44
I will punish Bel in Babylon and make him spew out what he has swallowed. The nations will no longer stream to him. And the wall of Babylon will fall.
45
“Come out of her, my people! Run for your lives! Run from the fierce anger of the LORD.
46
Do not lose heart or be afraid when rumors are heard in the land; one rumor comes this year, another the next, rumors of violence in the land and of ruler against ruler.
47
For the time will surely come when I will punish the idols of Babylon; her whole land will be disgraced and her slain will all lie fallen within her.
48
Then heaven and earth and all that is in them will shout for joy over Babylon, for out of the north destroyers will attack her,” declares the LORD.
49
“Babylon must fall because of Israel’s slain, just as the slain in all the earth have fallen because of Babylon.
50
You who have escaped the sword, leave and do not linger! Remember the LORD in a distant land, and call to mind Jerusalem.”
51
“We are disgraced, for we have been insulted and shame covers our faces, because foreigners have entered the holy places of the LORD’s house.”
52
“But days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will punish her idols, and throughout her land the wounded will groan.
53
Even if Babylon ascends to the heavens and fortifies her lofty stronghold, I will send destroyers against her,” declares the LORD.
54
“The sound of a cry comes from Babylon, the sound of great destruction from the land of the Babylonians.