erbebe und erschrecke; denn die Gedanken des HERRN wollen erfüllt werden wider Babel, daß er das Land Babel zur Wüste mache, darin niemand wohne.
30Die Helden zu Babel werden nicht zu Felde ziehen, sondern müssen in der Festung bleiben, ihre Stärke ist aus, sie sind Weiber geworden; ihre Wohnungen sind angesteckt und ihre Riegel zerbrochen.
31Es läuft hier einer und da einer dem andern entgegen, und eine Botschaft begegnet der andern, dem König zu Babel anzusagen, daß seine Stadt gewonnen sei bis ans Ende
32und die Furten eingenommen und die Seen ausgebrannt sind und die Kriegsleute seien blöde geworden.
33Denn also spricht der HERR Zebaoth, der Gott Israels: “Die Tochter Babel ist wie eine Tenne, wenn man darauf drischt; es wird ihre Ernte gar bald kommen.”
34Nebukadnezar, der König zu Babel, hat mich gefressen und umgebracht; er hat aus mir ein leeres Gefäß gemacht; er hat mich verschlungen wie ein Drache; er hat seinen Bauch gefüllt mit meinem Köstlichsten; er hat mich verstoßen.
35Nun aber komme über Babel der Frevel, an mir begangen und an meinem Fleische, spricht die Einwohnerin zu Zion, und mein Blut über die Einwohner in Chaldäa, spricht Jerusalem.
36Darum spricht der HERR also: Siehe, ich will dir deine Sache ausführen und dich rächen; ich will ihr Meer austrocknen und ihre Brunnen versiegen lassen.
37Und Babel soll zum Steinhaufen und zur Wohnung der Schakale werden, zum Wunder und zum Anpfeifen, daß niemand darin wohne.
38Sie sollen miteinander brüllen wie die Löwen und schreien wie die jungen Löwen.
39Ich will sie mit ihrem Trinken in die Hitze setzen und will sie trunken machen, daß sie fröhlich werden und einen ewigen Schlaf schlafen, von dem sie nimmermehr aufwachen sollen, spricht der HERR.
40Ich will sie herunterführen wie Lämmer zur Schlachtbank, wie die Widder mit den Böcken.
41Wie ist Sesach so gewonnen und die Berühmte in aller Welt so eingenommen! Wie ist Babel so zum Wunder geworden unter den Heiden!
42Es ist ein Meer über Babel gegangen, und es ist mit seiner Wellen Menge bedeckt.
43Ihre Städte sind zur Wüste und zu einem dürren, öden Lande geworden, zu einem Lande, darin niemand wohnt und darin kein Mensch wandelt.
44Denn ich habe den Bel zu Babel heimgesucht und habe aus seinem Rachen gerissen, was er verschlungen hatte; und die Heiden sollen nicht mehr zu ihm laufen; denn es sind auch die Mauern zu Babel zerfallen.
45Ziehet heraus, mein Volk, und errette ein jeglicher seine Seele vor dem grimmigen Zorn des HERRN!
46Euer Herz möchte sonst weich werden und verzagen vor dem Geschrei, das man im Lande hören wird; denn es wird ein Geschrei übers Jahr gehen und darnach im andern Jahr auch ein Geschrei über Gewalt im Lande und wird ein Fürst wider den andern sein.
47Darum siehe, es kommt die Zeit, daß ich die Götzen zu Babel heimsuchen will und ihr ganzes Land zu Schanden werden soll und ihre Erschlagenen darin liegen werden.
48Himmel und Erde und alles was darinnen ist, werden jauchzen über Babel, daß ihre Verstörer von Mitternacht gekommen sind, spricht der HERR.
49Und wie Babel in Israel die Erschlagenen gefällt hat, also sollen zu Babel die Erschlagenen fallen im ganzen Lande.
50So ziehet nun hin, die ihr dem Schwert entronnen seid, und säumet euch nicht! Gedenket des HERRN im fernen Lande und lasset euch Jerusalem im Herzen sein!
