1 T hus saith Jehovah: Behold, I will raise up against Babylon, and against them that dwell in the heart of those that rise against me, a destroying wind;

Thus says the Lord: Behold, I will raise up against Babylon and against those who dwell among those rebelling against Me a destroying wind and spirit;

2 a nd I will send unto Babylon strangers, who shall fan her, and shall empty her land: for in the day of trouble they shall be against her round about.

And I will send to Babylon strangers or winnowers who will winnow her and will empty her land; for in the day of calamity they will be against her on every side.

3 A gainst him that bendeth let the archer bend his bow, and against him that lifteth himself up in his coat of mail; and spare not her young men: destroy utterly all her host.

Against him who bends let the archer bend his bow, and against him who lifts himself up in his coat of mail. And spare not her young men; devote and utterly destroy her entire host.

4 A nd the slain shall fall in the land of the Chaldeans, and they that are thrust through in her streets.

Thus they shall fall down slain in the land of the Chaldeans, and wounded in her streets.

5 F or Israel is not forsaken, nor Judah of his God, of Jehovah of hosts; for their land is full of guilt against the Holy One of Israel.

For Israel has not been widowed and forsaken, nor has Judah, by his God, the Lord of hosts, though their land is full of guilt against the Holy One of Israel.

6 F lee out of the midst of Babylon, and save every man his life; be ye not cut off in her iniquity: for this is the time of Jehovah's vengeance: he shall render unto her a recompence.

Flee out of the midst of Babylon! Let every man save his life! Let not destruction come upon you through her sin and guilt. For it is the time of the Lord’s vengeance; He will render to her a recompense.

7 B abylon hath been a golden cup in Jehovah's hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunk of her wine; therefore have the nations become mad.

Babylon was a golden cup in the Lord’s hand, making all the earth drunken. The nations drank of her wine; therefore the nations have gone mad.

8 B abylon is suddenly fallen and ruined. Howl over her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed.

Babylon has suddenly fallen and is shattered (destroyed)! Wail for her! Get balm for her pain; if so she may be healed!

9 W e have treated Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country; for her judgment reacheth unto the heavens, and is lifted up to the skies.

We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed. Forsake her and let us each go to his own country, for her guilt and the judgment against her reach to heaven and are lifted even to the skies.

10 J ehovah hath brought forth our righteousness: come, and let us declare in Zion the work of Jehovah our God.

The Lord has brought forth and made known the righteousness; come and let us declare in Zion the work of the Lord our God.

11 S harpen the arrows; take the shields. Jehovah hath stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes; for his purpose is against Babylon, to destroy it; for this is the vengeance of Jehovah, the vengeance of his temple.

Make clean and sharp the arrows, take up the shields or coats of armor! The Lord has stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes, for His purpose concerning Babylon is to destroy it; for that is the vengeance of the Lord, the vengeance of His temple.

12 L ift up a banner towards the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set the watchmen, prepare the ambushes; for Jehovah hath both devised and done that which he spoke against the inhabitants of Babylon.

Set up a standard or signal upon the walls of Babylon! Make the watch and blockade strong, set the guards, prepare the ambushes! For the Lord has both purposed and done that which He spoke against the inhabitants of Babylon.

13 T hou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in treasures, thine end is come, the measure of thy rapacity.

O you who dwell by many waters, rich in treasures, your end has come, and the line measuring your life is cut.

14 J ehovah of hosts hath sworn by himself, I will assuredly fill thee with men, as with caterpillars; and they shall raise a shout against thee.

The Lord of hosts has sworn by Himself, saying, Surely I will fill you with men, as with locusts, and they will lift up a song and shout over you.

15 H e hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his understanding.

He made the earth by His power; He established the world by His wisdom and stretched out the heavens by His understanding.

16 W hen he uttereth his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the end of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.

When He utters His voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth. He makes lightnings for the rain and brings forth the wind from His treasuries.

17 E very man is become brutish, so as to have no knowledge; every founder is put to shame by the graven image, for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.

