Jeremiah 51:5-14

5Israel and Judah haven’t been abandoned by their God, the Lord of Armies, although their land is guilty of abandoning the Holy One of Israel.

6Run away from Babylon! Run for your lives! You shouldn’t die because of Babylon’s crimes. This is the time for the vengeance of the Lord. He will pay the people of Babylon back for what they have done.

7Babylon was a golden cup in the Lord’s hand. It made the whole world drunk. The nations drank its wine. That is why the nations have gone insane.

8Babylon will suddenly fall and be shattered. Cry for it. Bring medicine for its pain. Maybe it can be healed.

9We wanted to heal Babylon, but it couldn’t be healed. Let’s abandon it and go to our own land. God has judged Babylon. Its judgment is complete.

10The Lord has brought about our victory. Let’s announce in Zion what the Lord our God has done.

11Sharpen the arrows; fill the quivers. The Lord will stir up the spirit of the kings of the Medes because his plan is to destroy Babylon. The Lord will avenge his temple.

12Raise your battle flag in front of the walls of Babylon. Strengthen the guards. Station watchmen. Prepare ambushes. The Lord will carry out his plans against the people who live in Babylon.

13Babylon, you live beside many rivers and are rich with treasures, but your end has come. The thread of your life has been cut off.

14The Lord of Armies has taken an oath on himself: “I will certainly fill you with many enemy armies. They will swarm like locusts. People will shout their victory over you.”