Babylon's Capture
1 This is the message that the Lord gave me about the city of Babylon and its people:
2 “Tell the news to the nations! Proclaim it!
Give the signal and announce the news!
Do not keep it a secret!
Babylon has fallen!
Her god Marduk has been shattered!
Babylon's idols are put to shame;
her disgusting images are crushed!
3 “A nation from the north has come to attack Babylonia and will make it a desert. People and animals will run away, and no one will live there.”
Israel's Return
4 The Lord says, “When that time comes, the people of both Israel and Judah will come weeping, looking for me, their God. 5 They will ask the way to Zion and then go in that direction. They will make an eternal covenant with me and never break it.
6 “My people are like sheep whose shepherds have let them get lost in the mountains. They have wandered like sheep from one mountain to another, and they have forgotten where their home is. 7 They are attacked by all who find them. Their enemies say, ‘They sinned against the Lord, and so what we have done is not wrong. Their ancestors trusted in the Lord, and they themselves should have remained faithful to him.’
8 “People of Israel, run away from Babylonia! Leave the country! Be the first to leave! 9 I am going to stir up a group of strong nations in the north and make them attack Babylonia. They will line up in battle against the country and conquer it. They are skillful hunters, shooting arrows that never miss the mark. 10 Babylonia will be looted, and those who loot it will take everything they want. I, the Lord, have spoken.”
Babylon's Fall
11 The Lord says, “People of Babylonia, you plundered my nation. You are happy and glad, going about like a cow threshing grain or like a neighing horse, 12 but your own great city will be humiliated and disgraced. Babylonia will be the least important nation of all; it will become a dry and waterless desert. 13 Because of my anger no one will live in Babylon; it will be left in ruins, and all who pass by will be shocked and amazed.
14 “Archers, line up for battle against Babylon and surround it. Shoot all your arrows at Babylon, because it has sinned against me, the Lord. 15 Raise the war cry all around the city! Now Babylon has surrendered. Its walls have been broken through and torn down. I am taking my revenge on the Babylonians. So take your revenge on them, and treat them as they have treated others. 16 Do not let seeds be planted in that country nor let a harvest be gathered. Every foreigner living there will be afraid of the attacking army and will go back home.”
Israel's Return
17 The Lord says, “The people of Israel are like sheep, chased and scattered by lions. First, they were attacked by the emperor of Assyria, and then King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia gnawed on their bones. 18 Because of this, I, the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, will punish King Nebuchadnezzar and his country, just as I punished the emperor of Assyria. 19 I will restore the people of Israel to their land. They will eat the food that grows on Mount Carmel and in the region of Bashan, and they will eat all they want of the crops that grow in the territories of Ephraim and Gilead. 20 When that time comes, no sin will be found in Israel and no wickedness in Judah, because I will forgive those people whose lives I have spared. I, the Lord, have spoken.”
God's Judgment on Babylonia
21 The Lord says, “Attack the people of Merathaim and of Pekod. Kill and destroy them. Do everything I command you. I, the Lord, have spoken. 22 The noise of battle is heard in the land, and there is great destruction. 23 Babylonia hammered the whole world to pieces, and now that hammer is shattered! All the nations are shocked at what has happened to that country. 24 Babylonia, you fought against me, and you have been caught in the trap I set for you, even though you did not know it. 25 I have opened the place where my weapons are stored, and in my anger I have taken them out, because I, the Sovereign Lord Almighty, have work to do in Babylonia. 26 Attack it from every side and break open the places where its grain is stored! Pile up the loot like piles of grain! Destroy the country! Leave nothing at all! 27 Kill all their soldiers! Slaughter them! The people of Babylonia are doomed! The time has come for them to be punished!”
( 28 Refugees escape from Babylonia and come to Jerusalem, and they tell how the Lord our God took revenge for what the Babylonians had done to his Temple.)
