Berean Standard Bible

Jeremiah 51

1This is whatH3541 the LORDH3068 saysH559:

“BeholdH2005, I will stir upH5782 againstH5921 BabylonH894and againstH413 the peopleH3427 of Leb-kamaiH3820 H6965 1the spiritH7307 of a destroyerH7843.2I will sendH7971 strangersH2114 to BabylonH894to winnow herH2219 and emptyH1238 herH853 landH776;forH3588 they will comeH1961 against herH5921 from every sideH5439in her dayH3117 of disasterH7451.

3 Do not let the archerH1869 bendH1869 his bowH7198or put on his armorH5630 H408.Do notH413 spareH2550 H413 her young menH970;devoteH2763 allH3605 her army to destructionH6635!24And they will fallH5307 slainH2491 in the landH776 of the ChaldeansH3778,3and pierced throughH1856 in her streetsH2351.5ForH3588 IsraelH3478 and JudahH3063 have notH3808 been abandonedH488by their GodH430, the LORDH3068 of HostsH6635,thoughH3588 their landH776 is full ofH4390 guiltH817before the HolyH6918 One of IsraelH3478.”

6FleeH5127 fromH8432 BabylonH894! EscapeH4422 with yourH376 livesH5315!Do notH408 be destroyedH1826 in her punishmentH5771.ForH3588 thisH1931 is the timeH6256 of the LORD’sH3068 vengeanceH5360;HeH1931 will payH7999 her what she deservesH1576.7BabylonH894 was a goldH2091 cupH3563 in the handH3027 of the LORDH3068,making the wholeH3605 earthH776 drunkH7937.The nationsH1471 drankH8354 her wineH3196;thereforeH5921 H3651 the nationsH1471 have gone madH1984.

8SuddenlyH6597 BabylonH894 has fallenH5307 and been shatteredH7665.WailH3213 for herH5921; get herH3947 balmH6875 for her painH4341;perhapsH194 she can be healedH7495.

9“We tried to healH7495 BabylonH894,but she could notH3808 be healedH7495.Abandon herH5800!Let eachH376 of us goH1980 to his own landH776,forH3588 her judgmentH4941 extendsH5060 toH413 the skyH8064and reachesH5375 toH5704 the cloudsH7834.”

10“The LORDH3068 has brought forthH3318 our vindicationH6666;comeH935, let us tellH5608 in ZionH6726what the LORDH3068 our GodH430 has accomplishedH4639.”

11SharpenH1305 the arrowsH2671!FillH4390 the quiversH7982!4The LORDH3068 has arousedH5782 the spiritH7307of the kingsH4428 of the MedesH4074,becauseH3588 His planH4209 is aimed atH5921 BabylonH894to destroy herH7843,forH3588 itH1931 is the vengeanceH5360 of the LORDH3068—vengeanceH5360 for His templeH1964.

12RaiseH5375 a bannerH5251 againstH413 the wallsH2346 of BabylonH894;postH2388 the guardH4929;stationH6965 the watchmenH8104;prepareH3559 the ambushH693.ForH3588 the LORDH3068 has bothH1571 devisedH2161 andH1571 accomplishedH6213 whatH834 He spokeH1696 againstH413 the peopleH3427 of BabylonH894.13You who dwellH7931 byH5921 manyH7227 watersH4325,richH7227 in treasuresH214,your endH7093 has comeH935;the thread of your lifeH520 is cutH1215.

Praise to the God of Jacob

(Isaiah 25:1–12)

14The LORDH3068 of HostsH6635 has swornH7650 by HimselfH5315:

“SurelyH3588 H518 I will fill you upH4390 with menH120 as with locustsH3218,and they will shout in triumphH6030 H1959 over youH5921.”

15The LORD madeH6213 the earthH776 by His powerH3581;He establishedH3559 the worldH8398 by His wisdomH2451and stretched outH5186 the heavensH8064 by His understandingH8394.16When He thundersH6963 H5414,the watersH4325 in the heavensH8064 roarH1995;He causes the cloudsH5387 to riseH5927from the endsH7097 of the earthH776.He generatesH6213 the lightningH1300 with the rainH4306and brings forthH3318 the windH7307 from His storehousesH214.

