Jeremiah 51:11-44
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 51
11Sharpen the arrows, fill the quivers! The Lord has stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes, Because His plan is against Babylon to destroy it; For it is the vengeance of the Lord, vengeance for His temple. 12Lift up a signal flag against the walls of Babylon; Post a strong guard, Station sentries, Set up an ambush! For the Lord has both planned and performed What He spoke concerning the inhabitants of Babylon. 13You who live by many waters, Abundant in treasures, Your end has come, The measure of your end. 14The Lord of armies has sworn by Himself: 'I will certainly fill you with a population like locusts, And they will cry out with shouts of victory over you.' 15 It is He who made the earth by His power, Who established the world by His wisdom, And by His understanding He stretched out the heavens. 16When He utters His voice, there is a roar of waters in the heavens, And He makes the clouds ascend from the end of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain And brings out wind from His storehouses. 17Every person is stupid, devoid of knowledge; Every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols, For his cast metal images are deceitful, And there is no breath in them. 18They are worthless, a work of mockery; At the time of their punishment they will perish. 19The portion of Jacob is not like these; For He is the Maker of everything, And of the tribe of His inheritance; The Lord of armies is His name. 20 He says, 'You are My war-club, My weapon of war; And with you I shatter nations, And with you I destroy kingdoms. 21With you I shatter the horse and his rider, And with you I shatter the chariot and its rider, 22And with you I shatter man and woman, And with you I shatter the old man and youth, And with you I shatter the young man and virgin, 23And with you I shatter the shepherd and his flock, And with you I shatter the farmer and his team, And with you I shatter governors and officials.
25'Behold, I am against you, mountain of destruction That destroys the whole earth,' declares the Lord, 'And I will stretch out My hand against you, And roll you down from the rocky cliffs, And I will make you a burnt out mountain.
26They will not take from you even a stone for a corner Nor a stone for foundations, But you will be desolate forever,' declares the Lord.
27Lift up a signal flag in the land, Blow a trumpet among the nations! Consecrate the nations against her, Summon against her the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz; Appoint an officer against her, Bring up the horses like bristly locusts.
28Consecrate the nations against her, The kings of the Medes, Their governors and all their officials, And every land under their control.
29So the land quakes and writhes, For the plans of the Lord against Babylon stand, To make the land of Babylon A desolation without inhabitants.
30The warriors of Babylon have ceased fighting, They stay in the strongholds; Their strength is exhausted, They are becoming like women; Their homes are set on fire, The bars of her gates are broken.
31One courier runs to meet another, And one messenger to meet another, To tell the king of Babylon That his city has been captured from end to end;
32The river crossing places have been seized, And they have burned the marshes with fire, And the men of war are terrified.
34'Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon has devoured me, he has crushed me, He has set me down like an empty vessel; He has swallowed me like a monster, He has filled his stomach with my delicacies; He has washed me away.
35May the violence done to me and to my flesh be upon Babylon,' The inhabitant of Zion will say; And, 'May my blood be upon the inhabitants of Chaldea,' Jerusalem will say.
36Therefore this is what the Lord says: 'Behold, I am going to plead your case And take vengeance for you; And I will dry up her sea And make her fountain dry.
37Babylon will become a heap of ruins, a haunt of jackals, An object of horror and hissing, without inhabitants.
38They will roar together like young lions, They will growl like lions’ cubs.
39When they become heated up, I will serve them their banquet And make them drunk, so that they may rejoice in triumph, And may sleep a perpetual sleep And not wake up,' declares the Lord.
40'I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, Like rams together with male goats.
41'How Sheshak has been captured, And the praise of the whole earth has been seized! How Babylon has become an object of horror among the nations!
42The sea has come up over Babylon; She has been engulfed by its roaring waves.
43Her cities have become an object of horror, A dry land and a desert, A land in which no one lives And through which no one of mankind passes.
44I will punish Bel in Babylon, And I will make what he has swallowed come out of his mouth; And the nations will no longer stream toward him. Even the wall of Babylon has fallen down!
King James Version
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 51
11Sharpen the arrows! Fill the quivers! The Lord has roused the spirit of the kings of the Medes because his plan is aimed at Babylon to destroy her, for it is the Lord’s vengeance, vengeance for his temple. 12Raise up a signal flag against the walls of Babylon; fortify the watch post; set the watchmen in place; prepare the ambush. For the Lord has both planned and accomplished what he has threatened against those who live in Babylon. 13You who reside by abundant water, rich in treasures, your end has come, your life thread is cut.
14The Lord of Armies has sworn by himself: I will fill you up with men as with locusts, and they will sing the victory song over you.
