¹ The word that Jehovah spoke to^▵ Babylon, to^▵ the land of the Chaldeans, by the hand of Jeremiah^◦ the prophet.

² Tell it among^◦ the nations, and make it heard, and lift a standard; make it heard, and conceal^◦ not; say, Babylon is captured, Bel is shamed, Merodach is·​·dismayed; her images^◦ are shamed, her idols are·​·dismayed.

³ For out of the north there comes up a nation against her, which shall set^◦ her land as a desolation, and none shall dwell therein; they shall flee·​·away, they shall go^◦, both man and beast.

⁴ In those days, and in that time, says^◦ Jehovah, the sons of Israel shall come, they and the sons of Judah together, going and weeping; they shall go, and seek Jehovah their God.

⁵ They shall ask Zion concerning the way with their faces hither, saying: Come, and let us join ourselves to^▵ Jehovah in an eternal covenant that shall not be forgotten.

⁶ My people have been as a flock of the lost; their shepherds have caused them to go·​·astray; they have turned· them ·back on the mountains. They have walked from mountain to^▵ hill; they have forgotten their place·​·to·​·lie·​·down^◦.

⁷ All who found them have devoured them; and their adversaries said, We are· not ·guilty, on account of the fact that they have sinned against Jehovah, the home of justice, and the hope^◦ of their fathers, Jehovah.

⁸ Flee·​·away from the midst of Babylon, and from the land of the Chaldeans go·​·out, and be as the he-goats before the flock.

⁹ For, behold, I^▵ will stir·​·up and cause to go·​·up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the land of the north; and they shall set·​·themselves·​·in·​·array against her; from thence she shall be taken; his arrows shall be as a mighty·​·man bereaving; none shall return empty.

¹⁰ And Chaldea shall be a spoil; all who spoil her shall be satisfied, says^◦ Jehovah,

¹¹ because you were·​·glad, because you triumphed, O ye pillagers of My inheritance, because you are spread·​·out as the heifer on the tender·​·herb, and neigh as steeds.

¹² Your mother shall be very ashamed; she who gave·​·birth to you shall blush; behold, the last of the nations shall be a wilderness, an arid place, and a desert.

¹³ From the rage of Jehovah she shall not dwell, and all of her shall be desolate; all who pass·​·by Babylon shall be astonished, and hiss at all her blows^◦.

¹⁴ Set· yourselves ·in·​·array against Babylon all around; all ye that bend^◦ the bow, shoot·​·out at her, spare not the arrow: for she has sinned against Jehovah.

¹⁵ Shout against her all around; she has given her hand; her foundations are fallen, her walls are broken·​·down; for it is the vengeance of Jehovah; avenge on her; as^◦ she has done, do to her.

¹⁶ Cut off the sower from Babylon, and him that handles the sickle in the time of harvest; for fear of the oppressing sword they shall face every one to his people, and they shall flee every one to his own land.

¹⁷ As an animal·​·of·​·the·​·flock Israel is scattered^◦; the lions have expelled him; first the king of Assyria has eaten him up; and afterwards Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon, has removed· his ·bones.

¹⁸ Therefore thus says Jehovah of Armies, the God of Israel, Behold, I will visit the king of Babylon and his land, as^◦ I have visited the king of Assyria.

¹⁹ And I will return Israel to^▵ his home, and he shall pasture on Carmel and Bashan, and his soul shall be satisfied on^◦ Mount Ephraim and Gilead.

²⁰ In those^◦ days, and in that^◦ time, says^◦ Jehovah, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found; for I will pardon them whom I have left.

²¹ Against the land of Merathaim, go·​·up against her, and against those who dwell in Pekod; waste and doom thou after them, says^◦ Jehovah, and do according·​·to all that I have commanded thee.

²² A voice of battle is in the land, and of great breaking.

²³ How^◦ is the mallet of all the earth hewn·​·off and broken! How^◦ is Babylon become a desolation among^◦ the nations!

²⁴ I have set a snare for thee, and thou art also captured, O Babylon, and thou dost· not ·know; thou art·​·found, and also caught, for thou hast meddled with Jehovah.

²⁵ Jehovah has opened His treasury, and has brought·​·out the weapons^◦ of His indignation; for it is the business of the Lord Jehovih^* of Armies in the land of the Chaldeans.

²⁶ Come against her from the utmost border, open her storehouses; build· her ·up as stacks, and doom her: let nothing of her be left.

²⁷ Waste all her bullocks; let them go·​·down to the butchering. Woe to them! For their day is come, the time of their visitation.

²⁸ The voice of them that flee and are delivered from the land of Babylon, to tell in Zion about the vengeance of Jehovah our God, the vengeance of His temple.

²⁹ Cause the shooters of arrows to hear against Babylon; all ye who bend^◦ the bow, camp against her all around; let none thereof escape^◦; repay her according·​·to her work; according·​·to all that she has done, do to her: for she has been·​·presumptuous to^▵ Jehovah, to^▵ the Holy·​·One of Israel.

