1 T he word which the Lord spoke about Babylon, the land of the Babylonians, through Jeremiah the man of God:

La palabra que el Señor habló acerca de Babilonia, la tierra de los Caldeos, por medio del profeta Jeremías:

2 “ Make it known among the nations. Lift up a flag and make it known. Do not hide it, but say, ‘Babylon has been taken. Bel has been put to shame. Marduk has been broken down. Her objects of worship have been put to shame. Her false gods have been broken down.’

“Anúncienlo entre las naciones y háganlo oír; Levanten estandarte, háganlo oír. No lo oculten, sino digan: ‘Ha sido tomada Babilonia, Está avergonzado Bel, destrozado Merodac; Han sido avergonzadas sus imágenes, destrozados sus ídolos.’

3 F or a nation has come up against her from the north. It will make her land an empty waste, and no one will live in it. Both man and animal will run away.

Porque ha subido contra ella una nación del norte Que hará de su tierra objeto de horror, Y no habrá habitante en ella. Tanto hombres como animales habrán huido, se habrán ido.

4 “ In those days and at that time,” says the Lord, “the sons of Israel will come, together with the sons of Judah. They will cry as they come, and will be looking for the Lord their God.

En aquellos días y en aquel tiempo,” declara el Señor “vendrán los Israelitas, ellos junto con los hijos de Judá; Vendrán andando y llorando, Y al Señor su Dios buscarán.

5 T hey will ask the way to Zion, with faces turned toward it, saying, ‘Come, let us join ourselves to the Lord in an agreement that lasts forever, one that will never be forgotten.’

Preguntarán por el camino de Sion, Hacia donde volverán sus rostros; Vendrán para unirse al Señor En un pacto eterno que no será olvidado.

6 “ My people have become lost sheep. Their shepherds have led them the wrong way. They have made them turn away on the mountains. They have gone from mountain to hill and have forgotten their resting place.

Mi pueblo ha venido a ser como ovejas perdidas; Sus pastores las han descarriado, Haciéndolas vagar por los montes. Han andado de monte en collado Y han olvidado su lugar de descanso.

7 A ll who found them have destroyed them. Those who hate them have said, ‘We are not guilty, for they have sinned against the Lord, their true resting place Who is right and good, the hope of their fathers.’

Todos los que los hallaban, los devoraban; Y sus enemigos han dicho: ‘No somos culpables, Porque ellos han pecado contra el Señor, morada de justicia, El Señor, esperanza de sus padres.’

8 R un out of Babylon. Go from the land of the Babylonians. Be like male goats that go before the flock.

Huyan de en medio de Babilonia, Y salgan de la tierra de los Caldeos; Sean como machos cabríos al frente del rebaño.

9 F or I am going to raise up and bring against Babylon a group of great nations from the land of the north. They will come ready for battle against her, and she will be taken. Their arrows will be like an able soldier who does not return with empty hands.

Porque Yo hago despertar y subir contra Babilonia Una horda de grandes naciones de la tierra del norte, Que se alinearán para la batalla contra ella; Desde allí será llevada cautiva. Sus flechas serán como de diestro guerrero Que no vuelve con las manos vacías.

10 B abylon will become a prize of war. All who take things from her will have enough,” says the Lord. Babylon Is Punished

Y Caldea se convertirá en botín; Todos los que la saqueen se saciarán,” declara el Señor.

11 “ You are glad and full of joy, O you who take what belongs to My people. You play around like a young cow in grain, and sound like strong horses. Because of this,

“Porque ustedes se alegran, porque se regocijan, Saqueadores de Mi heredad, Porque saltan como novilla trilladora Y relinchan como caballos sementales,

12 y our mother will be very ashamed. She who gave birth to you will be put to shame. She will be the least of the nations, a wilderness, a waste, and a desert.

Su madre se avergonzará en gran manera, Será humillada la que los dio a luz. Será la última de las naciones: Desierto, sequedal y lugar desolado.

13 B ecause of the Lord’s anger no people will live there. She will be left with no people. Everyone who passes by Babylon will be surprised, and will make fun of her because of her sores.

A causa del enojo del Señor, no será habitada, Sino que estará desolada toda ella; Todo el que pase por Babilonia se quedará atónito Y silbará a causa de todas sus heridas.

14 C ome up for battle against Babylon on every side, all you who use the bow. Shoot at her. Do not save any of your arrows, for she has sinned against the Lord.

Pónganse en orden contra Babilonia en derredor suyo, Todos los que entesan el arco; Tiren contra ella, no escatimen las flechas, Porque ha pecado contra el Señor.

15 R aise your battle cry against her on every side. She has given herself up. Her strong pillars have fallen. Her walls have been torn down. Since this is the punishment of the Lord, punish her. Do to her as she has done to others.

Den grito de guerra en derredor contra ella. Se ha rendido, caen sus columnas, Son derribadas sus murallas. Porque ésta es la venganza del Señor: Tomen venganza de ella; Como ella ha hecho, así hagan con ella.

