Then it will be when seventyyearsare completedI will punishthe kingof Babylonand that nation,'declaresthe LORD,'for their iniquity,and the landof the Chaldeans;and I will makeit an everlastingdesolation.
In his daysNebuchadnezzarkingof Babyloncameup, and Jehoiakimbecamehis servant[for] threeyears;then he turnedand rebelledagainst him.
Now in the firstyearof Cyruskingof Persia--in order to fulfillthe wordof the LORDby the mouthof Jeremiah--the LORDstirredup the spiritof Cyruskingof Persia,so that he senta proclamationthroughouthis kingdom,and also[put it] in writing,saying,
O daughterof Babylon,you devastatedone, How blessedwill be the one whorepaysyou With the recompensewith whichyou have repaidus.
And Babylon,the beautyof kingdoms,the gloryof the Chaldeans'pride,Will be as when GodoverthrewSodomand Gomorrah.
"I will also makeit a possessionfor the hedgehogand swampsof water,and I will sweepit with the broomof destruction,"declaresthe LORDof hosts.
For the watersof Nimrimare desolate.Surelythe grassis withered,the tendergrassdiedout, There is nogreenthing.
In the yearthat the commandercameto Ashdod,when Sargonthe kingof Assyriasenthim and he foughtagainst Ashdodand capturedit,
Woeto you, O destroyer,While you were not destroyed;And he who is treacherous,while [others] did not dealtreacherouslywith him. As soon as you finishdestroying,you will be destroyed;As soon as you ceaseto dealtreacherously,[others] will dealtreacherouslywith you.
Belhas boweddown,Nebostoopsover;Their imagesare [consigned] to the beastsand the cattle.The thingsthat you carryare burdensome,A loadfor the weary[beast].
Thereforethussaysthe LORDGodof Israelconcerningthe shepherdswho are tendingMy people:"You have scatteredMy flockand driventhem away,and have not attendedto them; behold,I am about to attendto you for the evilof your deeds,"declaresthe LORD.
(For manynationsand greatkingswill makeslavesof them, eventhem; and I will recompensethem according to their deedsand according to the workof their hands.)'"
They will be carriedto Babylonand they will be thereuntilthe dayI visitthem,' declaresthe LORD.Then I will bringthem backand restorethem to thisplace.'"
"Allthe nationsshall servehim and his sonand his grandsonuntilthe timeof his own landcomes;then manynationsand greatkingswill makehim their servant.
"For thussaysthe LORD,'Whenseventyyearshave beencompletedfor Babylon,I will visityou and fulfillMy goodwordto you, to bringyou backto thisplace.
"I will makeyou an everlastingdesolationand your citieswill not be inhabited.Then you will knowthat I am the LORD.
in the firstyearof his reign,I, Daniel,observedin the booksthe numberof the yearswhichwas [revealed as] the wordof the LORDto Jeremiahthe prophetfor the completionof the desolationsof Jerusalem,[namely], seventyyears.
Will they thereforeemptytheir netAnd continuallyslaynationswithoutsparing?
