Jeremiah 51:39-57

39While they are feeling so hungry, I will prepare a feast for them. I will cause them to become drunk, and they will become helpless. They will sleep for ever and they will never wake up again.’ That is what the Lord says.

40‘I will take them down to the place of death. People will kill them as if they are lambs, sheep and goats.’

41‘Now an enemy will take power over Babylon! Everyone in the world praised it as a great nation. But now all the nations will see that it is a disgusting place.

42The sea will pour over it. Many waves of water will cover it.

43Babylonia's towns will become heaps of stones. The land will be dry and empty, like a desert. Nobody will live there any more. Nobody will even travel through the land.

44I will punish Bel, the god of Babylon. I will cause him to give back everything that he has taken. Nations will never go to worship him again. Yes, the walls of Babylon will fall down!’

45‘Escape from Babylon, my people! Run away to save your lives! The Lord is very angry with that place, so run away from there!

46You must be brave! When you hear news in Babylon of what is happening, do not be afraid. People will report one thing this year, and next year they will report a different thing. They will speak about violence in the land, and about rulers who are fighting against each other.

47So the time will soon come when I will punish Babylon's idols. The whole country will become ashamed. Its people will die and their dead bodies will lie everywhere.

48Then everyone in heaven and everyone on the earth will shout with joy because of what happens to Babylon. They will be happy because an army will come from the north to destroy it.’ That is what the Lord says.

49‘Babylon's people have caused the death of people everywhere. They have killed many Israelites. So now Babylon must lose its power.

50You Israelites who are still alive, leave Babylon now! Do not wait! You are far away from your homes. But remember that the Lord is with you. Think about Jerusalem.

51You say, “We are ashamed. People have insulted us. We hide our faces in shame because foreigners have gone into the holy places of the Lord's temple.” ’

52But the Lord says this: ‘The time will soon come when I will punish Babylon's idols. People everywhere in that land will cry with pain, because their wounds are causing them to die.

53Babylon's people may build their city very high. They may make its walls very strong. But I will send an army to destroy it.’ That is what the Lord says.

54‘Listen to the noise that comes from Babylon! People are crying in pain. Listen to the noise of the enemy army as it destroys Babylonia.

55The Lord is preparing to destroy Babylon. No noise will come from there any more. The enemy soldiers will attack like great waves of water. There will be a loud noise of battle.

56An army is coming to destroy Babylon. They will take hold of its brave soldiers. They will break their weapons. The Lord is a God who punishes people as they deserve. He always pays them back for their sins.

57I will make Babylon's officers and its wise men drunk, as well as its rulers, its leaders and its soldiers. They will sleep for ever and they will never wake up again.’ That is what the King says. His name is the Lord Almighty.