7. All who found them devoured them;and their attackers said,"It’s not our fault,because they have sinned against the Lord, the true pasture,the hope of their ancestors—the Lord."
8. Now wander far from Babylon.Get out of that country.Like rams of the flock,lead the way home.
9. I’m stirring up against Babylona coalition of mighty nations.It will mobilize in the north,and from there she will be captured.Their arrows are like those of an expert archerwho does not return empty-handed.
10. Babylon will be defeated;its attackers will carry off all that they want,declares the Lord.
11. Sure, you gloat and rejoice,you plunderers of my possession.Sure, you dance around like a calfand neigh like a stallion.
12. But Mother Babylon will be humiliated;the one who bore you will be disgraced.She will become the least of the nations:a wilderness, a desert, and parched land.
13. Because of the Lord’s anger,no one will live there;she will be reduced to total ruin.All who pass by Babylon will be shocked;they will gasp at all her injuries.
14. Take up your positions around Babylon,all you archers;now shoot at her;save none of your arrows,because she’s sinnedagainst the Lord.
15. Raise a victory shoutagainst her on every side!She’s surrendered;her towers have collapsed;her walls are destroyed.This is the Lord’s retribution;now pay her back:do to her what she’s done to others!
16. Cut Babylon off from those who plantand those who harvest the crops,because of its ruthless sword.Now return, all of you, to your people;flee to your homeland!
17. Israelites are scattered sheep,driven away by lions.First the king of Assyria devoured them,and now Babylon’s King Nebuchadnezzar has ravaged them.
18. Therefore, the Lord of heavenly forces, the God of Israel, proclaims:I’m going to punish the king of Babylon and his land,just as I punished the king of Assyria.
19. But I will restore Israel to their pasture;they will graze on Carmel and Bashan;they will eat their fillin the highlands of Ephraim and Gilead.
20. In those days and at that time,declares the Lord, if one searches for the sin of Israel,they will find nothing;if one seeks outthe wrongdoing of Judah,they will look in vain.I will forgive those I have spared.
21. Attack the land of Merathaim;crush those living in Pekod.Ruin and destroy them,declares the Lord;do all I have commanded you.
22. There’s the sound of war in the landand enormous devastation.
23. How the hammer of the whole earthhas been broken and shatteredinto pieces!How Babylon has become a wastelandamong the nations!
24. You set a trap for others, Babylon,but you yourself were caughtin it unaware;you have been found and capturedbecause you have defied the Lord.
25. The Lord has opened his arsenaland brought out his brutal weapons.The Lord God of heavenly forceshas a job to doin the land of the Babylonians.