29 “Tell the archers to attack Babylon. Send out everyone who knows how to use the bow and arrow. Surround the city and don't let anyone escape. Pay it back for all it has done, and treat it as it has treated others, because it acted with pride against me, the Holy One of Israel. 30 So its young men will be killed in the city streets, and all its soldiers will be destroyed on that day. I, the Lord, have spoken.
31 “Babylonia, you are filled with pride, so I, the Sovereign Lord Almighty, am against you! The time has come for me to punish you. 32 Your proud nation will stumble and fall, and no one will help you up. I will set your cities on fire, and everything around will be destroyed.”
33 The Lord Almighty says, “The people of Israel and of Judah are oppressed. All who captured them are guarding them closely and will not let them go. 34 But the one who will rescue them is strong—his name is the Lord Almighty. He himself will take up their cause and will bring peace to the earth, but trouble to the people of Babylonia.”
35 The Lord says,
“Death to Babylonia!
Death to its people,
to its rulers, to its people of wisdom.
36 Death to its lying prophets—
what fools they are!
Death to its soldiers—
how terrified they are!
37 Destroy its horses and chariots!
Death to its hired soldiers—
how weak they are!
Destroy its treasures;
plunder and loot.
38 Bring a drought on its land
and dry up its rivers.
Babylonia is a land of terrifying idols
that have made fools of the people.
39 “And so Babylon will be haunted by demons and evil spirits, and by unclean birds. Never again will people live there, not for all time to come. 40 The same thing will happen to Babylon that happened to Sodom and Gomorrah, when I destroyed them and the nearby towns. No one will ever live there again. I, the Lord, have spoken.
41 “People are coming from a country in the north,
a mighty nation far away;
many kings are preparing for war.
42 They have taken their bows and swords;
they are cruel and merciless.
They sound like the roaring sea,
as they ride their horses.
They are ready for battle against Babylonia.
43 The king of Babylonia hears the news,
and his hands hang limp.
He is seized by anguish,
by pain like a woman in labor.
44 “Like a lion coming out of the thick woods along the Jordan up to the green pasture land, I, the Lord, will come and make the Babylonians run away suddenly from their city. Then the leader I choose will rule the nation. Who can be compared to me? Who would dare challenge me? What ruler could oppose me? 45 So listen to the plan that I have made against the city of Babylon and to what I intend to do to its people. Even their children will be dragged off, and everyone will be horrified. 46 When Babylon falls, there will be such a noise that the entire earth will shake, and the cries of alarm will be heard by the other nations.”
Vēstījums par Bābeli
1 Vārds, ko caur pravieti Jeremiju Kungs runāja par Bābeli, par kaldiešu zemi:
2 “Tautām stāstiet,
lai dzird,
celiet karogu,
lai dzird, neslēpiet!
Sakiet: ieņemta Bābele, apkaunots Bēls!
Satriekts Merodahs!
Apkaunoti tās tēli, satriekti dievekļi!
3 Jo pār viņu nāk tauta no ziemeļiem,
tie pataisa viņas zemi par postažu,
tur neviens nemitīs,
gan cilvēks, gan zvērs – klīdīs un aizies!
4 Tajās dienās un laikā,
saka Kungs,
nāks Israēla dēli un Jūdas dēli –
raudādami nāktin nāks
un meklēs Kungu, savu Dievu!
5 Uz Ciānu tie prasīs ceļu,
vaigu uz Jeruzālemi griezīs:
nākam un esam pie Kunga klāt,
pie mūžīgas derības, kas aizmirsta netiks! –
6 Mana tauta bija pazudušas avis,
viņu gani tās aizvīla no kalniem –
tie gāja no kalna uz augstienēm,
aizmirsa savu mājokli!
7 Ikviens, kas tos atrada, tos rija,
un viņu naidnieki teica:
vainu mēs neuzņemamies,
jo viņi pret Kungu grēkoja,
pret taisnības mājokli
un viņu tēvu cerību Kungu! –
8 Bēdziet! Klīstiet no Bābeles prom
un no kaldiešu zemes!
