12
Let the flag be lifted up against the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, put the watchmen in their places, make ready a surprise attack: for it is the Lord's purpose, and he has done what he said about the people of Babylon.
13
O you whose living-place is by the wide waters, whose stores are great, your end is come, your evil profit is ended.
14
The Lord of armies has taken an oath by himself, saying, Truly, I will make you full with men as with locusts, and their voices will be loud against you.
15
He has made the earth by his power, he has made the world strong in its place by his wisdom, and by his wise design the heavens have been stretched out:
16
At the sound of his voice there is a massing of the waters in the heavens, and he makes the mists go up from the ends of the earth; he makes the thunder-flames for the rain and sends out the wind from his store-houses.
17
Then every man becomes like a beast without knowledge; every gold-worker is put to shame by the image he has made: for his metal image is deceit, and there is no breath in them.
18
They are nothing, a work of error: in the time of their punishment, destruction will overtake them.
19
The heritage of Jacob is not like these; for the maker of all things is his heritage: the Lord of armies is his name.
20
You are my fighting axe and my instrument of war: with you the nations will be broken; with you kingdoms will be broken;
21
With you the horse and the horseman will be broken; with you the war-carriage and he who goes in it will be broken;
22
With you man and woman will be broken; with you the old man and the boy will be broken; with you the young man and the virgin will be broken;