51Wir waren zu Schanden geworden, da wir die Schmach hören mußten, und die Scham unser Angesicht bedeckte, da die Fremden über das Heiligtum des Hauses des HERRN kamen.
52Darum siehe, die Zeit kommt, spricht der HERR, daß ich ihre Götzen heimsuchen will, und im ganzen Lande sollen die tödlich Verwundeten seufzen.
53Und wenn Babel gen Himmel stiege und ihre Macht in der Höhe festmachte, so sollen doch Verstörer von mir über sie kommen, spricht der HERR.
54Man hört ein Geschrei zu Babel und einen großen Jammer in der Chaldäer Lande;
55denn der HERR verstört Babel und verderbt sie mit großem Getümmel; ihre Wellen brausen wie die großen Wasser, es erschallt ihr lautes Toben.
56Denn es ist über Babel der Verstörer gekommen, ihre Helden werden gefangen, ihre Bogen zerbrochen; denn der Gott der Rache, der HERR, bezahlt ihr.
57Ich will ihre Fürsten, Weisen, Herren und Hauptleute und Krieger trunken machen, daß sie einen ewigen Schlaf sollen schlafen, davon sie nimmermehr aufwachen, spricht der König, der da heißt HERR Zebaoth.
58So spricht der HERR Zebaoth: Die Mauern der großen Babel sollen untergraben und ihre hohen Tore mit Feuer angesteckt werden, daß der Heiden Arbeit verloren sei, und daß verbrannt werde, was die Völker mit Mühe erbaut haben.
59Dies ist das Wort, das der Prophet Jeremia befahl Seraja dem Sohn Nerias, des Sohnes Maasejas, da er zog mit Zedekia, dem König in Juda, gen Babel im vierten Jahr seines Königreichs. Und Seraja war der Marschall für die Reise.
60Und Jeremia schrieb all das Unglück, so über Babel kommen sollte, in ein Buch, nämlich alle diese Worte, die wider Babel geschrieben sind.
61Und Jeremia sprach zu Seraja: Wenn du gen Babel kommst, so schaue zu und lies alle diese Worte
62und sprich: HERR, du hast geredet wider diese Stätte, daß du sie willst ausrotten, daß niemand darin wohne, weder Mensch noch Vieh, sondern daß sie ewiglich wüst sei.
63Und wenn du das Buch hast ausgelesen, so binde einen Stein daran und wirf es in den Euphrat
64und sprich: also soll Babel versenkt werden und nicht wieder aufkommen von dem Unglück, das ich über sie bringen will, sondern vergehen. So weit hat Jeremia geredet.
Reina-Valera 1909
1ASÍ ha dicho Jehová: He aquí que yo levanto sobre Babilonia, y sobre sus moradores que se levantan contra mí, un viento destruidor.
2Y enviaré á Babilonia aventadores que la avienten, y vaciarán su tierra; porque serán contra ella de todas partes en el día del mal.
3Diré al flechero que entesa su arco, y al que se pone orgulloso con su loriga: No perdonéis á sus mancebos, destruid todo su ejército.
4Y caerán muertos en la tierra de los Caldeos, y alanceados en sus calles.
5Porque Israel y Judá no han enviudado de su Dios, Jehová de los ejércitos, aunque su tierra fué llena de pecado contra el Santo de Israel.
6Huid de en medio de Babilonia, y librad cada uno su alma, porque no perezcáis á causa de su maldad: porque el tiempo es de venganza de Jehová; darále su pago.
7Vaso de oro fué Babilonia en la mano de Jehová, que embriaga toda la tierra: de su vino bebieron las gentes; aturdiéronse por tanto las naciones.
8En un momento cayó Babilonia, y despedazóse: aullad sobre ella; tomad bálsamo para su dolor, quizá sanará.
9Curamos á Babilonia, y no ha sanado: dejadla, y vámonos cada uno á su tierra; porque llegado ha hasta el cielo su juicio, y alzádose hasta las nubes.
