"Let not him who bendshis bowbend[it], Norlet him riseup in his scale-armor;So do not spareher youngmen;Devoteallher armyto destruction.
How blessedwill be the one whoseizesand dashesyour littleonesAgainstthe rock.
"Harnessthe horses,And mountthe steeds,And takeyour standwith helmets[on]! Polishthe spears,Puton the scale-armor!
"Drawup your battlelinesagainstBabylonon everyside,Allyou who bendthe bow;Shootat her, do not be sparingwith [your] arrows,For she has sinnedagainst the LORD.
"Againstthe landof Merathaim,goup againstit, And againstthe inhabitantsof Pekod.Slayand utterlydestroythem," declaresthe LORD,"And doaccording to allthat I have commandedyou.
Putallher youngbullsto the sword;Let them godownto the slaughter!Woebe upon them, for their dayhas come,The timeof their punishment.
"ThoughBabylonshould ascendto the heavens,And thoughshe should fortifyher loftystronghold,From Me destroyerswill cometo her," declaresthe LORD.
For deathhas comeup through our windows;It has enteredour palacesTo cutoffthe childrenfrom the streets,The youngmenfrom the townsquares.
Outsidethe swordwill bereave,And insideterror--Bothyoungmanand virgin,The nurslingwith the manof grayhair.
For judgment[will be] mercilessto one who has shownnomercy;mercytriumphs overjudgment.
