Thereforebehold,daysare comingWhen I will punishthe idolsof Babylon;And her wholelandwill be putto shameAnd allher slainwill fallin her midst.
"Now behold,herecomesa troopof riders,horsemenin pairs."And one said,"Fallen,fallenis Babylon;And allthe imagesof her godsare shatteredon the ground."
therefore,thussaysthe LORDof hosts,"Behold,I am about to punishthem! The youngmenwill dieby the sword,their sonsand daughterswill dieby famine;
"Whatwill you saywhenHe appointsoveryou-- And you yourselfhad taughtthem-- Former companionsto be headoveryou? Will not pangstakeholdof you Likea womanin childbirth?
"Then as for the prophetor the priestor the peoplewhosay,The oracleof the LORD,'I will bringpunishmentupon that manand his household.
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.
"Declareand proclaimamong the nations.Proclaimit and liftup a standard.Do not conceal[it but] say,Babylonhas been captured,Belhas beenputto shame,Mardukhas beenshattered;Her imageshave beenputto shame,her idolshave beenshattered.'
They are worthless,a workof mockery;In the timeof their punishmentthey will perish.
"But I will repayBabylonand allthe inhabitantsof Chaldeafor alltheir evilthat they have donein Zionbefore your eyes,"declaresthe LORD.
"Her citieshave becomean objectof horror,A parchedlandand a desert,A landin whichnomanlivesAnd throughwhichnosonof manpasses.
"Thereforebehold,the daysare coming,"declaresthe LORD,"When I will punishher idols,And the mortallywoundedwill groanthroughouther land.