Every man has become stupid and brutelike, without knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by the images he has made; for his molten idols are a lie, and there is no breath in them.

18 T hey are vanity, a work of delusion: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.

They are worthless (emptiness, falsity, futility), a work of delusion and worthy of derision; in the time of their inspection and punishment they shall perish.

19 T he portion of Jacob is not like them; for it is he that hath formed all things: and is the rod of his inheritance: Jehovah of hosts is his name.

Not like these is He Who is the Portion of Jacob, for He is the One Who formed all things, and Israel is the tribe of His inheritance—the Lord of hosts is His name.

20 T hou art my maul, weapons of war: and with thee I will break in pieces the nations, and I will with thee destroy kingdoms;

You are My battle-ax or maul and weapon of war—for with you I break nations in pieces, with you I destroy kingdoms,

21 a nd with thee I will break in pieces the horse and his rider; and with thee I will break in pieces the chariot and its driver;

With you I break in pieces the horse and his rider, with you I break in pieces the chariot and the charioteer,

22 a nd with thee 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;

With you I break in pieces man and woman, with you I break in pieces old man and youth, with you I break in pieces young man and maiden,

23 a nd with thee will I break in pieces 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 governors and rulers.

With you I break in pieces the shepherd and his flock, with you I break in pieces the farmer and his yoke of oxen, and with you I break in pieces governors and commanders.

24 A nd I will render unto Babylon and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea, in your sight, all their evil which they have done in Zion, saith Jehovah.

And I will repay Babylon and all the inhabitants of Chaldea for all the evil that they have done in Zion—before your very eyes, says the Lord.

25 B ehold, I am against thee, mount of destruction, saith Jehovah, which destroyest all the earth; and I will stretch out my hand upon thee, and roll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee a burning mountain.

Behold, I am against you, says the Lord, O destroying mountain, you who destroy the whole earth. I will stretch out My hand over and against you and roll you down from the crags and will make you a burnt-out mountain.

26 A nd they shall not take of thee a stone for a corner, nor a stone for foundations; for thou shalt be desolate for ever, saith Jehovah.

And they shall not take your cracked stones for a cornerstone, or any stone for foundations, but you shall be waste and desolate forever, says the Lord.

27 L ift up a banner in the land, blow the trumpet among the nations, prepare nations against her; call together against her the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz; appoint a captain against her; cause the horses to come up as the bristly caterpillars.

Set up a standard or signal in the land! Blow the trumpet among the nations! Prepare and dedicate the nations for war against her; call against her the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz. Appoint a marshal against her; cause the horses to come up like locusts.

28 P repare nations against her, the kings of the Medes, their governors and all their rulers, yea, all the land of their dominion.

Prepare and dedicate the nations for war against her—the kings of Media, with their governors and commanders (deputies), and every land of their dominion.

29 A nd the land trembleth and is in pain; for the purposes of Jehovah against Babylon do stand, to make the land of Babylon a desolation, without inhabitant.

The land trembles and writhes in pain and sorrow, for the purposes of the Lord against Babylon stand—to make the land of Babylon a desolation without inhabitant.

30 T he mighty men of Babylon have ceased to fight, they are sitting in the fortresses; their might hath failed, they are become as women: they have set her dwelling places on fire; her bars are broken.

The mighty warriors of Babylon have ceased to fight; they have remained in their holds. Their might has failed; they have become like women. Her dwelling places are burned up; her bars are broken.

31 C ourier runneth to meet courier, and messenger to meet messenger, to announce to the king of Babylon that his city is taken from end to end;

One post shall run to meet another and one messenger to meet another to show the king of Babylon that his city is taken on every side and to its farthest end,

32 a nd the passages are seized, and the reedy places are burnt with fire, and the men of war are affrighted.

And that the passages are stopped, and the great marshes they have burned with fire, and the men of war are frightened.

33 F or thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: The daughter of Babylon is like a threshing-floor, at the time of its being trodden; yet a little while, and the time of harvest shall come for her.

