Jeremiah 50:9–13

9 For I will stir up and bring against Babylon

an alliance of great nations from the land of the north.

They will take up their positions against her,

and from the north she will be captured.

Their arrows will be like skilled warriors

who do not return empty-handed.

10 So Babylonia will be plundered;

all who plunder her will have their fill,”

declares the Lord.

11 “Because you rejoice and are glad,

you who pillage my inheritance,

because you frolic like a heifer threshing grain

and neigh like stallions,

12 your mother will be greatly ashamed;

she who gave you birth will be disgraced.

She will be the least of the nations—

a wilderness, a dry land, a desert.

13 Because of the Lord’s anger she will not be inhabited

but will be completely desolate.

All who pass Babylon will be appalled;

they will scoff because of all her wounds.

9 For behold, I am stirring up and bringing against Babylon a gathering of great nations, from the north country. And they shall array themselves against her. From there she shall be taken. Their arrows are like a skilled warrior who does not return empty-handed. 10 Chaldea shall be plundered; all who plunder her shall be sated, declares the Lord.

11 “Though you rejoice, though you exult,

O plunderers of my heritage,

though you frolic like a heifer in the pasture,

and neigh like stallions,

12 your mother shall be utterly shamed,

and she who bore you shall be disgraced.

Behold, she shall be the last of the nations,

a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert.

13 Because of the wrath of the Lord she shall not be inhabited

but shall be an utter desolation;

everyone who passes by Babylon shall be appalled,

and hiss because of all her wounds.

9 For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon

An assembly of great nations from the north country:

And they shall set themselves in array against her;

From thence she shall be taken:

Their arrows shall be as of a mighty expert man;

None shall return in vain.

10 And Chaldea shall be a spoil:

All that spoil her shall be satisfied, saith the Lord.

11 Because ye were glad, because ye rejoiced,

O ye destroyers of mine heritage,

Because ye are grown fat as the heifer at grass,

And bellow as bulls;

12 Your mother shall be sore confounded;

She that bare you shall be ashamed:

Behold, the hindermost of the nations

Shall be a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert.

13 Because of the wrath of the Lord it shall not be inhabited,

But it shall be wholly desolate: every one that goeth by Babylon shall be astonished,

And hiss at all her plagues.

9 For I am raising up an army

of great nations from the north.

They will join forces to attack Babylon,

and she will be captured.

The enemies’ arrows will go straight to the mark;

they will not miss!

10 Babylonia will be looted

until the attackers are glutted with loot.

I, the Lord, have spoken!

11 “You rejoice and are glad,

you who plundered my chosen people.

You frisk about like a calf in a meadow

and neigh like a stallion.

12 But your homeland will be overwhelmed

with shame and disgrace.

You will become the least of nations—

a wilderness, a dry and desolate land.

13 Because of the Lord’s anger,

Babylon will become a deserted wasteland.

All who pass by will be horrified

and will gasp at the destruction they see there.

9 I will soon bring against Babylon

many great nations from the north.

They will take their places for war against it,

and it will be captured by people from the north.

Their arrows are like trained soldiers

who do not return from war with empty hands.

10 The enemy will take all the wealth from the Babylonians.

Those enemy soldiers will get all they want,” says the Lord.

11 “Babylon, you are excited and happy,

because you took my land.

You dance around like a young cow in the grain.

Your laughter is like the neighing of male horses.

12 Your mother will be very ashamed;

the woman who gave birth to you will be disgraced.

Soon Babylonia will be the least important of all the nations.

She will be an empty, dry desert.

13 Because of the Lord’s anger,

no one will live there.

She will be completely empty.

Everyone who passes by Babylon will be shocked.

They will shake their heads when they see all her injuries.

9 For, lo, I will stir up and cause to come up against Babylon a company of great nations from the north country; and they shall set themselves in array against her; from thence she shall be taken: their arrows shall be as of an expert mighty man; none shall return in vain. 10 And Chaldea shall be a prey: all that prey upon her shall be satisfied, saith Jehovah.

11 Because ye are glad, because ye rejoice, O ye that plunder my heritage, because ye are wanton as a heifer that treadeth out the grain, and neigh as strong horses; 12 your mother shall be utterly put to shame; she that bare you shall be confounded: behold, she shall be the hindermost of the nations, a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert. 13 Because of the wrath of Jehovah she shall not be inhabited, but she shall be wholly desolate: every one that goeth by Babylon shall be astonished, and hiss at all her plagues.

9 For behold, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon, an assemblage of great nations from the north country; and they shall set themselves in array against her: from thence shall she be taken. Their arrows shall be as those of a mighty expert man: none shall return empty. 10 And Chaldea shall be a spoil: all the spoilers thereof shall be satiated, saith Jehovah. 11 For ye rejoiced, for ye triumphed, ye plunderers of my heritage; for ye have been wanton as the heifer at grass, and neighed as steeds. 12 Your mother hath been sorely put to shame; she that bore you hath been covered with reproach: behold, she is become hindmost of the nations, a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert. 13 Because of the wrath of Jehovah, it shall not be inhabited, but it shall be wholly desolate; every one that goeth by Babylon shall be astonished, and shall hiss, because of all her plagues.