17EveryH3605 manH120 is senselessH1197 and devoid of knowledgeH1847;everyH3605 goldsmithH6884 is put to shameH954 by his idolsH6459.ForH3588 his molten imagesH5262 are a fraudH8267,and there is noH3808 breathH7307 in them.18TheyH1992 are worthlessH1892, a workH4639 to be mockedH8595.In the timeH6256 of their punishmentH6486 they will perishH6.

Babylon’s Punishment

19The PortionH2506 of JacobH3290 is notH3808 like theseH428, forH3588 HeH1931 is the MakerH3335 of all thingsH3605, and of the tribeH7626 of His inheritanceH5159— the LORDH3068 of HostsH6635 is His nameH8034.

20“YouH859 are My war clubH4661,My weaponH3627 for battleH4421.With you I shatterH5310 nationsH1471;with you I bring kingdomsH4467 to ruinH7843.21With you I shatterH5310 the horseH5483 and riderH7392;with you I shatterH5310 the chariotH7393 and driverH7392.22With you I shatterH5310 manH376 and womanH802;with you I shatterH5310 the old manH2205 and the youthH5288;with you I shatterH5310 the young manH970 and the maidenH1330.23With you I shatterH5310 the shepherdH7462 and his flockH5739;with you I shatterH5310 the farmerH406 and his oxenH6776;with you I shatterH5310 the governorsH6346 and officialsH5461.

24Before your very eyesH5869 I will repayH7999BabylonH894 and allH3605 the dwellersH3427 of ChaldeaH3778 5for allH3605 the evilH7451 they have doneH6213 in ZionH6726,”declaresH5002 the LORDH3068.25“BeholdH2005, I am against youH413,O destroyingH4889 mountainH2022,you who devastateH7843 the wholeH3605 earthH776,declaresH5002 the LORDH3068.I will stretch outH5186 My handH3027 against youH5921;I will roll youH1556 overH4480 the cliffsH5553and turn youH5414 into a charredH8316 mountainH2022.26No oneH3808 shall retrieveH3947 from youH4480 a cornerstoneH68 H6438or a foundationH4146 stoneH68,becauseH3588 you will becomeH1961 desolateH8077 foreverH5769,”declaresH5002 the LORDH3068.27“RaiseH5375 a bannerH5251 in the landH776!BlowH8628 the ram’s hornH7782 among the nationsH1471!PrepareH6942 the nationsH1471 against herH5921.SummonH8085 the kingdomsH4467 against herH5921—AraratH780, MinniH4508, and AshkenazH813.AppointH6485 a captainH2951 against herH5921;bring upH5927 horsesH5483 like swarmingH5569 locustsH3218.28PrepareH6942 the nationsH1471 for battle against herH5921—the kingsH4428 of the MedesH4074 ,their governorsH6346 and allH3605 their officialsH5461 ,and allH3605 the landsH776 they ruleH4475.

29The earthH776 quakesH7493 and writhesH2342becauseH3588 the LORD’sH3068 intentionsH4284 againstH5921 BabylonH894 standH6965:to makeH7760 the landH776 of BabylonH894 a desolationH8047,withoutH369 inhabitantH3427.30The warriorsH1368 of BabylonH894 have stoppedH2308 fightingH3898;they sitH3427 in their strongholdsH4679.Their strengthH1369 is exhaustedH5405;they have becomeH1961 like womenH802.Babylon’s homesH4908 have been set ablazeH3341,the bars of her gatesH1280 are brokenH7665.31One courierH7323 racesH7323 to meetH7122 anotherH7323,and messengerH5046 followsH7122 messengerH5046,to announceH5046 to the kingH4428 of BabylonH894thatH3588 his cityH5892 has been capturedH3920 from end to endH7097.32The fordsH4569 have been seizedH8610 ,the marshesH98 set on fireH8313 H784,and the soldiersH582 H4421 are terrifiedH926.”

33ForH3588 this is whatH3541 the LORDH3068 of HostsH6635, the GodH430 of IsraelH3478, saysH559:

“The DaughterH1323 of BabylonH894 is like a threshing floorH1637at the timeH6256 it is trampledH1869.In just a little whileH5750 H4592her harvestH7105 timeH6256 will comeH935.”

