126 See the note at .
127 The text has the plural “walls,” but many Hebrew read the singular “wall,” which is also supported by the ancient Greek version. The modifying adjective “thick” is singular as well.
128 The infinitive absolute emphasizes the following finite verb. Another option is to translate, “will certainly be demolished.”
129 Heb “for what is empty.”
130 Heb “and the nations for fire, and they grow weary.”

In other versions

“Thus says the Lord of hosts:

The broad wall of Babylon

shall be leveled to the ground,

and her high gates

shall be burned with fire.

The peoples labor for nothing,

and the nations weary themselves only for fire.”

This is what the Lord Almighty says:

“Babylon’s thick wall will be leveled

and her high gates set on fire;

the peoples exhaust themselves for nothing,

the nations’ labor is only fuel for the flames.”

This is what the Lord of Armies says:

Babylon’s thick walls will be totally demolished,

and her high gates set ablaze.

The peoples will have labored for nothing;

the nations will weary themselves only to feed the fire.

This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says:

“The thick walls of Babylon will be leveled to the ground,

and her massive gates will be burned.

The builders from many lands have worked in vain,

for their work will be destroyed by fire!”

Thus says Yahweh of hosts:

“The broad walls of Babylon will be utterly demolished,

and her high gates will burn with fire,

and the peoples will labor for nothing,

and the nations for fire,

and they will grow weary.”

Thus saith the Lord of hosts;

The broad walls of Babylon shall be utterly broken,

And her high gates shall be burned with fire;

And the people shall labour in vain,

And the folk in the fire, and they shall be weary.

Public Domain