^{1 Ref} The Lord has said: See, I will make a wind of destruction come up against Babylon and against those who are living in Chaldaea;

^{2 Ref} And I will send men to Babylon to make her clean and get her land cleared: for in the day of trouble they will put up their tents against her on every side.

^{3 Ref} Against her the bow of the archer is bent, and he puts on his coat of metal: have no mercy on her young men, give all her army up to the curse.

^{4 Ref} And the dead will be stretched out in the land of the Chaldaeans, and the wounded in her streets.

^{5 Ref} For Israel has not been given up, or Judah, by his God, by the Lord of armies; for their land is full of sin against the Holy One of Israel.

^{6 Ref} Go in flight out of Babylon, so that every man may keep his life; do not be cut off in her evil-doing: for it is the time of the Lord's punishment; he will give her her reward.

^{7 Ref} Babylon has been a gold cup in the hand of the Lord, which has made all the earth overcome with wine: the nations have taken of her wine, and for this cause the nations have gone off their heads.

^{8 Ref} Sudden is the downfall of Babylon and her destruction: make cries of grief for her; take sweet oil for her pain, if it is possible for her to be made well.

^{9 Ref} We would have made Babylon well, but she is not made well: give her up, and let us go everyone to his country: for her punishment is stretching up to heaven, and lifted up even to the skies.

^{10 Ref} The Lord has made clear our righteousness: come, and let us give an account in Zion of the work of the Lord our God.

^{11 Ref} Make bright the arrows; take up the body-covers: the Lord has been moving the spirit of the king of the Medes; because his design against Babylon is its destruction: for it is the punishment from the Lord, the payment for his Temple.