15He made the earth by his power, established the world by his wisdom, and spread out the heavens by his understanding.
16When he thunders, the waters in the heavens are tumultuous, and he causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain and brings the wind from his storehouses.
17Everyone is stupid and ignorant. Every goldsmith is put to shame by his carved image, for his cast images are a lie; there is no breath in them.
18They are worthless, a work to be mocked. At the time of their punishment they will be destroyed.
19Jacob’s Portion is not like these because he is the one who formed all things. Israel is the tribe of his inheritance; the Lord of Armies is his name.
20You are my war club, my weapons of war. With you I will smash nations; with you I will bring kingdoms to ruin.
21With you I will smash the horse and its rider; with you I will smash the chariot and its rider.
22With you I will smash man and woman; with you I will smash the old man and the youth; with you I will smash the young man and the young woman.
23With you I will smash the shepherd and his flock; with you I will smash the farmer and his ox-team. With you I will smash governors and officials.
26No one will be able to retrieve a cornerstone or a foundation stone from you, because you will become desolate forever. This is the Lord’s declaration.
27Raise a signal flag in the land; blow a ram’s horn among the nations; set apart the nations against her. Summon kingdoms against her— Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz. Appoint a marshal against her; bring up horses like a swarm of locusts.
28Set apart the nations for battle against her— the kings of Media, her governors and all her officials, and all the lands they rule.
29The earth quakes and trembles because the Lord’s intentions against Babylon stand: to make the land of Babylon a desolation, without inhabitant.
30Babylon’s warriors have stopped fighting; they sit in their strongholds. Their might is exhausted; they have become like women. Babylon’s homes have been set ablaze, her gate bars are shattered.
31Messenger races to meet messenger, and herald to meet herald, to announce to the king of Babylon that his city has been captured from end to end.
32The fords have been seized, the marshes set on fire, and the fighting men are terrified.
33For this is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says: Daughter Babylon is like a threshing floor at the time it is trampled. In just a little while her harvest time will come.
34"King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon has devoured me; he has crushed me. He has set me aside like an empty dish; he has swallowed me like a sea monster; he filled his belly with my delicacies; he has vomited me out.
35Let the violence done to me and my family be done to Babylon," says the inhabitant of Zion. "Let my blood be on the inhabitants of Chaldea," says Jerusalem.
36Therefore, this is what the Lord says: I am about to champion your cause and take vengeance on your behalf; I will dry up her sea and make her fountain run dry.
37Babylon will become a heap of rubble, a jackals’ den, a desolation and an object of scorn, without inhabitant.
38They will roar together like young lions; they will growl like lion cubs.
40I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams together with male goats.
41How Sheshach has been captured, the praise of the whole earth seized. What a horror Babylon has become among the nations!
42The sea has risen over Babylon; she is covered with its tumultuous waves.
43Her cities have become a desolation, an arid desert, a land where no one lives, where no human being even passes through.
New Living Translation
Chapter 51
11Sharpen the arrows! Lift up the shields! For the Lord has inspired the kings of the Medes to march against Babylon and destroy her. This is his vengeance against those who desecrated his Temple. 12Raise the battle flag against Babylon! Reinforce the guard and station the watchmen. Prepare an ambush, for the Lord will fulfill all his plans against Babylon. 13You are a city by a great river, a great center of commerce, but your end has come. The thread of your life is cut. 14The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has taken this vow and has sworn to it by his own name: 'Your cities will be filled with enemies, like fields swarming with locusts, and they will shout in triumph over you.'
15The Lord made the earth by his power, and he preserves it by his wisdom. With his own understanding he stretched out the heavens.
16When he speaks in the thunder, the heavens roar with rain. He causes the clouds to rise over the earth. He sends the lightning with the rain and releases the wind from his storehouses.
17The whole human race is foolish and has no knowledge! The craftsmen are disgraced by the idols they make, for their carefully shaped works are a fraud. These idols have no breath or power.
18Idols are worthless; they are ridiculous lies! On the day of reckoning they will all be destroyed.
19But the God of Israel is no idol! He is the Creator of everything that exists, including his people, his own special possession. The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is his name!
20'You are my battle-ax and sword,' says the Lord. 'With you I will shatter nations and destroy many kingdoms.
21With you I will shatter armies — destroying the horse and rider, the chariot and charioteer.
22With you I will shatter men and women, old people and children, young men and young women.
23With you I will shatter shepherds and flocks, farmers and oxen, captains and officers.
25'Look, O mighty mountain, destroyer of the earth! I am your enemy,' says the Lord. 'I will raise my fist against you, to knock you down from the heights. When I am finished, you will be nothing but a heap of burnt rubble.
