Nations, hear the word of the Lord, and tell it among the far off coasts and islands! Say, ‘The one who scattered Israel will gather him. He will watch over him as a shepherd guards his flock,
This is what the Lord says concerning the prophets who lead my people astray, who proclaim peace when they have food to sink their teeth into but declare war against the one who puts nothing in their mouths.
Announce to the nations; proclaim and raise up a signal flag; proclaim, and hide nothing. Say, ‘Babylon is captured; Bel is put to shame; Marduk is terrified.’ Her idols are put to shame; her false gods devastated.
Sharpen the arrows! Fill the quivers! The Lord has roused the spirit of the kings of the Medes because his plan is aimed at Babylon to destroy her, for it is the Lord’s vengeance, vengeance for his temple.
Raise a signal flag in the land; blow a ram’s horn among the nations; set apart the nations against her. Summon kingdoms against her – Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz. Appoint a marshal against her; bring up horses like a swarm of locusts.
‘ “This is what the Lord God says: Are you the one I spoke about in former times through my servants, the prophets of Israel, who for years prophesied in those times that I would bring you against them?
I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem for battle. The city will be captured, the houses looted, and the women raped. Half the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be removed from the city.