Why should all the nations sneer at us, saying, “Where is this God of yours?” Now is the time, Lord. Show your people and all the world that you will avenge this slaughter and bloodshed once and for all!
Now, all of you gather around and listen. Which of the gods has foretold these things? I, Yahweh, love this man, and he will carry out my purpose against Babylon. He will be my ‘arm of might’ against the Babylonians!
Indeed, I will pay back the Babylonians for every wrong they have done. Great kings from many other nations will conquer the mighty Babylonians and will even make slaves of them.’ ”
Raise the war cry against her from all sides. She surrenders! The attackers have broken down her fortifications and walls. This is Yahweh’s vengeance! Take revenge on her. Do to them what they did to others.
Yahweh has stirred up a spirit of hostility in the king of the Medes because Yahweh’s plan is to destroy Babylon. This is Yahweh’s revenge for destroying his temple. “Sharpen the arrows; fill up your quivers!
With you I overpowered shepherds and flocks, with you I devastated plowmen and animals that pull the plow, and with you I crushed governors and officials.”
Let the people of Zion say, “May the violence done to our people fall upon Babylon!” Let Jerusalem say, “May the Chaldeans pay for the crime of shedding my blood!”
An enemy has come to destroy Babylon. They have captured Babylon’s soldiers and broken their bows into pieces. For Yahweh is a God of recompense; he never fails to repay.
Rejoice over her, O heaven You apostles and prophets and holy believers, rejoice! For on your behalf God pronounced the judgment against her that she wanted to bring upon you!”
They cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Sovereign Lord, holy and dependable, how long before you judge those who live on the earth and vindicate our blood on them?”