³⁰ Therefore shall her young·​·men fall in the streets, and all her men of war shall be·​·still in that day, says^◦ Jehovah.

³¹ Behold, I am against thee, O thou most presumptuous, says^◦ the Lord Jehovih of Armies; for thy day is come, the time that I will visit thee.

³² And the presumptuous shall stumble and fall, and none shall raise· him ·up; and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it shall devour all those around him.

³³ Thus says Jehovah of Armies; The sons of Israel and the sons of Judah were oppressed together; and all that took them captives held· them ·firm; they refused to send· them ·out.

³⁴ Their Redeemer is firm; Jehovah of Armies is His name; pleading He shall plead their plea, so·​·that He may give·​·repose to the land, and make those who dwell in Babylon tremble.

³⁵ A sword is upon the Chaldeans, says^◦ Jehovah, and upon those who dwell in Babylon, and upon her princes, and upon her wise men.

³⁶ A sword is upon the fabricators; and they shall become·​·stupid; a sword is upon her mighty men; and they shall·​·be·​·dismayed.

³⁷ A sword is upon their horses, and upon their chariots, and upon all the commingled crowd that are in her midst; and they shall become as women; a sword is upon her treasures; and they shall be preyed·​·on.

³⁸ A drought is to her waters; and they shall be dried·​·up; for she is a land of carved images, and they rave by terrors.

³⁹ Therefore the Tsiim with^◦ the Ijim^* shall dwell there, and in her shall dwell the daughters of an owl; and no^◦ one shall dwell·​·in her any·​·more perpetually; neither shall it be inhabited even·​·to generation and generation.

⁴⁰ As God overturned Sodom and Gomorrah and her neighbor^◦, says^◦ Jehovah; a man^◦ shall not dwell there, a son of man shall not sojourn in her.

⁴¹ Behold, a people shall come from the north, and a great nation, and many kings shall be stirred·​·up from the flanks of the earth.

⁴² They shall take·​·hold of the bow and the javelin; they are cruel, and will not have·​·compassion; their voice shall make a noise as the sea, and they shall ride on horses, every one set·​·in·​·array, as a man^◦ for the battle, against thee, O daughter of Babylon.

⁴³ The king of Babylon has heard the rumor of them, and his hands have slackened; adversity held· him ·firmly, and travailing as a woman giving·​·birth.

⁴⁴ Behold, he shall come·​·up as a lion from the pride of the Jordan to^▵ the home of Ethan^*; but^◦ running I will make him run away from her in a moment. And who is chosen that I may appoint over her? For who is like^▵ Me? And who will cause Me to congregate, and who is this shepherd that will stand before Me?

⁴⁵ Therefore hear ye the counsel of Jehovah, that He has taken counsel against Babylon; and His thoughts, that He has reckoned against the land of the Chaldeans; Surely the little ones of the flock shall drag· them ·out; surely He shall make their home desolate with them.

⁴⁶ At the voice of the occupying of Babylon the earth has quaked, and a cry is heard among^◦ the nations.

¹ At the same time, says^◦ Jehovah, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people.

² Thus says Jehovah, The people surviving the sword found grace in the wilderness, in My going^◦ to give·​·repose to him, to Israel.

³ Jehovah has been seen far·​·off to me, saying, And I have loved thee with an eternal love; therefore with mercy have I drawn thee.

⁴ Still I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel; thou shalt still be decked with thy timbrels, and shalt go·​·out with the dancing of those who play.

⁵ Thou shalt yet plant vineyards upon the mountains of Samaria; the planters shall plant, and shall harvest·​·grapes^*.

⁶ For there· shall ·be a day, that the observers on^◦ Mount Ephraim shall call, Arise ye, and let us go·​·up to Zion to^▵ Jehovah our God.

⁷ For thus says Jehovah: Sing·​·aloud with gladness for Jacob, and exult at the head of the nations; make it heard, praise ye, and say, O Jehovah, save Thy people, what·​·is·​·left of Israel.

⁸ Behold, I will bring them from the north land, and bring· them ·together from the flanks of the earth, and among^◦ them the blind and the lame, the pregnant woman and her that gives·​·birth together; a great assembly shall return thither.

⁹ They shall come with weeping, and with supplications^◦ will I bring^◦ them; I will cause them to walk^◦ to^▵ the brooks of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is My firstborn.

¹⁰ Hear the word of Jehovah, O ye nations, and tell it in the islands afar off, and say, He that dispersed Israel will bring· him ·together, and keep him, as a shepherd does his drove.

¹¹ For Jehovah has ransomed Jacob, and redeemed him from a hand more firm than his.