34“NebuchadnezzarH5019 kingH4428 of BabylonH894 has devoured meH398;he has crushed meH2000.He has set me asideH3322 like an emptyH7385 vesselH3627;he has swallowed meH1104 like a monsterH8577;he filledH4390 his bellyH3770 with my delicaciesH5730and vomited me outH1740.635May the violence done to meH2555and to my fleshH7607be uponH5921 BabylonH894,”saysH559 the dwellerH3427 of ZionH6726.

“May my bloodH1818 be onH413 the dwellersH3427 of ChaldeaH3778,”saysH559 JerusalemH3389.

36ThereforeH3651 this is whatH3541 the LORDH3068 saysH559:

“BeholdH2005, I will pleadH7378 your caseH7379and take vengeanceH5358 on your behalfH5360;I will dry upH2717 her seaH3220and make her springsH4726 run dryH3001 .37BabylonH894 will becomeH1961 a heap of rubbleH1530,a hauntH4583 for jackalsH8577,7an object of horrorH8047 and scornH8322,withoutH369 inhabitantH3427.38They will roarH7580 togetherH3162 like young lionsH3715;they will growlH5286 like lionH738 cubsH1484.39While they are flushed with heatH2552,I will serveH7896 themH853 a feastH4960,and I will make them drunkH7937so thatH4616 they may revelH5937;then they will fall asleepH3462 H8142 foreverH5769 and neverH3808 wake upH6974,declaresH5002 the LORDH3068.40I will bring them downH3381 like lambsH3733 to the slaughterH2873,like ramsH352 withH5973 male goatsH6260.

41HowH349 SheshachH8347 8 has been capturedH3920!The praiseH8416 of allH3605 the earthH776 has been seizedH8610.WhatH349 a horrorH8047 BabylonH894 has becomeH1961among the nationsH1471!42The seaH3220 has come upH5927 overH5921 BabylonH894;she is coveredH3680 in turbulentH1995 wavesH1530.43Her citiesH5892 have becomeH1961 a desolationH8047,a dryH6723 and aridH6160 landH776,a landH776 where noH3808 H3605 oneH376 livesH3427,where noH3808 sonH1121 of manH120 passes throughH5674.44I will punishH6485 H5921 BelH1078 in BabylonH894.I will make him spew outH3318 what he swallowedH1105.The nationsH1471 will noH3808 longerH5750 streamH5102 to himH413;evenH1571 the wallH2346 of BabylonH894 will fallH5307.

45Come outH3318 of herH8432, My peopleH5971!9SaveH4422 your livesH5315, each of youH376 ,from the fierceH2740 angerH639 of the LORDH3068.46Do notH6435 let your heartH3824 grow faintH7401,and do not be afraidH3372when the rumorH8052 is heardH8085 in the landH776;for a rumorH8052 will comeH935 one yearH8141—and thenH310 anotherH8052 the next yearH8141—of violenceH2555 in the landH776and of rulerH4910 againstH5921 rulerH4910.

47ThereforeH3651, beholdH2009, the daysH3117 are comingH935when I will punishH6485 H5921 the idolsH6456 of BabylonH894.Her entireH3605 landH776 will suffer shameH954,and allH3605 her slainH2491 will lie fallenH5307 within herH8432.48Then heavenH8064 and earthH776 and allH3605 thatH834 is in themwill shout for joyH7442 overH5921 BabylonH894becauseH3588 the destroyersH7703 from the northH6828will comeH935 against her,”declaresH5002 the LORDH3068.49 “BabylonH894 must fallH5307on account of the slainH2491 of IsraelH3478,just asH1571 the slainH2491 of allH3605 the earthH776have fallenH5307 because of BabylonH894.50You who have escapedH6412 the swordH2719,departH1980 and do notH408 lingerH5975!RememberH2142 the LORDH3068 from far awayH7350 ,and let JerusalemH3389 comeH5927 toH5921 mindH3824.”

51“We are ashamedH954 becauseH3588 we have heardH8085 reproachH2781;disgraceH3639 has coveredH3680 our facesH6440,becauseH3588 foreignersH2114 have enteredH935 H5921the holy placesH4720 of the LORD’sH3068 houseH1004.”