10Jehová sacó á luz nuestras justicias: venid, y contemos en Sión la obra de Jehová nuestro Dios.
11Limpiad las saetas, embrazad los escudos: despertado ha Jehová el espíritu de los reyes de Media; porque contra Babilonia es su pensamiento para destruirla; porque venganza es de Jehová, venganza de su templo.
12Levantad bandera sobre los muros de Babilonia, reforzad la guardia, poned centinelas, disponed celadas; porque deliberó Jehová, y aun pondrá en efecto lo que ha dicho sobre los moradores de Babilonia.
13La que moras entre muchas aguas, rica en tesoros, venido ha tu fin, la medida de tu codicia.
14Jehová de los ejércitos juró por su vida, diciendo: Yo te llenaré de hombres como de langostas, y levantarán contra ti gritería.
15El es el que hizo la tierra con su fortaleza, el que afirmó el mundo con su sabiduría, y extendió los cielos con inteligencia;
16El que da con su voz muchedumbre de aguas del cielo, y hace subir las nubes de lo postrero de la tierra; él hace relámpagos con la lluvia, y saca el viento de sus tesoros.
17Todo hombre se ha infatuado y es sin ciencia: avergüénzase todo artífice de la escultura, porque mentira es su vaciadizo, que no tiene espíritu.
18Vanidad son, obra de irrisiones; en el tiempo de su visitación perecerán.
19No es como ellos la parte de Jacob: porque él es el Formador de todo; é Israel es la vara de su heredad: Jehová de los ejércitos es su nombre.
20Martillo me sois, y armas de guerra; y por medio de ti quebrantaré gentes, y por medio de ti desharé reinos;
21Y por tu medio quebrantaré caballos y sus cabalgadores, y por medio de ti quebrantaré carros y los que en ellos suben;
22Asimismo por tu medio quebrantaré hombres y mujeres, y por medio de ti quebrantaré viejos y mozos, y por tu medio quebrantaré mancebos y vírgenes:
23También quebrantaré por medio de ti al pastor y á su manada: quebrantaré por tu medio á labradores y sus yuntas; y duques y príncipes quebrantaré por medio de ti.
24Y pagaré á Babilonia y á todos los moradores de Caldea, todo el mal de ellos que hicieron en Sión delante de vuestros ojos, dice Jehová.
25He aquí yo contra ti, oh monte destruidor, dice Jehová, que destruiste toda la tierra; y extenderé mi mano sobre ti, y te haré rodar de las peñas, y te tornaré monte quemado.
26Y nadie tomará de ti piedra para esquina, ni piedra para cimiento; porque perpetuos asolamientos serás, ha dicho Jehová.
27Alzad bandera en la tierra, tocad trompeta en las naciones, apercibid gentes contra ella; juntad contra ella los reinos de Ararat, de Minni, y de Aschênaz; señalad contra ella capitán, haced subir caballos como langostas erizadas.
28Apercibid contra ella gentes; á reyes de Media, á sus capitanes, y á todos sus príncipes, y á toda la tierra de su señorío.
29Y temblará la tierra, y afligiráse; porque confirmado es contra Babilonia todo el pensamiento de Jehová, para poner la tierra de Babilonia en soledad, y que no haya morador.
30Los valientes de Babilonia dejaron de pelear, estuviéronse en sus fuertes: faltóles su fortaleza, tornáronse como mujeres: encendiéronse sus casas, quebráronse sus cerrojos.
31Correo se encontrará con correo, mensajero se encontrará con mensajero, para noticiar al rey de Babilonia que su ciudad es tomada por todas partes:
32Y los vados fueron tomados, y los carrizos fueron quemados á fuego, y consternáronse los hombres de guerra.
33Porque así ha dicho Jehová de los ejércitos, Dios de Israel: La hija de Babilonia es como parva; tiempo es ya de trillarla: de aquí á poco le vendrá el tiempo de la siega.
