"ThoughBabylonshould ascendto the heavens,And thoughshe should fortifyher loftystronghold,From Me destroyerswill cometo her," declaresthe LORD.
They said,"Come,let us buildfor ourselves a city,and a towerwhose top[will reach] into heaven,and let us makefor ourselves a name,otherwisewe will be scatteredabroad overthe faceof the wholeearth."
"Thoughhis loftinessreachesthe heavens,And his headtouchesthe clouds,
Behold,I am going to stirup the Medesagainstthem, Whowill not valuesilveror takepleasurein gold.
"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."
"Sitsilently,and gointo darkness,O daughterof the Chaldeans,For you will nolongerbe calledThe queenof kingdoms.
"Yet you said,I will be a queenforever.'Thesethingsyou did not considerNorrememberthe outcomeof them.
"As for the terrorof you, The arroganceof your hearthas deceivedyou, O you who livein the cleftsof the rock,Who occupythe heightof the hill.Thoughyou makeyour nestas highas an eagle's,I will bringyou downfrom there,"declaresthe LORD.
"Againstthe landof Merathaim,goup againstit, And againstthe inhabitantsof Pekod.Slayand utterlydestroythem," declaresthe LORD,"And doaccording to allthat I have commandedyou.
The LORDhas openedHis armoryAnd has broughtforththe weaponsof His indignation,For it is a workof the LordGODof hostsIn the landof the Chaldeans.
Thereforehearthe planof the LORDwhichHe has plannedagainstBabylon,and His purposeswhichHe has purposedagainstthe landof the Chaldeans:surelythey will dragthem off,[even] the littleonesof the flock;surelyHe will maketheir pasturedesolatebecauseof them.
Sharpenthe arrows,fillthe quivers!The LORDhas arousedthe spiritof the kingsof the Medes,BecauseHis purposeis againstBabylonto destroyit; For it is the vengeanceof the LORD,vengeancefor His temple.
"Behold,I am againstyou, O destroyingmountain,Who destroysthe wholeearth,"declaresthe LORD,"And I will stretchout My handagainstyou, And rollyou downfrom the crags,And I will makeyou a burntout mountain.
"Then heavenand earthand allthat is in them Will shoutfor joyoverBabylon,For the destroyerswill cometo her from the north,"Declaresthe LORD.
For the destroyeris comingagainsther, againstBabylon,And her mightymenwill be captured,Their bowsare shattered;For the LORDis a Godof recompense,He will fullyrepay.
Thussaysthe LORDof hosts,"The broadwallof Babylonwill be completelyrazedAnd her highgateswill be seton fire;So the peopleswill toilfor nothing,And the nationsbecomeexhausted[only] for fire."
"The kingreflectedand said,'Is thisnot Babylonthe great,whichI myselfhave builtas a royalresidenceby the mightof my powerand for the gloryof my majesty?'
"Thoughthey diginto Sheol,From therewill My handtakethem; And thoughthey ascendto heaven,From therewill I bringthem down.
"And thoughthey gointo captivitybeforetheir enemies,From thereI will commandthe swordthat it slaythem, And I will setMy eyesagainstthem for eviland not for good."
"Woeto him who getsevilgainfor his houseTo puthis neston high,To be deliveredfrom the handof calamity!
