Jeremiah 51:14-27

14The Lord of hosts has sworn [an oath] by Himself, saying, “Surely I will fill you with men, as with [a swarm of] locusts [who strip the land clean], And they will lift up a song and shout of victory over you.”

15He made the earth by His power; He established the world by His wisdom And stretched out the heavens by His understanding.

16When He utters His voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, And He causes the clouds to ascend from the ends of the earth. He makes lightnings for the rain And brings out the wind from His storehouses.

17Every man has become stupid and brutelike, without knowledge [of God]; Every goldsmith is shamed by the cast images he has made; For his molten idols are a lie, And there is no breath [of life] or spirit in them.

18They are worthless (empty, false, futile), a work of delusion and worthy of derision; In the time of their inspection and punishment they will perish.

19The Portion of Jacob [the true God of Israel] is not like these [handmade gods]; For He is the Maker of all and the One who formed and fashioned all things, And Israel is the tribe of His inheritance— The Lord of hosts is His name.

20“You [Cyrus of Persia, soon to conquer Babylon] are My battle-axe and weapon of war— For with you I shatter nations, With you I destroy kingdoms.

21With you I shatter the horse and his rider, With you I shatter the chariot and its driver,

22With you I shatter man and woman, With you I shatter old man and youth, With you I shatter young man and virgin,

23With you I shatter the shepherd and his flock, With you I shatter the farmer and his yoke of oxen, And with you I shatter governors and commanders.

24“And I will [completely] repay Babylon and all the people of Chaldea for all the evil that they have done in Zion—before your very eyes [I will do it],” says the Lord.

25“Behold, I am against you, O destroying mountain [conqueror of nations], Who destroys the whole earth,” declares the Lord, “I will stretch out My hand against you, And roll you down from the [rugged] cliffs, And will make you a burnt mountain (extinct volcano).

26They will not take from you [even] a stone for a cornerstone Nor any rock for a foundation, But you will be desolate forever,” says the Lord.

27Lift up a signal in the land [to spread the news]! Blow the trumpet among the nations! Dedicate the nations [for war] against her; Call against her the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz. Appoint a marshal against her; Cause the horses to come up like bristly locusts [with their wings not yet released from their cases].