34Comióme, desmenuzóme Nabucodonosor rey de Babilonia; paróme como vaso vacío, tragóme como dragón, hinchió su vientre de mis delicadezas, y echóme.
35Sobre Babilonia la violencia contra mí y mi carne, dirá la moradora de Sión; y mi sangre sobre los moradores de Caldea, dirá Jerusalem.
36Por tanto, así ha dicho Jehová: He aquí que yo juzgo tu causa y haré tu venganza; y secaré su mar, y haré que quede seca su corriente.
37Y será Babilonia para montones, morada de chacales, espanto y silbo, sin morador.
38A una rugirán como leones; como cachorros de leones bramarán.
39En su calor les pondré sus banquetes; y haréles que se embriaguen, para que se alegren, y duerman eterno sueño, y no despierten, dice Jehová.
40Hacerlos he traer como corderos al matadero, como carneros con cabritos.
41¡Cómo fué presa Sesach, y fué tomada la que era alabada por toda la tierra! ¡Cómo fué Babilonia por espanto entre las gentes!
42Subió la mar sobre Babilonia; de la multitud de sus ondas fué cubierta.
43Sus ciudades fueron asoladas, la tierra seca y desierta, tierra que no morará en ella nadie, ni pasará por ella hijo de hombre.
44Y visitaré á Bel en Babilonia, y sacaré de su boca lo que ha tragado: y no vendrán más á él gentes; y el muro de Babilonia caerá.
45Salid de en medio de ella, pueblo mío, y salvad cada uno su vida de la ira del furor de Jehová.
46Y porque no desmaye vuestro corazón, y temáis á causa de la fama que se oirá por la tierra, en un año vendrá la fama, y después en otro año el rumor, y la violencia en la tierra, y el enseñoreador sobre el que enseñorea.
47Por tanto, he aquí vienen días que yo visitaré las esculturas de Babilonia, y toda su tierra será avergonzada, y todos sus muertos caerán en medio de ella.
48Y los cielos y la tierra, y todo lo que está en ellos, darán alabanzas sobre Babilonia: porque del aquilón vendrán sobre ella destruidores, dice Jehová.
49Pues que Babilonia fué causa que cayesen muertos de Israel, también de Babilonia caerán muertos de toda la tierra.
50Los que escapasteis del cuchillo, andad, no os detengáis; acordaos por muchos días de Jehová, y acordaos de Jerusalem.
51Estamos avergonzados, porque oímos la afrenta: confusión cubrió nuestros rostros, porque vinieron extranjeros contra los santuarios de la casa de Jehová.
52Por tanto, he aquí vienen días, dice Jehová, que yo visitaré sus esculturas, y en toda su tierra gemirán los heridos.
53Si subiese Babilonia al cielo, y si fortaleciere en lo alto su fuerza, de mí vendrán á ella destruidores, dice Jehová.
54¡Sonido de grito de Babilonia, y quebrantamiento grande de la tierra de los Caldeos!
55Porque Jehová destruye á Babilonia, y quitará de ella el mucho estruendo; y bramarán sus ondas, como muchas aguas será el sonido de la voz de ellos:
56Porque vino destruidor contra ella, contra Babilonia, y sus valientes fueron presos, el arco de ellos fué quebrado: porque Jehová, Dios de retribuciones, dará la paga.
57Y embriagaré sus príncipes y sus sabios, sus capitanes y sus nobles y sus fuertes; y dormirán sueño eterno y no despertarán, dice el Rey, cuyo nombre es Jehová de los ejércitos.
58Así ha dicho Jehová de los ejércitos: El muro ancho de Babilonia será derribado enteramente, y sus altas puertas serán quemadas á fuego; y en vano trabajarán pueblos y gentes en el fuego, y se cansarán.
59Palabra que envió Jeremías profeta á Seraías hijo de Nerías, hijo de Maasías, cuando iba con Sedechîas rey de Judá á Babilonia, el cuarto año de su reinado. Y era Seraías el principal camarero.