26You will be desolate forever. Even your stones will never again be used for building. You will be completely wiped out,' says the Lord.
27Raise a signal flag to the nations. Sound the battle cry! Mobilize them all against Babylon. Prepare them to fight against her! Bring out the armies of Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz. Appoint a commander, and bring a multitude of horses like swarming locusts!
28Bring against her the armies of the nations — led by the kings of the Medes and all their captains and officers.
29The earth trembles and writhes in pain, for everything the Lord has planned against Babylon stands unchanged. Babylon will be left desolate without a single inhabitant.
30Her mightiest warriors no longer fight. They stay in their barracks, their courage gone. They have become like women. The invaders have burned the houses and broken down the city gates.
31The news is passed from one runner to the next as the messengers hurry to tell the king that his city has been captured.
32All the escape routes are blocked. The marshes have been set aflame, and the army is in a panic.
34'King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon has eaten and crushed us and drained us of strength. He has swallowed us like a great monster and filled his belly with our riches. He has thrown us out of our own country.
35Make Babylon suffer as she made us suffer,' say the people of Zion. 'Make the people of Babylonia pay for spilling our blood,' says Jerusalem.
36This is what the Lord says to Jerusalem: 'I will be your lawyer to plead your case, and I will avenge you. I will dry up her river, as well as her springs,
37and Babylon will become a heap of ruins, haunted by jackals. She will be an object of horror and contempt, a place where no one lives.
38Her people will roar together like strong lions. They will growl like lion cubs.
39And while they lie inflamed with all their wine, I will prepare a different kind of feast for them. I will make them drink until they fall asleep, and they will never wake up again,' says the Lord.
40'I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams and goats to be sacrificed.
41'How Babylon is fallen — great Babylon, praised throughout the earth! Now she has become an object of horror among the nations.
42The sea has risen over Babylon; she is covered by its crashing waves.
43Her cities now lie in ruins; she is a dry wasteland where no one lives or even passes by.
44And I will punish Bel, the god of Babylon, and make him vomit up all he has eaten. The nations will no longer come and worship him. The wall of Babylon has fallen!
English Standard Version
12 "Set up a standard against the walls of Babylon; make the watch strong; set up watchmen; prepare the ambushes; for the Lord has both planned and done what he spoke concerning the inhabitants of Babylon.
13 O you who dwell by many waters, rich in treasures, your end has come; the thread of your life is cut.
14 The Lord of hosts has sworn by himself: Surely I will fill you with men, as many as locusts, and they shall raise the shout of victory over you.
15 "It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.
16When he utters his voice there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain, and he brings forth the wind from his storehouses.
17Every man is stupid and without knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols, for his images are false, and there is no breath in them.
18They are worthless, a work of delusion; at the time of their punishment they shall perish.
19Not like these is he who is the portion of Jacob, for he is the one who formed all things, and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance; the Lord of hosts is his name.
20"You are my hammer and weapon of war: with you I break nations in pieces; with you I destroy kingdoms;
21with you I break in pieces the horse and his rider; with you I break in pieces the chariot and the charioteer;
22with you I break in pieces man and woman; with you I break in pieces the old man and the youth; with you I break in pieces the young man and the young woman;
23with you I break in pieces the shepherd and his flock; with you I break in pieces the farmer and his team; with you I break in pieces governors and commanders.
24"I will repay Babylon and all the inhabitants of Chaldea before your very eyes for all the evil that they have done in Zion, declares the Lord.
25"Behold, I am against you, O destroying mountain, declares the Lord, which destroys the whole earth; I will stretch out my hand against you, and roll you down from the crags, and make you a burnt mountain.
26No stone shall be taken from you for a corner and no stone for a foundation, but you shall be a perpetual waste, declares the Lord.
27 "Set up a standard on the earth; blow the trumpet among the nations; prepare the nations for war against her; summon against her the kingdoms, Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz; appoint a marshal against her; bring up horses like bristling locusts.
28 Prepare the nations for war against her, the kings of the Medes, with their governors and deputies, and every land under their dominion.
29 The land trembles and writhes in pain, for the Lord 's purposes against Babylon stand, to make the land of Babylon a desolation, without inhabitant.
30The warriors of Babylon have ceased fighting; they remain in their strongholds; their strength has failed; they have become women; her dwellings are on fire; her bars are broken.
31One runner runs to meet another, and one messenger to meet another, to tell the king of Babylon that his city is taken on every side;
32the fords have been seized, the marshes are burned with fire, and the soldiers are in panic.