For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: The Daughter of Babylon is like a threshing floor at the time it is; yet a little while and the time of harvest shall come to her.

34 N ebuchadrezzar 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.

Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon has devoured us, he has crushed us, he has made us an empty vessel. Like a monster he has swallowed us up, he has filled his belly with our delicacies; he has rinsed us out and cast us away.

35 T he violence done to me and to my flesh be upon Babylon, shall the inhabitress of Zion say; and, My blood be upon the inhabitants of Chaldea, shall Jerusalem say.

May the violence done to me and to my flesh and blood be upon Babylon, will the inhabitant of Zion say; and, May my blood be upon the inhabitants of Chaldea, will Jerusalem say.

36 T herefore thus saith Jehovah: Behold, I will plead thy cause, and take vengeance for thee; and I will dry up her sea, and make her spring dry.

Therefore thus says the Lord: Behold, I will plead your cause and take vengeance for you. I will dry up her lake or great reservoir and make her fountain dry.

37 A nd Babylon shall become heaps, a dwelling-place of jackals, an astonishment, and a hissing, without inhabitant.

And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwelling place of jackals, a horror (an astonishing desolation) and a hissing, without inhabitant.

38 T hey shall roar together like young lions, growl as lions' whelps.

They shall be roaring together like young lions, they shall be growling like lions’ whelps.

39 W hen they are heated, I will prepare their drink, and I will make them drunken, that they may exult, and sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith Jehovah.

When the revelers are inflamed, I will prepare them a feast and make them drunk, that they may rejoice and fall asleep to a perpetual sleep and not waken, says the Lord.

40 I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with he-goats.

I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams together with he-goats.

41 H ow is Sheshach taken! and how is the praise of the whole earth seized! How is Babylon become an astonishment among the nations!

How Sheshach is taken! And the praise of the whole earth is surprised and seized! How Babylon has become an astonishing desolation and a horror among the nations!

42 T he sea is come up upon Babylon: she is covered with the multitude of its waves.

The sea has come up upon Babylon; she is covered with the tumult and multitude of its waves.

43 H er cities are become a desolation, a dry land, and a desert, a land wherein no one dwelleth, neither doth a son of man pass thereby.

Her cities have become a desolation and a horror, a land of drought and a wilderness, a land in which no one lives, nor does any son of man pass through it.

44 A nd I will punish Bel in Babylon, and I will bring forth out of his mouth what he hath swallowed up; and the nations shall not flow together any more unto him: yea, the wall of Babylon is fallen.

And I will punish and execute judgment upon Bel in Babylon and take out of his mouth what he has swallowed up. The nations will not flow any more to him. Yes, the wall of Babylon has fallen!

45 G o ye out of the midst of her, my people, and deliver every man his soul from the fierce anger of Jehovah!

My people, come out of the midst of her! And let every man save his life from the fierce anger of the Lord!

46 l est your heart faint, and ye fear for the rumour that shall be heard in the land; for a rumour shall come year, and after that a rumour in year, and violence in the earth, ruler against ruler.

And beware, lest your heart faint and you be afraid at the report (rumor) heard in the land; for in one year shall one report come and in another year another report, and violence shall be in the land, ruler against ruler.

47 T herefore behold, days are coming when I will punish the graven images of Babylon; and her whole land shall be put to shame, and all her slain shall fall in the midst of her.

Therefore behold, the days will come when I will execute judgment and punishment upon the idols of Babylon; her whole land will be confounded and put to shame, and all her slain will fall in the midst of her.

48 A nd the heavens and the earth, and all that is therein, shall shout aloud over Babylon; for out of the north the spoilers shall come against her, saith Jehovah.

Then heaven and earth and all that is in them shall sing for joy over Babylon, for the destroyers shall come against her from the north, says the Lord.

49 A s Babylon caused the slain of Israel to fall, so at Babylon shall fall the slain of all the earth.

As Babylon caused the slain of Israel to fall, so at Babylon shall fall the slain of all land.