60Escribió pues Jeremías en un libro todo el mal que había de venir sobre Babilonia, todas las palabras que están escritas contra Babilonia.
61Y dijo Jeremías á Seraías: Cuando llegares á Babilonia, y vieres y leyeres todas estas cosas,
62Dirás: Oh Jehová, tú has dicho contra este lugar que lo habías de talar, hasta no quedar en él morador, ni hombre ni animal, sino que para siempre ha de ser asolado.
63Y será que cuando acabares de leer este libro, le atarás una piedra, y lo echarás en medio del Eufrates:
64Y dirás: Así será anegada Babilonia, y no se levantará del mal que yo traigo sobre ella; y serán rendidos. Hasta aquí son las palabras de Jeremías.
King James Version
1Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will raise up against Babylon, and against them that dwell in the midst of them that rise up against me, a destroying wind;
2And will send unto Babylon fanners, that shall fan her, and shall empty her land: for in the day of trouble they shall be against her round about.
3Against him that bendeth let the archer bend his bow, and against him that lifteth himself up in his brigandine: and spare ye not her young men; destroy ye utterly all her host.
4Thus the slain shall fall in the land of the Chaldeans, and they that are thrust through in her streets.
5For Israel hath not been forsaken, nor Judah of his God, of the LORD of hosts; though their land was filled with sin against the Holy One of Israel.
6Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of the LORD’s vengeance; he will render unto her a recompence.
7Babylon hath been a golden cup in the LORD’s hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad.
8Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed.
9We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country: for her judgment reacheth unto heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies.
10The LORD hath brought forth our righteousness: come, and let us declare in Zion the work of the LORD our God.
11Make bright the arrows; gather the shields: the LORD hath raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes: for his device is against Babylon, to destroy it; because it is the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance of his temple.
12Set up the standard upon the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set up the watchmen, prepare the ambushes: for the LORD hath both devised and done that which he spake against the inhabitants of Babylon.
13O thou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in treasures, thine end is come, and the measure of thy covetousness.
14The LORD of hosts hath sworn by himself, saying, Surely I will fill thee with men, as with caterpillers; and they shall lift up a shout against thee.
15He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by his understanding.
16When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens; and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth: he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.
17Every man is brutish by his knowledge; every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.
18They are vanity, the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.
19The portion of Jacob is not like them; for he is the former of all things: and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: the LORD of hosts is his name.
20Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms;
21And with thee will I break in pieces the horse and his rider; and with thee will I break in pieces the chariot and his rider;
22With thee also will I break in pieces man and woman; and with thee will I break in pieces old and young; and with thee will I break in pieces the young man and the maid;
23I will also break in pieces with thee the shepherd and his flock; and with thee will I break in pieces the husbandman and his yoke of oxen; and with thee will I break in pieces captains and rulers.
24And I will render unto Babylon and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea all their evil that they have done in Zion in your sight, saith the LORD.
25Behold, I am against thee, O destroying mountain, saith the LORD, which destroyest all the earth: and I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and roll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee a burnt mountain.
26And they shall not take of thee a stone for a corner, nor a stone for foundations; but thou shalt be desolate for ever, saith the LORD.
27Set ye up a standard in the land, blow the trumpet among the nations, prepare the nations against her, call together against her the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashchenaz; appoint a captain against her; cause the horses to come up as the rough caterpillers.
28Prepare against her the nations with the kings of the Medes, the captains thereof, and all the rulers thereof, and all the land of his dominion.
29And the land shall tremble and sorrow: for every purpose of the LORD shall be performed against Babylon, to make the land of Babylon a desolation without an inhabitant.
30The mighty men of Babylon have forborn to fight, they have remained in their holds: their might hath failed; they became as women: they have burned her dwellingplaces; her bars are broken.
31One post shall run to meet another, and one messenger to meet another, to shew the king of Babylon that his city is taken at one end,
32And that the passages are stopped, and the reeds they have burned with fire, and the men of war are affrighted.
