[21] Go up against the land of Merathaim, even against it, and against the inhabitants of Pekod: waste and utterly destroy after them, saith the LORD, and do according to all that I have commanded thee. [22] A sound of battle is in the land, and of great destruction. [23] How is the hammer of the whole earth cut asunder and broken! how is Babylon become a desolation among the nations! [24] I have laid a snare for thee, and thou art also taken, O Babylon, and thou wast not aware: thou art found, and also caught, because thou hast striven against the LORD. [25] The LORD hath opened his armoury, and hath brought forth the weapons of his indignation: for this is the work of the Lord GOD of hosts in the land of the Chaldeans. [26] Come against her from the utmost border, open her storehouses: cast her up as heaps, and destroy her utterly: let nothing of her be left. [27] Slay all her bullocks; let them go down to the slaughter: woe unto them! for their day is come, the time of their visitation. [28] The voice of them that flee of the land of Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God, the vengeance of his temple. [29] Call together the archers against Babylon: all ye that bend the bow, camp against it round about; let none thereof escape: recompense her according to her work; according to all that she hath done, unto her: for she hath been proud against the LORD, against the Holy One of Israel. [30] Therefore shall her young men fall in the streets, of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the LORD. [31] Behold, I am against thee, O thou most proud, saith the Lord GOD of hosts: for thy day is come, the time that I will visit [32] And the most proud shall stumble and fall, and none shall raise him up: and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it shall devour all round about him. [33] Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The children of Israel and the children of Judah were oppressed together: and all that took them captives held them fast; they refused to let them go. [34] Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name: he shall throughly their cause, that he may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon. [35] A sword is upon the Chaldeans, saith the LORD, and upon the inhabitants of Babylon, and upon her princes, and upon her wise [36] A sword is upon the liars; and they shall dote: a sword is upon her mighty men; and they shall be dismayed. [37] A sword is upon their horses, and upon their chariots, that are in the midst of her; and they shall become as women: a sword is upon her treasures; and they shall be robbed. [38] A drought is upon her waters; and they shall be dried up: for it is the land of graven images, and they are mad upon their idols. [39] Therefore the wild beasts of the desert with the wild beasts of the islands shall dwell there, and the owls shall dwell for ever; neither shall it be dwelt in from generation [40] As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the LORD; so shall no man abide there, neither shall any son of man dwell therein. [41] Behold, a people shall come from the north, and a great nation, and many kings shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth. [42] They shall hold the bow and the lance: they are cruel, and will not shew mercy: their voice shall roar like the sea, and they shall ride upon horses, every one put in array, like a man to the battle, against thee, O daughter of Babylon. [43] The king of Babylon hath heard the report of them, and his hands waxed feeble: anguish took hold of him, and pangs as of a woman in travail. [44] Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan unto the habitation of the strong: them suddenly run away man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who is that shepherd that will stand before me? [45] Therefore hear ye the counsel of the LORD, that he hath taken against Babylon; and his purposes, that he hath purposed against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out: surely he shall make their habitation desolate [46] At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth is moved, and the cry is heard among the nations.