Thus says Yahweh:

“Look, I am going to stir up against Babylon

and against the inhabitants of Leb-qamai a destructive wind.

2 And I will send winnowers to Babylon,

and they will winnow her,

and they will lay waste her land,

for they will be against her from all sides on the day of disaster.

3 Let not him who bends the bow shoot his bow,

and let him not rise high in his body armor.

And you must not spare her young men;

destroy her whole army.

4 And they will fall slain in the land of the Chaldeans,

and pierced through in her streets.

5 For neither Israel nor Judah is a widower from their God,

from Yahweh of hosts,

though their land is full of guilt

against the Holy One of Israel.”

6 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.

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

making drunk all the earth.

The nations drank of her wine.

⌊Therefore⌋a the nations acted like madmen.

8 Suddenly Babylon has fallen and she is shattered.

Wail over her!

Take balm for her wounds,

perhaps she may be healed.

9 We tried to heal Babylon, and she was not healed.

Forsake her and let us go each one to his country,

for her judgment has reached to the heavens,

and it has been lifted up to the skies.

10 Yahweh has brought forth our vindication.

Come and let us make known in Zion the work of Yahweh our God.

11 Sharpen the arrows, fill the quivers!

Yahweh has stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes.

Because his plan concerning Babylon is to destroy it,

for that is the vengeance of Yahweh,

the vengeance for his temple.