33For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; The daughter of Babylon is like a threshingfloor, it is time to thresh her: yet a little while, and the time of her harvest shall come.
34Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon hath devoured me, he hath crushed me, he hath made me an empty vessel, he hath swallowed me up like a dragon, he hath filled his belly with my delicates, he hath cast me out.
35The violence done to me and to my flesh be upon Babylon, shall the inhabitant of Zion say; and my blood upon the inhabitants of Chaldea, shall Jerusalem say.
36Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will plead thy cause, and take vengeance for thee; and I will dry up her sea, and make her springs dry.
37And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwellingplace for dragons, an astonishment, and an hissing, without an inhabitant.
38They shall roar together like lions: they shall yell as lions’ whelps.
39In their heat I will make their feasts, and I will make them drunken, that they may rejoice, and sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the LORD.
40I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with he goats.
41How is Sheshach taken! and how is the praise of the whole earth surprised! how is Babylon become an astonishment among the nations!
42The sea is come up upon Babylon: she is covered with the multitude of the waves thereof.
43Her cities are a desolation, a dry land, and a wilderness, a land wherein no man dwelleth, neither doth any son of man pass thereby.
44And I will punish Bel in Babylon, and I will bring forth out of his mouth that which he hath swallowed up: and the nations shall not flow together any more unto him: yea, the wall of Babylon shall fall.
45My people, go ye out of the midst of her, and deliver ye every man his soul from the fierce anger of the LORD.
46And lest your heart faint, and ye fear for the rumour that shall be heard in the land; a rumour shall both come one year, and after that in another year shall come a rumour, and violence in the land, ruler against ruler.
47Therefore, behold, the days come, that I will do judgment upon the graven images of Babylon: and her whole land shall be confounded, and all her slain shall fall in the midst of her.
48Then the heaven and the earth, and all that is therein, shall sing for Babylon: for the spoilers shall come unto her from the north, saith the LORD.
49As Babylon hath caused the slain of Israel to fall, so at Babylon shall fall the slain of all the earth.
50Ye that have escaped the sword, go away, stand not still: remember the LORD afar off, and let Jerusalem come into your mind.
51We are confounded, because we have heard reproach: shame hath covered our faces: for strangers are come into the sanctuaries of the LORD’s house.
52Wherefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will do judgment upon her graven images: and through all her land the wounded shall groan.
53Though Babylon should mount up to heaven, and though she should fortify the height of her strength, yet from me shall spoilers come unto her, saith the LORD.
54A sound of a cry cometh from Babylon, and great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans:
55Because the LORD hath spoiled Babylon, and destroyed out of her the great voice; when her waves do roar like great waters, a noise of their voice is uttered:
56Because the spoiler is come upon her, even upon Babylon, and her mighty men are taken, every one of their bows is broken: for the LORD God of recompences shall surely requite.
57And I will make drunk her princes, and her wise men, her captains, and her rulers, and her mighty men: and they shall sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts.
58Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The broad walls of Babylon shall be utterly broken, and her high gates shall be burned with fire; and the people shall labour in vain, and the folk in the fire, and they shall be weary.
59The word which Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, when he went with Zedekiah the king of Judah into Babylon in the fourth year of his reign. And this Seraiah was a quiet prince.
60So Jeremiah wrote in a book all the evil that should come upon Babylon, even all these words that are written against Babylon.
61And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, When thou comest to Babylon, and shalt see, and shalt read all these words;
62Then shalt thou say, O LORD, thou hast spoken against this place, to cut it off, that none shall remain in it, neither man nor beast, but that it shall be desolate for ever.
63And it shall be, when thou hast made an end of reading this book, that thou shalt bind a stone to it, and cast it into the midst of Euphrates:
64And thou shalt say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her: and they shall be weary. Thus far are the words of Jeremiah.
World English Bible
1The LORD says: “Behold, I will raise up against Babylon, and against those who dwell in Lebkamai, a destroying wind.