Ejiet un esiet kā auni,
kas iet pa priekšu avju pulkam!
9 Jo, redzi, es musinu un lieku pret Bābeli nākt
milzu tautu pulkam no ziemeļu zemes,
no turienes tie sataisīsies pret viņu un ieņems,
viņu bultas ir kā varoņi vīri –
tukšā neatgriezīsies!
10 Un kaldieši kļūs par laupījumu,
visi, kas laupīs, gūs sāta,
saka Kungs.
11 Kaut jūs priecājaties,
kaut līksmojat,
mana mantojuma laupītāji,
kā teles spriņģojat,
kā zirgi zviedzat,
12 jūsu māte tiks apkaunota,
pievilsies jūsu radītāja!
Redzi, pēdējā starp tautām,
tuksnesis, izkaltusi zeme un kailatne!
13 Kunga niknuma dēļ tur neviens nemitīs,
viņa visa par izpostījumu kļūs!
Katrs, kas ies cauri Bābelei,
šausmināsies un svilps par viņas brūcēm!
14 Taisieties, ielenciet Bābeli!
Visi, kas spēj atvilkt loku,
šaujiet uz viņu, netaupiet bultas,
jo pret Kungu tā grēkojusi!
15 Kliedziet par viņu visapkārt!
Viņa atdeva savu roku,
viņas pīlāri nogāzušies,
noplēsti viņas mūri!
Tā ir Kunga atriebība!
Atriebiet tai,
dariet viņai, kā darīja viņa!
16 Iznīdējiet Bābelē sējējus
un ražas laikā tos, kas tver sirpi!
Ikviens atgriezīsies pie savas tautas
zobena dēļ, kas apspiež ikkatru,
ikviens aizbēgs uz savu zemi!
17 Israēls ir izdzenātas avis,
ko trenca lauvas –
vispirms viņu rija Asīrijas ķēniņš,
tagad Bābeles ķēniņš Nebūkadnecars
skrubina kaulus!
18 Tādēļ tā saka Pulku Kungs, Israēla Dievs: redzi, es piemeklēšu Bābeles ķēniņu un viņa zemi tāpat, kā es piemeklēju Asīrijas ķēniņu! 19 Es atvedīšu Israēlu atpakaļ uz viņa ganībām, tas ganīsies Karmelā un Bāšānā, Efraima kalnos un Gileādā viņa dvēsele gūs sātu. 20 Tajās dienās un laikā, saka Kungs, tiks meklēta Israēla vaina, bet neatradīs, un Jūdas grēks, bet neatradīsies! Jo es piedošu tiem, kurus atstāšu!
21 Uz Meratajimas zemi ejiet!
Pie Pekoda iemītniekiem!
Kaujiet un nīdējiet tos,
saka Kungs,
un dariet visu, ko es jums pavēlēju!
22 Šaizemē kara balss
un liels posts!
23 Redzi, kā sasists un sadauzīts
visas zemes āmurs!
Redzi, kā kļuvusi par šausmām
starp tautām Bābele!
24 Es izliku tev cilpas, un tu tiki noķerta, Bābele,
un tu to nezināji,
tu tiki satverta,
jo Kungu tu izaicināji!
25 Kungs atvēra savu krātuvi
un ņēma savas dusmības ieročus, –
tāds ir darbs Kungam, Pulku Kungam,
kaldiešu zemē!
26 Nāciet pret viņu no visām malām,
atveriet viņas klētis,
pārlāpstojiet viņu kā labību
un nopostiet to,
lai viņai nekā nepaliek!
27 Kaujiet visus tās vēršus,
lai tie noiet uz kaušanu!
Vai tiem! Jo pienāca viņu diena laikā,
kad tie ir piemeklēti!
