32
The river crossings are blocked; the marshes are on fire; the soldiers are terrified.
33
The LORD of heavenly forces, the God of Israel, proclaims: Daughter Babylon is like a threshing floor ready to be trampled down. In a little while her harvest will come.
34
Babylon's King Nebuchadnezzar has eaten us alive; he's drained us of strength; he's left us for dead. He's gobbled us up like a great sea monster; he's filled his belly with our treasures; and he's spit us out.
35
May Babylon be violated as our bodies were, say the inhabitants of Zion. May our blood be on the Babylonians, say those from Jerusalem.
36
Therefore, the LORD proclaims: I'm going to defend your cause; I'll turn the tables on your attacker. I'll dry up her sea; I'll shut up her springs.
37
Babylon will become a heap of ruins, a den of wild dogs, a wasteland with no one left in it.
38
Like lions they will roar together; they will growl like lions' cubs.
39
They are ready to devour, so I'll prepare the feast and mix the drinks! But after their noisy drunkenness, they will fall fast asleep. They will sleep forever, never to get up, declares the LORD.
40
I'll lead them off like lambs for slaughter, like rams and goats.
41
How Sheshach has been defeated, the pride of the whole earth taken captive! How Babylon has become a wasteland among the nations!
42
The sea has risen over Babylon; its pounding waves overwhelm her.