2I will send to Babylon strangers, who will winnow her. They will empty her land; for in the day of trouble they will be against her all around.
3Against him who bends, let the archer bend his bow, also against him who lifts himself up in his coat of mail. Don’t spare her young men! Utterly destroy all her army!
4They will fall down slain in the land of the Chaldeans, and thrust through in her streets.
5For Israel is not forsaken, nor Judah, by his God, by the LORD of Armies; though their land is full of guilt against the Holy One of Israel.
6“Flee out of the middle of Babylon! Everyone save his own life! Don’t be cut off in her iniquity, for it is the time of the LORD’s vengeance. He will give to her a recompense.
7Babylon has been a golden cup in the LORD’s hand, who made all the earth drunk. The nations have drunk of her wine; therefore the nations have gone mad.
8Babylon has suddenly fallen and been destroyed! Wail for her! Take balm for her pain. Perhaps she may be healed.
9“We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed. Forsake her, and let’s each go into his own country; for her judgment reaches to heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies.
10‘The LORD has produced our righteousness. Come, and let’s declare in Zion the work of the LORD our God.’
11“Make the arrows sharp! Hold the shields firmly! The LORD has stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes, because his purpose is against Babylon, to destroy it; for it is the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance of his temple.
12Set up a standard against the walls of Babylon! Make the watch strong! Set the watchmen, and prepare the ambushes; for the LORD has both purposed and done that which he spoke concerning the inhabitants of Babylon.
13You who dwell on many waters, abundant in treasures, your end has come, the measure of your covetousness.
14The LORD of Armies has sworn by himself, saying, ‘Surely I will fill you with men, as with locusts, and they will lift up a shout against you.’
15“He has made the earth by his power. He has established the world by his wisdom. By his understanding he has stretched out the heavens.
16When he utters his voice, there is a roar of waters in the heavens, and he causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain, and brings the wind out of his treasuries.
17“Every man has become stupid and without knowledge. Every goldsmith is disappointed by his image, for his molten images are falsehood, and there is no breath in them.
18They are vanity, a work of delusion. In the time of their visitation, they will perish.
19The portion of Jacob is not like these, for he formed all things, including the tribe of his inheritance. The LORD of Armies is his name.
20“You are my battle ax and weapons of war. With you I will break the nations into pieces. With you I will destroy kingdoms.
21With you I will break in pieces the horse and his rider.
22With you I will break in pieces the chariot and him who rides therein. With you I will break in pieces man and woman. With you I will break in pieces the old man and the youth. With you I will break in pieces the young man and the virgin.
23With you I will break in pieces the shepherd and his flock. With you I will break in pieces the farmer and his yoke. With you I will break in pieces governors and deputies.
24“I will give to Babylon and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea all their evil that they have done in Zion in your sight,” says the LORD.
25“Behold, I am against you, destroying mountain,” says the LORD, “which destroys all the earth. I will stretch out my hand on you, roll you down from the rocks, and will make you a burned mountain.
26They won’t take a cornerstone from you, nor a stone for foundations; but you will be desolate forever,” says the LORD.
27“Set up a standard in the land! Blow the trumpet among the nations! Prepare the nations against her! Call together against her the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz! Appoint a marshal against her! Cause the horses to come up as the swarming locusts!
28Prepare against her the nations, the kings of the Medes, its governors, and all its deputies, and all the land of their dominion!
29The land trembles and is in pain; for the purposes of the LORD against Babylon stand, to make the land of Babylon a desolation, without inhabitant.
30The mighty men of Babylon have stopped fighting, they remain in their strongholds. Their might has failed. They have become as women. Her dwelling places are set on fire. Her bars are broken.
31One runner will run to meet another, and one messenger to meet another, to show the king of Babylon that his city is taken on every quarter.
32So the passages are seized. They have burned the reeds with fire. The men of war are frightened.”
