8. Wander away out of the midst of Babylon,and go out of the land of the Chaldeans,and be as the male goats before the flocks.
9. For I will raise and cause to come up against Babylonan assembly of great nations from the north country.And they shall set themselves in array against her;from there she shall be taken captive.Their arrows will be like those of a skilled warrior;no one shall return empty-handed.
10. Chaldea will become plunder;all who destroy her will be satisfied,says the Lord.
11. Because you were glad, because you rejoiced,O you destroyers of My heritage,because you have grown fat as the heifer at the grass,and bellow as bulls,
12. your mother will be sorely humiliated;she who bore you will be ashamed.She will be the least of the nations,a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert.
13. Because of the wrath of the Lord she will not be inhabited,but shall be wholly desolate.Everyone who goes by Babylon will be astonishedand hiss at all her wounds.
14. Put yourselves in battle array against Babylon all around,all you who bend the bow;shoot at her, spare no arrows,for she has sinned against the Lord.
15. Shout against her all around;she has given herself up, her foundations have fallen,her walls have been thrown down.For this is the vengeance of the Lord.Take vengeance on her;as she has done, do to her.
16. Cut off the sower from Babylon,and him who handles the sickle in the time of harvest.For fear of the oppressing swordeveryone will turn to his people,and everyone will flee to his own land.
17. Israel is a scattered flock.The lions have driven him away.First the king of Assyriadevoured him;and this last one who has broken his bonesis Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.
18. Therefore thus says the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel: I will punish the king of Babylon and his land,as I have punished the king of Assyria.
19. I will bring Israel again to his habitation,and he will feed on Carmel and Bashan,and his soul will be satisfiedupon Mount Ephraim and Gilead.
20. In those days and at that time,says the Lord,the iniquity of Israel will be sought for,and there shall be none.And the sins of Judah,but they shall not be found;for I will pardon those whom I leave as a remnant.
21. Go up against the land of Merathaim, even against it,and against the inhabitants of Pekod.Slay and utterly destroy them,says the Lord,and do according to all that I have commanded you.
22. A noise of battle is in the land,and great destruction.
23. How the hammer of the whole earthhas been cut asunder and broken!How Babylon has become a desolationamong the nations!
24. I have laid a snare for you,and you were also caught, O Babylon,and you were not aware.You have been found, and also caught,because you have striven against the Lord.
25. The Lord has opened His armoryand has brought out the weapons of His indignation,for this is the work of the Lord God of Hostsin the land of the Chaldeans.