Jeremiah 50:1-8

1The word which the Lord spoke concerning 1Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans, through Jeremiah the prophet:2“2Declare and proclaim among the nations. Proclaim it and 3lift up a standard. Do not conceal it but say, ‘4Babylon has been captured, 5Bel has been put to shame, 6Marduk has been 7shattered; Her 8images have been put to shame, her idols have been shattered.’ 3For a nation has come up against her out of the 9north; it will make her land 10an object of horror, and there will be 11no inhabitant in it. Both man and beast have wandered off, they have gone away!

4“In those days and at that time,” declares the Lord, “the sons of Israel will come, both they and the sons of Judah 12as well; they will go along 13weeping as they go, and it will be 14the Lord their God they will seek. 5They will 15ask for the way to Zion, turning their faces 16in its direction; 17they 18will come that they may join themselves to the Lord in an 19everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten.

6“My people have become 20lost sheep; 21Their shepherds have led them astray. They have made them turn aside on the 22mountains; They have gone along from mountain to hill And have forgotten their 23resting place.7All who came upon them have devoured them; And their adversaries have said, ‘24We are not guilty, Inasmuch as they have sinned against the Lord who is the 25habitation of righteousness, Even the Lord, the 26hope of their fathers.’

8“Wander away from the 27midst of Babylon And 28go forth from the land of the Chaldeans; Be also like male goats 29at the head of the flock.