33For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: The daughter of Babylon is like a threshing floor at the time when it is trodden; yet a little while and the time of her harvest will come."
34"Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon has devoured me; he has crushed me; he has made me an empty vessel; he has swallowed me like a monster; he has filled his stomach with my delicacies; he has rinsed me out.
35The violence done to me and to my kinsmen be upon Babylon," let the inhabitant of Zion say. "My blood be upon the inhabitants of Chaldea," let Jerusalem say.
36Therefore thus says the Lord: "Behold, I will plead your cause and take vengeance for you. I will dry up her sea and make her fountain dry,
37and Babylon shall become a heap of ruins, the haunt of jackals, a horror and a hissing, without inhabitant.
38 "They shall roar together like lions; they shall growl like lions ' cubs.
39 While they are inflamed I will prepare them a feast and make them drunk, that they may become merry, then sleep a perpetual sleep and not wake, declares the Lord.
40I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams and male goats.
41"How Babylon is taken, the praise of the whole earth seized! How Babylon has become a horror among the nations!
42 The sea has come up on Babylon; she is covered with its tumultuous waves.
43Her cities have become a horror, a land of drought and a desert, a land in which no one dwells, and through which no son of man passes.
44And I will punish Bel in Babylon, and take out of his mouth what he has swallowed. The nations shall no longer flow to him; the wall of Babylon has fallen.
New International Version
Chapter 51
11"Sharpen the arrows, take up the shields! The Lord has stirred up the kings of the Medes, because his purpose is to destroy Babylon. The Lord will take vengeance, vengeance for his temple. 12Lift up a banner against the walls of Babylon! Reinforce the guard, station the watchmen, prepare an ambush! The Lord will carry out his purpose, his decree against the people of Babylon. 13You who live by many waters and are rich in treasures, your end has come, the time for you to be destroyed.
14The Lord Almighty has sworn by himself: I will surely fill you with troops, as with a swarm of locusts, and they will shout in triumph over you.
15"He made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding.
16When he thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; he makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth. He sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouses.
17"Everyone is senseless and without knowledge; every goldsmith is shamed by his idols. The images he makes are a fraud; they have no breath in them.
18They are worthless, the objects of mockery; when their judgment comes, they will perish.
19He who is the Portion of Jacob is not like these, for he is the Maker of all things, including the people of his inheritance— the Lord Almighty is his name.
20"You are my war club, my weapon for battle— with you I shatter nations, with you I destroy kingdoms,
21with you I shatter horse and rider, with you I shatter chariot and driver,
22with you I shatter man and woman, with you I shatter old man and youth, with you I shatter young man and young woman,
23with you I shatter shepherd and flock, with you I shatter farmer and oxen, with you I shatter governors and officials.
26No rock will be taken from you for a cornerstone, nor any stone for a foundation, for you will be desolate forever," declares the Lord.
27"Lift up a banner in the land! Blow the trumpet among the nations! Prepare the nations for battle against her; summon against her these kingdoms: Ararat, Minni and Ashkenaz. Appoint a commander against her; send up horses like a swarm of locusts.
28Prepare the nations for battle against her— the kings of the Medes, their governors and all their officials, and all the countries they rule.
29The land trembles and writhes, for the Lord’s purposes against Babylon stand— to lay waste the land of Babylon so that no one will live there.
30Babylon’s warriors have stopped fighting; they remain in their strongholds. Their strength is exhausted; they have become weaklings. Her dwellings are set on fire; the bars of her gates are broken.
31One courier follows another and messenger follows messenger to announce to the king of Babylon that his entire city is captured,
32the river crossings seized, the marshes set on fire, and the soldiers terrified."
33This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: "Daughter Babylon is like a threshing floor at the time it is trampled; the time to harvest her will soon come."
34"Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has devoured us, he has thrown us into confusion, he has made us an empty jar. Like a serpent he has swallowed us and filled his stomach with our delicacies, and then has spewed us out.
35May the violence done to our flesh be on Babylon," say the inhabitants of Zion. "May our blood be on those who live in Babylonia," says Jerusalem.
36Therefore this is what the Lord says: "See, I will defend your cause and avenge you; I will dry up her sea and make her springs dry.
37Babylon will be a heap of ruins, a haunt of jackals, an object of horror and scorn, a place where no one lives.
38Her people all roar like young lions, they growl like lion cubs.
39But while they are aroused, I will set out a feast for them and make them drunk, so that they shout with laughter— then sleep forever and not awake," declares the Lord.
40"I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams and goats.
41"How Sheshak will be captured, the boast of the whole earth seized! How desolate Babylon will be among the nations!