28 No Bābeles zemes glābjas un bēg,
kliedz, stāsta Ciānā
par Kunga, mūsu Dieva, atriebību,
atriebību par viņa templi!
29 Sasauciet pret Bābeli loka šāvējus,
visus, kas spēj novilkt loku,
lai satupst viņai visapkārt,
ka neviens neizbēg!
Atdariet viņai par viņas darbiem,
visu, ko viņa darīja,
to dariet viņai,
jo pret Kungu tā iedrošinājās,
pret Israēla Svēto!
30 Tādēļ viņas jaunekļi kritīs ielās
un visi viņas karavīri todien tiks iznīdēti!” saka Kungs.
31 “Redzi, es pret tevi, tu uzpūtīgā,”
saka Kungs, Pulku Kungs,
“tava diena ir pienākusi
un tavas piemeklēšanas laiks!
32 Klups uzpūtīgā un kritīs,
neviens to nepiecels,
es viņas pilsētās aizdegšu uguni,
un tā rīs tai visapkārt!
33 Tā saka Pulku Kungs:
apspiesti Israēla dēli
kopā ar Jūdas dēliem,
visi viņu gūstītāji tos pārspēkojuši –
liedz tiem iet projām.
34 Viņu Izpircējs ir spēcīgs!
Pulku Kungs ir viņa vārds!
Strīdēt viņš izstrīdēs viņu strīdu,
lai šī zeme rimtu,
bet Bābeles iemītnieki trūktos!
35 Zobens pār kaldiešiem,
saka Kungs,
un pār Bābeles iemītniekiem,
un pār tās augstmaņiem,
un pār tās gudrajiem.
36 Zobens pār pļāpukulēm,
tie paliks muļķos,
zobens pār viņas varoņiem,
tie aizies bojā!
37 Zobens pār zirgiem un ratiem
un pār visām jauktajām tautām,
kas kopā ar viņu cīnās,
tie kļūs par sievām!
Zobens pār viņas dārgumiem,
tos nolaupīs!
38 Zobens pār viņas ūdeņiem,
tie izsīks! – Jo tā ir elku zeme,
un savu briesmekļu dēļ
tie paliks traki!
39 Tādēļ tur mitīs plēsoņas, šakāļi
un strausu mātītes,
nemūžam neviens tur vairs nemitīs
un nepiemitīs līdz paaudžu paaudzei!
40 Kā Dievs apgrieza otrādi Sodomu un Gomoru un blakuspilsētas,
saka Kungs,
tā neviens tur vairs nemitīs,
nepiemitīs tur cilvēka dēls!
41 Redzi, nāk tauta no ziemeļiem,
liela tauta un daudzi ķēniņi
no zemes tālumiem dodas šurp!
42 Loku un bozi tie tver,
tie ir cieti, tiem līdzjūtības nav,
viņu balss šņāc kā jūra,
uz zirgiem tie jāj,
jau sarindojušies kaujai
pret tevi, Bābeles meita!
43 Bābeles ķēniņš dzirdēja baumas par tiem,
viņam nošļuka rokas,
viņu sakampa sāpes
kā dzemdētāju.
44 Redzi, kā lauva viņš slienas
no Jardānas biezokņa uz viņas māju pļavām,
jo mirklī es likšu tiem skriet projām no tās,
un, kas tai ir izvēlēts, es nolikšu!
Jo kurš ir kā es un kas man norādīs?
Kurš ir tas gans, kas pastāvēs manā priekšā?”
45 Tādēļ klausieties Kunga padomu,
ko viņš dod Bābelei,
un viņa nodomus,
ko viņš par kaldiešu zemi ir lēmis –
vai tad nepatrenks avju jaunuļus,
vai tad neizdeldēs to pļavas?!
46 No trokšņa, Bābeli sagrābjot,
notrīcēs zeme,
un viņas kliedzienus
starp tautām dzirdēs!
