"A swordagainstthe Chaldeans,"declaresthe LORD,"And againstthe inhabitantsof BabylonAnd againsther officialsand her wisemen!
Thereforebehold,I will once againdealmarvelouslywith thispeople,wondrouslymarvelous;And the wisdomof their wisemenwill perish,And the discernmentof their discerningmen will be concealed."
"I have arousedone from the north,and he has come;From the risingof the sunhe will callon My name;And he will comeupon rulersas [upon] mortar,Even as the pottertreadsclay."
Causing the omensof boastersto fail,Makingfoolsout of diviners,Causing wisemento drawbackAnd turningtheir knowledgeinto foolishness,
Thussaysthe LORDto CyrusHis anointed,WhomI have takenby the righthand,To subduenationsbeforehim And to loosethe loinsof kings;To opendoorsbeforehim so that gateswill not be shut:
For the LORDwill executejudgmentby fireAnd by His swordon allflesh,And those slainby the LORDwill be many.
Whowould not fearYou, O Kingof the nations?Indeedit is Your due!For among allthe wisemenof the nationsAnd in alltheir kingdoms,Thereis nonelikeYou.
"Ah,swordof the LORD,Howlongwill you not be quiet?Withdrawinto your sheath;Be at restand staystill.
Putallher youngbullsto the sword;Let them godownto the slaughter!Woebe upon them, for their dayhas come,The timeof their punishment.
"Thereforeher youngmenwill fallin her streets,And allher menof warwill be silencedin that day,"declaresthe LORD.
"When they becomeheatedup, I will serve[them] their banquetAnd makethem drunk,that they may becomejubilantAnd may sleepa perpetualsleepAnd not wakeup," declaresthe LORD.
Thereforebehold,daysare comingWhen I will punishthe idolsof Babylon;And her wholelandwill be putto shameAnd allher slainwill fallin her midst.
"I will makeher princesand her wisemendrunk,Her governors,her prefectsand her mightymen,That they may sleepa perpetualsleepand not wakeup," Declaresthe King,whose nameis the LORDof hosts.
"The wisemenare putto shame,They are dismayedand caught;Behold,they have rejectedthe wordof the LORD,And whatkind of wisdomdo they have?
And the wordof the LORDcameto me, saying,
That same nightBelshazzarthe Chaldeankingwas slain.
The swordwill whirlagainst their cities,And will demolishtheir gate barsAnd consume[them] becauseof their counsels.
I will also bringupon you a swordwhich will executevengeancefor the covenant;and when you gathertogether into your cities,I will sendpestilenceamongyou, so that you shall be deliveredinto enemyhands.
"Woeto the worthlessshepherdWho leavesthe flock!A swordwill be on his armAnd on his righteye!His armwill be totallywitheredAnd his righteyewill be blind."