52“ThereforeH3651, beholdH2009, the daysH3117 are comingH935,”declaresH5002 the LORDH3068,“when I will punishH6485 H5921 her idolsH6456,and throughoutH3605 her landH776 the woundedH2491 will groanH602.53Even ifH3588 BabylonH894 ascendsH5927 to the heavensH8064 H3588and fortifiesH1219 her loftyH4791 strongholdH5797,the destroyersH7703 I sendH854 will comeH935 against her,”declaresH5002 the LORDH3068.

54“The soundH6963 of a cryH2201comes from BabylonH894,the sound of greatH1419 destructionH7667from the landH776 of the ChaldeansH3778!55ForH3588 the LORDH3068 will destroyH7703 BabylonH894;He will silenceH6 H4480 her mightyH1419 voiceH6963.The wavesH1530 will roarH1993 like greatH7227 watersH4325;the tumultH7588 of their voicesH6963 will resoundH5414.

56ForH3588 a destroyerH7703 is comingH935 against herH5921—againstH5921 BabylonH894.Her warriorsH1368 will be capturedH3920,and their bowsH7198 will be brokenH2865,forH3588 the LORDH3068 is a GodH410 of retributionH1578;He will repay in fullH7999.57I will make her princesH8269 and wise menH2450 drunkH7937,along with her governorsH6346, officialsH5461, and warriorsH1368.Then they will fall asleepH3462 H8142 foreverH5769and notH3808 wake upH6974,”declaresH5002 the KingH4428,whose nameH8034 is the LORDH3068 of HostsH6635.

58This is whatH3541 the LORDH3068 of HostsH6635 saysH559:

“Babylon’sH894 thickH7342 wallsH2346 will be leveledH6209,and her highH1364 gatesH8179 consumedH3341 by fireH784.So the laborH3021 of the peopleH5971 will be for nothingH1767 H7385;the nationsH3816 H1767 will exhaust themselvesH3286 to fuel the flamesH784.”

Jeremiah’s Message to Seraiah

59This is the messageH1697 thatH834 JeremiahH3414 the prophetH5030 gaveH6680 to the quartermasterH8269 H4496 SeraiahH8304 sonH1121 of NeriahH5374, the sonH1121 of MahseiahH4271, when he wentH1980 to BabylonH894 withH854 KingH4428 ZedekiahH6667 of JudahH3063 in the fourthH7243 yearH8141 of Zedekiah’s reignH4427. 60JeremiahH3414 had writtenH3789 onH413 a singleH259 scrollH5612 about allH3605 the disasterH7451 thatH834 would comeH935 uponH413 BabylonH894—allH3605 theseH428 wordsH1697 that had been writtenH3789 concerningH413 BabylonH894.

61And JeremiahH3414 saidH559 toH413 SeraiahH8304, “When you getH935 to BabylonH894, seeH7200 that you read allH3605 theseH428 wordsH1697 aloudH7121 , 62and sayH559, ‘O LORDH3068, YouH859 have promisedH1696 H413 to cut offH3772 thisH2088 placeH4725 so that no oneH1115 will remainH3427—neither manH120 norH5704 beastH929. IndeedH3588, it will beH1961 desolateH8077 foreverH5769.’

When you finishH3615 readingH7121 thisH2088 scrollH5612, tieH7194 a stoneH68 to itH5921 and cast itH7993 intoH413 H8432 the EuphratesH6578. 64Then you are to sayH559, ‘In the same wayH3602 BabylonH894 will sinkH8257 and neverH3808 rise againH6965, because ofH6440 the disasterH7451 IH595 will bringH935 upon herH5921. And her people will grow wearyH3286.’”

HereH2008 endH5704 the wordsH1697 of JeremiahH3414.

Notes

1. Jeremiah 51:1 Leb-kamai is a code name for Chaldea, that is, Babylonia. ↩
2. Jeremiah 51:3 Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons to the LORD, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering. ↩
3. Jeremiah 51:4 That is, the Babylonians; also in verse 54 ↩
4. Jeremiah 51:11 LXX and some translations of the Hebrew; literally Fill the hand with the shields! or Take up the shields! ↩
5. Jeremiah 51:24 That is, Babylonia; also in verse 35 ↩
6. Jeremiah 51:34 Or expelled me ↩
7. Jeremiah 51:37 Or serpents or dragons ↩
8. Jeremiah 51:41 Sheshach is a code name for Babylon. ↩
9. Jeremiah 51:45 See Revelation 18:4. ↩