17 The words “you foreign people” are not in the text and many think the referent is the exiles of Judah. While this is clearly the case in v. 45 the referent seems broader here where the context speaks of every man going to his own country (v. 9).
18 Heb “her.”
19 Heb “paying to her a recompense [i.e., a payment in kind].”
20 The words “of her wrath” are not in the Hebrew text but are supplied in the translation to help those readers who are not familiar with the figure of the “cup of the Lord’s wrath.” The figure of the cup of the Lord’s wrath invoked in Jer 25:15–29 is invoked again here and Babylon is identified as the agent through which the wrath of the Lord is visited on the other nations. See the study note on for explanation and further references.
21 Heb “upon the grounds of such conditions the nations have gone mad.”
22 The verbs in this verse and the following are all in the Hebrew perfect tense, a tense that often refers to a past action or a past action with present results. However, as the translator’s notes have indicated, the prophets use this tense to view the actions as if they were as good as done (the Hebrew prophetic perfect). The stance here is ideal, viewed as already accomplished.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

“Flee from the midst of Babylon;

let every one save his life!

Be not cut off in her punishment,

for this is the time of the Lord’s vengeance,

the repayment he is rendering her.

Babylon was a golden cup in the Lord’s hand,

making all the earth drunken;

the nations drank of her wine;

therefore the nations went mad.

Suddenly Babylon has fallen and been broken;

wail for her!

Take balm for her pain;

perhaps she may be healed.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

“Flee from Babylon!

Run for your lives!

Do not be destroyed because of her sins.

It is time for the Lord’s vengeance;

he will repay her what she deserves.

Babylon was a gold cup in the Lord’s hand;

she made the whole earth drunk.

The nations drank her wine;

therefore they have now gone mad.

Babylon will suddenly fall and be broken.

Wail over her!

Get balm for her pain;

perhaps she can be healed.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Leave Babylon;

save your lives, each of you!

Don’t perish because of her guilt.

For this is the time of the Lord’s vengeance—

he will pay her what she deserves.

Babylon was a gold cup in the Lord’s hand,

making the whole earth drunk.

The nations drank her wine;

therefore, the nations go mad.

Suddenly Babylon fell and was shattered.

Wail for her;

get balm for her wound—

perhaps she can be healed.

NLTNew Living Translation

Flee from Babylon! Save yourselves!

Don’t get trapped in her punishment!

It is the Lord’s time for vengeance;

he will repay her in full.

Babylon has been a gold cup in the Lord’s hands,

a cup that made the whole earth drunk.

The nations drank Babylon’s wine,

and it drove them all mad.

But suddenly Babylon, too, has fallen.

Weep for her.

Give her medicine.

Perhaps she can yet be healed.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Flee from the midst of Babylon and save each one his life.

You must not perish because of her guilt.

For this is the time of vengeance for Yahweh,

he will repay her what is deserved.

Babylon was a cup of gold in the hand of Yahweh,

making drunk all the earth.

The nations drank of her wine.

Therefore the nations acted like madmen.

Suddenly Babylon has fallen and she is shattered.

Wail over her!

Take balm for her wounds,

perhaps she may be healed.

KJV 1900King James Version

Flee out of the midst of Babylon,

And deliver every man his soul:

Be not cut off in her iniquity;

For this is the time of the Lord’s vengeance;

He will render unto her a recompence.

Babylon hath been a golden cup in the Lord’s hand,

That made all the earth drunken:

The nations have drunken of her wine;

Therefore the nations are mad.

Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed:

Howl for her;

Take balm for her pain,

If so be she may be healed.

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