16 C ut off from Babylon the one who plants seeds and the one who cuts the grain at gathering time. Because of the sword of the one who makes it hard for them, everyone will return to his own people. Each one will run to his own land. Israel Is Like a Flock of Sheep

Exterminen de Babilonia al sembrador Y al que maneja la hoz en tiempo de la siega; Ante la espada opresora, Cada uno volverá a su pueblo, Cada uno huirá a su tierra.

17 “ Israel is like sheep sent everywhere, driven away by lions. The first one who destroyed Israel was the king of Assyria. And the last one who has broken his bones is Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.

“Rebaño descarriado es Israel; los leones lo han ahuyentado. Primero lo devoró el rey de Asiria, y después Nabucodonosor, rey de Babilonia, quebró sus huesos.

18 S o the Lord of All, the God of Israel, says: ‘I am going to punish the king of Babylon and his land, just as I punished the king of Assyria.

Por tanto, así dice el Señor de los ejércitos, el Dios de Israel: ‘Voy a castigar al rey de Babilonia y a su tierra, como castigué al rey de Asiria.

19 I will return Israel to his field, and he will feed on Carmel and Bashan. And his desire will be filled in the hill country of Ephraim and Gilead.

Y volveré a traer a Israel a su pastizal (redil), y pastará en el Carmelo y en Basán, y se saciarán sus deseos en la región montañosa de Efraín y en Galaad.

20 I n those days and at that time,’ says the Lord, ‘sin will be looked for in Israel, but there will be none. And sin will be looked for in Judah, but it will not be found. For I will forgive those whom I allow to return.’ Words about Babylon

En aquellos días y en aquel tiempo,’ declara el Señor ‘se buscará la iniquidad de Israel, pero no habrá ninguna, y los pecados de Judá, pero no se hallarán; porque perdonaré a los que Yo haya dejado como remanente.’

21 “ Go up against the land of Merathaim, and against the people of Pekod. Kill and destroy all of them,” says the Lord, “and do all that I have told you.

“Sube contra la tierra de Merataim, contra ella Y contra los habitantes de Pecod. Mátalos y destrúyelos,” declara el Señor, “y haz conforme a todo lo que te he ordenado.

22 T he noise of battle is in the land, and much is destroyed.

¡Hay estruendo de guerra en el país, Y gran destrucción!

23 H ow the strong one of the whole earth has been cut off and broken! Babylon has become a complete waste among the nations!

¡Cómo ha sido cortado y quebrado El martillo de toda la tierra! ¡Cómo se ha convertido Babilonia En objeto de horror entre las naciones!

24 I set a trap for you, and you were caught, O Babylon, and you did not know it. You have been found and caught, because you have fought against the Lord.”

Babilonia, te puse lazo, y fuiste atrapada, Y tú no te diste cuenta; Has sido sorprendida y apresada Porque te pusiste a provocar al Señor.”

25 T he Lord has opened His store-house and has brought out the swords of His anger. For the Lord, the God of All, has work to do in the land of the Babylonians.

El Señor ha abierto Su arsenal Y ha sacado las armas de Su indignación, Porque ésta es obra del Señor, Dios de los ejércitos, En la tierra de los Caldeos.

26 C ome to her from the farthest land. Open her store-houses. Gather her up like grain, and destroy all of her. Let nothing be left of her.

Vengan contra ella desde los últimos confines; Abran sus graneros, Conviértanla en montones Y destrúyanla por completo; Que no le quede nada.

27 K ill all her young bulls. Let them go down to be killed. It is bad for them, for their day has come, the time of their punishment.

Pasen a espada todos sus novillos; Que desciendan al matadero. ¡Ay de ellos, porque ha llegado su día, La hora de su castigo!

28 L isten! They are running from the land of Babylon to tell in Zion about the punishment of the Lord our God. They are telling how the Lord punishes those who destroyed His house of worship.

Se oye la voz de los que huyeron y escaparon de la tierra de Babilonia Anunciando en Sion la venganza del Señor nuestro Dios, La venganza de Su templo.

29 “ Call all those who use the bow to fight against Babylon. Gather around her on every side. Let no one get away. Pay her back for what she did. Do to her all that she has done. For she has been proud against the Lord, against the Holy One of Israel.

“Recluten arqueros contra Babilonia, A todos los que entesan el arco; Acampen contra ella por todos lados, Que no haya escape. Denle el pago conforme a su obra; Conforme a todo lo que ha hecho, así hagan con ella; Porque se ha vuelto insolente contra el Señor, Contra el Santo de Israel.

30 S o her young men will fall in her streets. And all her men of war will be made quiet in that day,” says the Lord.

Por tanto, sus jóvenes caerán en sus calles, Y todos sus hombres de guerra serán silenciados en aquel día,” declara el Señor.