¹² And they shall come and sing·​·aloud in the height of Zion, and shall flow·​·together to^▵ the goodness of Jehovah, for^▵ grain, and for^▵ must^*, and for^▵ olive·​·oil, and for^▵ the sons of the flock and of the herd; and their soul shall be as a well soaked garden; and they shall not again be·​·sad any·​·more.

¹³ Then shall the virgin be·​·glad with dancing, and young·​·men and old together; and I will turn their mourning to joy, and will comfort them, and make· them ·glad from their sorrow.

¹⁴ And I will soak the soul of the priests with fatness, and My people shall be satisfied with My goodness, says^◦ Jehovah.

¹⁵ Thus says Jehovah: A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation^◦, and bitter weeping; Rachel weeping for her sons refused to be comforted for her sons, for they were not.

¹⁶ Thus says Jehovah: Withhold thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears; for there· shall ·be a reward for thy work, says^◦ Jehovah; and they shall return from the land of the enemy.

¹⁷ And there·​·is hope^◦* for thy last times, says^◦ Jehovah, and sons shall return to their border.

¹⁸ Hearing I have heard Ephraim being·​·sorry for himself; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a calf not trained^*; Cause me to return, and I shall return; for Thou^◦ art Jehovah my God.

¹⁹ Surely^▵ after I was turned·​·back, I repented; and after I was made·​·to·​·know, I slapped upon my thigh; I was·​·ashamed, yea^◦, even humiliated, because^◦ I carried the reproach of my youth.

²⁰ Is not Ephraim My precious son? Is he not a pleasing child? For after I spoke against^◦ him, remembering I still remember him; therefore My bowels are·​·tumultuous for him; having·​·compassion I will have·​·compassion upon him, says^◦ Jehovah.

²¹ Set·​·up for thyself markers^◦, set for thyself pillars^▵; put thy heart toward the highway, even the way which thou wentest; return, O virgin of Israel, return to^▵ these thy cities.

²² How^▵ long wilt thou go·​·about, O thou backsliding daughter? For Jehovah has created a new thing in the earth: a female shall surround a mighty·​·man.

²³ Thus says Jehovah of Armies, the God of Israel: As yet they shall say this word in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof, when I shall return their captivity: Jehovah bless thee, O home of justice, and mountain of holiness.

²⁴ And they shall dwell in her, in Judah and all the cities thereof together, farmers, and they who journey with a drove.

²⁵ For I have soaked^* the fainting soul, and I have filled every sad soul.

²⁶ Upon this I awoke and saw; and my sleep was·​·agreeable to me.

²⁷ Behold, the days come, says^◦ Jehovah, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and with the seed of beast.

²⁸ And it shall be, as^◦ I have watched^◦ over them, to pluck·​·up, and to tear·​·down, and to break·​·down, and to make·​·perish, and to bring·​·evil; so will I watch^◦ over them, to build and to plant, says^◦ Jehovah.

²⁹ In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a wild·​·grape, and the teeth of the sons are dulled.

³⁰ But^◦ a man^◦ shall·​·die in his own iniquity; every man that eats the wild·​·grape, his teeth shall be dulled.

³¹ Behold, the days are coming, says^◦ Jehovah, and I will cut a new covenant with^◦ the house of Israel, and with^◦ the house of Judah:

³² not according·​·to the covenant that I cut with^◦ their fathers in the day that I held· their hand ·firmly to bring· them ·out from the land of Egypt; which covenant of Mine they made·​·of·​·none·​·effect, although I^▵ was a husband unto them, says^◦ Jehovah;

³³ for this shall be the covenant that I will cut with the house of Israel: After those days, says^◦ Jehovah, I will put^◦ My law in their inward·​·parts, and write it in their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

³⁴ And they shall teach no more, a man^◦ his companion, and a man^◦ his brother, saying, Know Jehovah; for they shall· all ·Know Me, from the smallest of them unto the greatest of them, says^◦ Jehovah: for I will pardon their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

³⁵ Thus says Jehovah, who gives the sun for a light by·​·day, and the stated star'>times of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, who agitates the sea so that the waves thereof make·​·noise; Jehovah of Armies is His name;

³⁶ If those ordinances depart from before Me, says^◦ Jehovah, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before Me all the days.

³⁷ Thus says Jehovah: If the heavens above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched·​·out below, even I^◦ will reject all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, says^◦ Jehovah.

³⁸ Behold, the days come, says^◦ Jehovah, that the city shall be built to Jehovah from the tower of Hananeel unto the gate of the corner.

³⁹ And the measuring line shall yet go·​·out in·​·front·​·of it on the hill Gareb, and shall turn·​·around to Goath.

⁴⁰ And all the valley of the corpses, and of the burnt fatness, and all the fields^◦ to^◦ the brook of Kidron, to^◦ the corner of the gate of horses toward the sunrise, shall be holy to Jehovah; it shall not be plucked·​·up, nor broken·​·down forever to eternity.