42The sea will rise over Babylon; its roaring waves will cover her.
43Her towns will be desolate, a dry and desert land, a land where no one lives, through which no one travels.
New King James Version
Chapter 51
11 Make the arrows bright! Gather the shields! The Lord has raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes. For His plan is against Babylon to destroy it, Because it is the vengeance of the Lord, The vengeance for His temple. 12 Set up the standard on the walls of Babylon; Make the guard strong, Set up the watchmen, Prepare the ambushes. For the Lord has both devised and done What He spoke against the inhabitants of Babylon. 13 O you who dwell by many waters, Abundant in treasures, Your end has come, The measure of your covetousness. 14 The Lord of hosts has sworn by Himself: “Surely I will fill you with men, as with locusts, And they shall lift up a shout against you.” 15 He has made the earth by His power; He has established the world by His wisdom, And stretched out the heaven by His understanding. 16When He utters His voice— There is a multitude of waters in the heavens: “He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; He makes lightnings for the rain; He brings the wind out of His treasuries.” 17 Everyone is dull-hearted, without knowledge; Every metalsmith is put to shame by the carved image; For his molded image is falsehood, And there is no breath in them. 18They are futile, a work of errors; In the time of their punishment they shall perish. 19The Portion of Jacob is not like them, For He is the Maker of all things; And Israel is the tribe of His inheritance. The Lord of hosts is His name. 20“You are My battle-ax and weapons of war: For with you I will break the nation in pieces; With you I will destroy kingdoms; 21With you I will break in pieces the horse and its rider; With you I will break in pieces the chariot and its rider; 22With you also I will break in pieces man and woman; With you I will break in pieces old and young; With you I will break in pieces the young man and the maiden; 23With you also I will break in pieces the shepherd and his flock; With you I will break in pieces the farmer and his yoke of oxen; And with you I will break in pieces governors and rulers. 24“And I will repay Babylon And all the inhabitants of Chaldea For all the evil they have done In Zion in your sight,” says the Lord. 25“Behold, I am against you, O destroying mountain, Who destroys all the earth,” says the Lord. “And I will stretch out My hand against you, Roll you down from the rocks, And make you a burnt mountain. 26They shall not take from you a stone for a corner Nor a stone for a foundation, But you shall be desolate forever,” says the Lord. 27 Set up a banner in the land, Blow the trumpet among the nations! Prepare the nations against her, Call the kingdoms together against her: Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz. Appoint a general against her; Cause the horses to come up like the bristling locusts. 28Prepare against her the nations, With the kings of the Medes, Its governors and all its rulers, All the land of his dominion. 29And the land will tremble and sorrow; For every purpose of the Lord shall be performed against Babylon, To make the land of Babylon a desolation without inhabitant. 30The mighty men of Babylon have ceased fighting, They have remained in their strongholds; Their might has failed, They became like women; They have burned her dwelling places, The bars of her gate are broken. 31 One runner will run to meet another, And one messenger to meet another, To show the king of Babylon that his city is taken on all sides; 32 The passages are blocked, The reeds they have burned with fire, And the men of war are terrified.
33For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: “The daughter of Babylon is like a threshing floor When it is time to thresh her; Yet a little while And the time of her harvest will come.”
34“Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon Has devoured me, he has crushed me; He has made me an empty vessel, He has swallowed me up like a monster; He has filled his stomach with my delicacies, He has spit me out.
35Let the violence done to me and my flesh be upon Babylon,” The inhabitant of Zion will say; “And my blood be upon the inhabitants of Chaldea!” Jerusalem will say.
36Therefore thus says the Lord: “Behold, I will plead your case and take vengeance for you. I will dry up her sea and make her springs dry.
37 Babylon shall become a heap, A dwelling place for jackals, An astonishment and a hissing, Without an inhabitant.
38They shall roar together like lions, They shall growl like lions’ whelps.
39In their excitement I will prepare their feasts; I will make them drunk, That they may rejoice, And sleep a perpetual sleep And not awake,” says the Lord.
40“I will bring them down Like lambs to the slaughter, Like rams with male goats.
41“Oh, how Sheshach is taken! Oh, how the praise of the whole earth is seized! How Babylon has become desolate among the nations!
42 The sea has come up over Babylon; She is covered with the multitude of its waves.
43 Her cities are a desolation, A dry land and a wilderness, A land where no one dwells, Through which no son of man passes.
44I will punish Bel in Babylon, And I will bring out of his mouth what he has swallowed; And the nations shall not stream to him anymore. Yes, the wall of Babylon shall fall.