50 Y e that have escaped the sword, go, stand not still: remember Jehovah from afar, and let Jerusalem come into your mind.

You who have escaped the sword, go away, stand not still! remember the Lord from afar, and let Jerusalem come into your mind.

51 — We are put to shame, for we have heard reproach; confusion hath covered our face: for strangers are come into the sanctuaries of Jehovah's house.

We are confounded and ashamed, for we have heard reproach; confusion and shame have covered our faces, for strangers have come into the sacred parts of the sanctuary of the Lord.

52 — Therefore behold, days come, saith Jehovah, that I will punish her graven images; and throughout her land the wounded shall groan.

Therefore behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will execute judgment upon idols and images, and throughout all her land the wounded will groan.

53 T hough Babylon should mount up to the heavens, and though she should fortify the height of her strength, yet from me shall spoilers come unto her, saith Jehovah.

Though Babylon should mount up to heaven, and though she should fortify her strong height (her lofty stronghold), yet destroyers will come upon her from Me, says the Lord.

54 T he sound of a cry from Babylon, and great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans;

The sound of a cry from Babylon, and great destruction and ruin from the land of the Chaldeans!

55 f or Jehovah spoileth Babylon, and he will destroy out of her the great voice; and their waves roar like great waters, the noise of their voice resoundeth.

For the Lord is destroying Babylon and laying her waste and stilling her great voice. And the waves roar like great waters, the noise of their voices is raised up.

56 F or the spoiler is come against her, against Babylon, and her mighty men are taken; their bows are broken in pieces; for Jehovah, the God of recompences, will certainly requite.

For the destroyer is coming upon her, upon Babylon; and her mighty warriors are taken, their bows are broken in pieces; for the Lord is a God of recompense; He will surely requite.

57 A nd I will make drunk her princes, and her wise men, her governors, and her rulers, and her mighty men; and they shall sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the King, whose name is Jehovah of hosts.

And I will make drunk her princes and her wise men, her governors and her commanders (deputies) and her mighty warriors; and they will sleep a perpetual sleep and not waken, says the King—the Lord of hosts is His name.

58 T hus saith Jehovah of hosts: The broad walls of Babylon shall be utterly laid bare, and her high gates shall be burned with fire; so that the peoples will have laboured in vain, and the nations for the fire: and they shall be weary.

Thus says the Lord of hosts: The broad walls of Babylon shall be utterly overthrown and made bare, and her high gates shall be burned with fire; the peoples shall labor in vain, and the nations to satisfy the fire, and they shall be weary.

59 T he word that Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah the son of Nerijah, 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 chamberlain.

The word that Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, when he went with Zedekiah king of Judah to Babylon in the fourth year of his reign. Now this Seraiah was chief chamberlain or quartermaster.

60 A nd Jeremiah wrote in a book all the evil that should come upon Babylon, all these words that are written against Babylon.

So Jeremiah wrote in a book all the evil that would come upon Babylon—even all these words that are written against Babylon.

61 A nd Jeremiah said to Seraiah, When thou comest to Babylon, see that thou read all these words;

And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, When you come to Babylon, see to it that you read all these words.

62 a nd say, Jehovah, thou hast spoken concerning this place, that thou wilt cut it off, so that none shall dwell in it, neither man nor beast, but that it shall be desolate for ever.

Then say, O Lord, You have spoken concerning this place that it shall be cut off, so that nothing shall remain and dwell in it, neither man nor beast; but it shall be desolate forever.

63 A nd it shall be, when thou hast ended reading this book, thou shalt bind a stone to it, and cast it into the midst of the Euphrates;

And it shall be that when you have finished reading this book, you shall bind a stone to it and cast it into the midst of the Euphrates.

64 a nd shalt say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise, because of the evil that I will bring upon it: and they shall be weary. Thus far the words of Jeremiah.

Then say, Thus will Babylon sink and not rise because of the evil that I will bring upon her; and will be weary (hopelessly exhausted). Thus far are the words of Jeremiah.