8
But suddenly Babylon fell and shattered into pieces. Wail for her! Bring medicine for her pain; perhaps she will recover.
9
We tried to cure Babylon, but she was beyond help. Let's depart from her and return to your own country, each of you. Her punishment reaches to heaven and extends to the clouds.
10
The LORD has come to our defense, so let's declare in Zion what the LORD our God has done!
11
Sharpen your arrows; prepare your shields. The LORD is stirring up the spirit of kings from Media. He intends to destroy Babylon; this is the LORD's retribution, a day of reckoning for his temple.
12
Set up a flag on the walls of Babylon, fortify the guards, post watchmen, prepare an ambush, because the LORD has a plan against the inhabitants of Babylon. He will accomplish it, just as he said he would.
13
You live beside a great river, and you are rich in treasures. But your time has come; your cruelty has caught up with you.
14
The LORD of heavenly forces has sworn by his own name: I'm going to fill your cities with soldiers like a swarm of locusts; they will celebrate their victory over you.
15
God made the earth by his might, shaped the world by his wisdom, and crafted the skies by his knowledge.
16
At the sound of God's voice, the heavenly waters roar. God raises the clouds from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain and sends the wind from his treasuries.
17
Everyone is too foolish to understand; every smith is shamed by his idols, for their images are shams; they aren't alive.
18
They are a delusion, a charade; at the appointed time they will be ruined!