31 “ See, I am against you, O proud one,” says the Lord God of All. “For your day has come, the time when I will punish you.

“Estoy contra ti, arrogante,” declara el Señor, Dios de los ejércitos, “porque ha llegado tu día, La hora en que te castigaré.

32 T he proud one will trip and fall with no one to help him up. I will set fire to his cities, and it will burn up all that is around him.”

Y la arrogante tropezará y caerá Sin que nadie la levante. Prenderé fuego a sus ciudades, El cual devorará todos sus alrededores.”

33 T he Lord of All says, “The sons of Israel and the sons of Judah are troubled and are held under a bad power. All who took them away in chains have held on to them. They have not been willing to let them go.

Así dice el Señor de los ejércitos: “Oprimidos están los Israelitas Y los hijos de Judá también; Todos los que los tomaron cautivos los han retenido, Se han negado a soltarlos.

34 T he One Who saves and makes them free is strong. The Lord of All is His name. He will work hard for their cause, so that He may give rest to the land. But He will not give rest to the people of Babylon.

Pero su Redentor es fuerte, el Señor de los ejércitos es Su nombre; Defenderá su causa con energía Para traer reposo a la tierra Y turbación a los habitantes de Babilonia.

35 A sword is against the Babylonians,” says the Lord, “and against the people of Babylon, and against her leaders and her wise men!

Espada contra los Caldeos,” declara el Señor, “y contra los habitantes de Babilonia, Contra sus oficiales y sus sabios.

36 A sword is against her religious leaders who are false and lie. They will become fools! A sword is against her strong men, and they will be filled with fear!

Espada contra los impostores (falsos profetas, oráculos sacerdotes), y se volverán necios. Espada contra sus valientes, y serán destrozados.

37 A sword is against her horses and war-wagons, and against all the soldiers from other lands who are with her! They will become like women! A sword is against her riches, and they will be taken!

Espada contra sus caballos y contra sus carros, Y contra todos los extranjeros que están en medio de ella, Y serán como mujeres. Espada contra sus tesoros, y serán saqueados.

38 A time of no rain and her waters will be dried up! For it is a land of false gods. They are wild over false gods.

Sequía sobre sus aguas, y se secarán; Porque es una tierra de ídolos, Y se vuelven locos por sus horribles ídolos.

39 S o the desert animals will live there together with the wild dogs. And ostriches also will live in it. Never again will people live there.

Por tanto, allí vivirán las fieras del desierto junto con las hienas, También vivirán avestruces en ella; Nunca más será habitada Ni poblada por generación y generación.

40 A s when God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring cities,” says the Lord, “no man will live there. And no man will stay there.

Como cuando Dios destruyó a Sodoma, A Gomorra y a sus ciudades vecinas,” declara el Señor “ningún hombre habitará allí, Ni residirá en ella hijo de hombre.

41 “ See, a nation is coming from the north. A great nation and many kings are moving from the farthest parts of the earth.

Un pueblo viene del norte, Una gran nación, Y muchos reyes se levantarán De los confines de la tierra.

42 T hey take hold of their bow and spear. They fight without pity. Their voice sounds like the sea. And they ride on horses, dressed ready for battle against you, O people of Babylon.

Empuñan arco y jabalina; Son crueles y no tienen misericordia. Su voz ruge como el mar, Y a caballo van montados, Alineados como un solo hombre para la batalla Contra ti, hija de Babilonia.

43 T he king of Babylon has heard the news about them, and his hands hang without strength. Suffering has taken hold of him, like the pain of a woman giving birth.

El rey de Babilonia ha oído noticias de ellos, Y flaquean sus manos; La angustia se ha apoderado de él, Agonía como de mujer de parto.

44 “ One will come up like a lion from the trees by the Jordan to rich grass fields. All at once I will make the people run away from Babylon. And I will make whoever I choose to rule over it. For who is like Me? Who will call Me into court? What shepherd can stand before Me?”

Viene uno que subirá como león De la espesura del Jordán a una pradera de verdes pastos, Y en un instante lo haré huir de él, Y al que sea escogido nombraré sobre él. Porque ¿quién es como Yo y quién Me citará a juicio ? ¿Quién es el pastor que Me podrá resistir ?”

45 S o hear the plan which the Lord has made against Babylon. Listen to His plans which He has made against the land of the Babylonians. Even the little ones of the flock will be taken away. He will make their fields an empty waste because of them.

Por tanto, oigan el plan que el Señor ha trazado contra Babilonia, y los designios que ha decretado contra la tierra de los Caldeos; ciertamente los arrastrarán, aun a los más pequeños del rebaño; ciertamente a causa de ellos hará una desolación de su pastizal (redil).

46 A t the cry, “Babylon has been taken!” the earth will shake, and the cry will be heard among the nations.

Al grito de “¡Babilonia ha sido tomada!” La tierra tiembla y el clamor se oye entre las naciones.