9 I am going to stir up an alliance of strong nations from the north 

and bring it against Babylon. 

Those nations will take up positions against Babylon. 

Babylon will be captured from the north. 

Its enemy’s arrows will be like skilled soldiers 

who don’t come back empty-handed. 

10 The Babylonians will become the prize. 

All who loot them will get everything they want,” 

declares the Lord. 

11 “You are happy and excited. 

You have looted the people who belong to me. 

You dance around like calves on the grass 

and neigh like stallions. 

12 But your mother will be greatly ashamed. 

The woman who gave birth to you will be disgraced. 

Babylon, you will be the least important nation. 

You will become a parched desert. 

13 No one will live in Babylon because of the Lord’s anger. 

It will be completely abandoned. 

Everyone who passes by Babylon will be horrified 

and hiss at all its wounds. 

9 For I will soon stir up and bring against Babylon

an assembly of great nations from the north country.

They will line up in battle formation against her;

from there she will be captured.

Their arrows will be like those of a skilled warrior

who does not return empty-handed.

10 The Chaldeans will become plunder;

all Babylon’s plunderers will be fully satisfied.

This is the Lord’s declaration.

11 Because you rejoice,

because you sing in triumph—

you who plundered My inheritance—

because you frolic like a young cow treading grain

and neigh like stallions,

12 your mother will be utterly humiliated;

she who bore you will be put to shame.

Look! She will lag behind all the nations—

a dry land, a wilderness, an Arabah.

13 Because of the Lord’s wrath,

she will not be inhabited;

she will become a desolation, every bit of her.

Everyone who passes through Babylon

will be horrified

and scoff because of all her wounds.

9 For I am going to stir up and bring against Babylon a company of great nations from the land of the north, and they shall array themselves against her; from there she shall be taken. Their arrows are like the arrows of a skilled warrior who does not return empty-handed. 10 Chaldea shall be plundered; all who plunder her shall be sated, says the Lord.

11 Though you rejoice, though you exult,

O plunderers of my heritage,

though you frisk about like a heifer on the grass

and neigh like stallions,

12 your mother shall be utterly shamed,

and she who bore you shall be disgraced.

She shall be the last of the nations,

a wilderness, dry land, and a desert.

13 Because of the wrath of the Lord, she shall not be inhabited

but shall be an utter desolation;

everyone who passes by Babylon shall be appalled

and hiss because of all her wounds.

9 For look, I am going to stir up,

and I am going to bring against Babylon

a contingent of great nations

from the land of the north.

And they will draw up a battle formation against her,

from there she will be captured.

Their arrows are like a warrior who has achieved success,

he does not return without success.

10 And Chaldea will be as booty,

all those who plunder her will be satisfied,” declares Yahweh.

11 “Though you rejoice, though you exult,

O plunderers of my inheritance,

though you frisk about like a heifer on the grass,

and you neigh like the powerful stallions,

12 your mother will be very ashamed.

She who gave birth to you will be humiliated.

Look, she will be the least of the nations,

a desert, dry land, and wilderness.

13 Because of the anger of Yahweh she will not be inhabited,

but she will be a wasteland, all of her.

Everyone who passes by Babylon will be appalled

and will hiss because of all her wounds.

9 I will stir up great nations

that will join forces against Babylon.

I will bring them from the land of the north.

They will take up their battle positions against Babylon.

They will come from the north and capture it.

Their arrows will be like skilled soldiers.

They will not miss their mark.

10 So the riches of Babylonia will be taken away.

All those who steal from it will have more than enough,”

announces the Lord.

11 “People of Babylonia, you have stolen what belongs to me.

That has made you glad and full of joy.

You dance around like a young cow on a threshing floor.

You neigh like stallions.

12 Because of that, you will bring great shame on your land.

Your whole nation will be dishonored.

It will become the least important of the nations.

It will become a dry and empty desert.

13 Because I am angry with it, no one will live there.

It will be completely deserted.

All those who pass by it will be shocked.

They will make fun of it because of all of its wounds.

9 “For behold, I am going to arouse and bring up against Babylon

A horde of great nations from the land of the north,

And they will draw up their battle lines against her;

From there she will be taken captive.

Their arrows will be like an expert warrior

Who does not return empty-handed.

10 “Chaldea will become plunder;

All who plunder her will have enough,” declares the Lord.

11 “Because you are glad, because you are jubilant,

O you who pillage My heritage,

Because you skip about like a threshing heifer

And neigh like stallions,

12 Your mother will be greatly ashamed,

She who gave you birth will be humiliated.

Behold, she will be the least of the nations,

A wilderness, a parched land and a desert.

13 “Because of the indignation of the Lord she will not be inhabited,

But she will be completely desolate;

Everyone who passes by Babylon will be horrified

And will hiss because of all her wounds.