33For the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel says: “The daughter of Babylon is like a threshing floor at the time when it is trodden. Yet a little while, and the time of harvest comes for her.”
34“Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon has devoured me. He has crushed me. He has made me an empty vessel. He has, like a monster, swallowed me up. He has filled his mouth with my delicacies. He has cast me out.
35May the violence done to me and to my flesh be on Babylon!” the inhabitant of Zion will say; and, “May my blood be on the inhabitants of Chaldea!” will Jerusalem say.
36Therefore the LORD says: “Behold, I will plead your cause, and take vengeance for you. I will dry up her sea, and make her fountain dry.
37Babylon will become heaps, a dwelling place for jackals, an astonishment, and a hissing, without inhabitant.
38They will roar together like young lions. They will growl as lions’ cubs.
39When they are inflamed, I will make their feast, and I will make them drunk, that they may rejoice, and sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake up,” says the LORD.
40“I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with male goats.
41“How Sheshach is taken! How the praise of the whole earth is seized! How Babylon has become a desolation among the nations!
42The sea has come up on Babylon. She is covered with the multitude of its waves.
43Her cities have become a desolation, a dry land, and a desert, a land in which no man dwells. No son of man passes by it.
44I will execute judgment on Bel in Babylon, and I will bring out of his mouth that which he has swallowed up. The nations will not flow any more to him. Yes, the wall of Babylon will fall.
45“My people, go away from the middle of her, and each of you save yourselves from the LORD’s fierce anger.
46Don’t let your heart faint. Don’t fear for the news that will be heard in the land. For news will come one year, and after that in another year news will come, and violence in the land, ruler against ruler.
47Therefore behold, the days come that I will execute judgment on the engraved images of Babylon; and her whole land will be confounded. All her slain will fall in the middle of her.
48Then the heavens and the earth, and all that is therein, will sing for joy over Babylon; for the destroyers will come to her from the north,” says the LORD.
49“As Babylon has caused the slain of Israel to fall, so the slain of all the land will fall at Babylon.
50You who have escaped the sword, go! Don’t stand still! Remember the LORD from afar, and let Jerusalem come into your mind.”
51“We are confounded because we have heard reproach. Confusion has covered our faces, for strangers have come into the sanctuaries of the LORD’s house.”
52“Therefore behold, the days come,” says the LORD, “that I will execute judgment on her engraved images; and through all her land the wounded will groan.
53Though Babylon should mount up to the sky, and though she should fortify the height of her strength, yet destroyers will come to her from me,” says the LORD.
54“The sound of a cry comes from Babylon, and of great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans!
55For the LORD lays Babylon waste, and destroys out of her the great voice! Their waves roar like many waters. The noise of their voice is uttered.
56For the destroyer has come on her, even on Babylon. Her mighty men are taken. Their bows are broken in pieces, for the LORD is a God of retribution. He will surely repay.
57I will make her princes, her wise men, her governors, her deputies, and her mighty men drunk. They will sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake up,” says the King, whose name is the LORD of Armies.
58The LORD of Armies says: “The wide walls of Babylon will be utterly overthrown. Her high gates will be burned with fire. The peoples will labor for vanity, and the nations for the fire; and they will be weary.”
59The word which Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah the son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, when he went with Zedekiah the king of Judah to Babylon in the fourth year of his reign. Now Seraiah was chief quartermaster.
60Jeremiah wrote in a book all the evil that should come on Babylon, even all these words that are written concerning Babylon.
61Jeremiah said to Seraiah, “When you come to Babylon, then see that you read all these words,
62and say, ‘LORD, you have spoken concerning this place, to cut it off, that no one will dwell in it, neither man nor animal, but that it will be desolate forever.’
63It will be, when you have finished reading this book, that you shall bind a stone to it, and cast it into the middle of the Euphrates.
64Then you shall say, ‘Thus will Babylon sink, and will not rise again because of the evil that I will bring on her; and they will be weary.’” Thus far are the words of Jeremiah.