“Flee(A) out of Babylon;(B)
    leave the land of the Babylonians,
    and be like the goats that lead the flock.
For I will stir(C) up and bring against Babylon
    an alliance of great nations(D) from the land of the north.(E)
They will take up their positions against her,
    and from the north she will be captured.(F)
Their arrows(G) will be like skilled warriors
    who do not return empty-handed.
10 So Babylonia[a] will be plundered;(H)
    all who plunder her will have their fill,”
declares the Lord.

11 “Because you rejoice and are glad,
    you who pillage my inheritance,(I)
because you frolic like a heifer(J) threshing grain
    and neigh like stallions,
12 your mother will be greatly ashamed;
    she who gave you birth will be disgraced.(K)
She will be the least of the nations—
    a wilderness, a dry land, a desert.(L)
13 Because of the Lord’s anger she will not be inhabited
    but will be completely desolate.(M)
All who pass Babylon will be appalled;(N)
    they will scoff(O) because of all her wounds.(P)

14 “Take up your positions around Babylon,
    all you who draw the bow.(Q)
Shoot at her! Spare no arrows,(R)
    for she has sinned against the Lord.
15 Shout(S) against her on every side!
    She surrenders, her towers fall,
    her walls(T) are torn down.
Since this is the vengeance(U) of the Lord,
    take vengeance on her;
    do to her(V) as she has done to others.(W)
16 Cut off from Babylon the sower,
    and the reaper with his sickle at harvest.
Because of the sword(X) of the oppressor
    let everyone return to their own people,(Y)
    let everyone flee to their own land.(Z)

17 “Israel is a scattered flock(AA)
    that lions(AB) have chased away.
The first to devour(AC) them
    was the king(AD) of Assyria;
the last to crush their bones(AE)
    was Nebuchadnezzar(AF) king(AG) of Babylon.”

18 Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says:

“I will punish the king of Babylon and his land
    as I punished the king(AH) of Assyria.(AI)
19 But I will bring(AJ) Israel back to their own pasture,
    and they will graze on Carmel and Bashan;
their appetite will be satisfied(AK)
    on the hills(AL) of Ephraim and Gilead.(AM)
20 In those days, at that time,”
    declares the Lord,
“search will be made for Israel’s guilt,
    but there will be none,(AN)
and for the sins(AO) of Judah,
    but none will be found,
    for I will forgive(AP) the remnant(AQ) I spare.

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 50:10 Or Chaldea

Remove out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the he goats before the flocks.

For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country: and they shall set themselves in array against her; from thence she shall be taken: their arrows shall be as of a mighty expert man; none shall return in vain.

10 And Chaldea shall be a spoil: all that spoil her shall be satisfied, saith the Lord.

11 Because ye were glad, because ye rejoiced, O ye destroyers of mine heritage, because ye are grown fat as the heifer at grass, and bellow as bulls;

12 Your mother shall be sore confounded; she that bare you shall be ashamed: behold, the hindermost of the nations shall be a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert.

13 Because of the wrath of the Lord it shall not be inhabited, but it shall be wholly desolate: every one that goeth by Babylon shall be astonished, and hiss at all her plagues.

14 Put yourselves in array against Babylon round about: all ye that bend the bow, shoot at her, spare no arrows: for she hath sinned against the Lord.

15 Shout against her round about: she hath given her hand: her foundations are fallen, her walls are thrown down: for it is the vengeance of the Lord: take vengeance upon her; as she hath done, do unto her.

16 Cut off the sower from Babylon, and him that handleth the sickle in the time of harvest: for fear of the oppressing sword they shall turn every one to his people, and they shall flee every one to his own land.

17 Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones.

18 Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, as I have punished the king of Assyria.

19 And I will bring Israel again to his habitation, and he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan, and his soul shall be satisfied upon mount Ephraim and Gilead.

20 In those days, and in that time, saith the Lord, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve.

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