Further Judgment on Babylonia
1 The Lord says, “I am bringing a destructive wind against Babylonia and its people. 2 I will send foreigners to destroy Babylonia like a wind that blows straw away. When that day of destruction comes, they will attack from every side and leave the land bare. 3 Don't give its soldiers time to shoot their arrows or to put on their armor. Do not spare the young men! Destroy the whole army! 4 They will be wounded and die in the streets of their cities. 5 I, the Lord God Almighty, have not abandoned Israel and Judah, even though they have sinned against me, the Holy One of Israel. 6 Run away from Babylonia! Run for your lives! Do not be killed because of Babylonia's sin. I am now taking my revenge and punishing it as it deserves. 7 Babylonia was like a gold cup in my hand, making the whole world drunk. The nations drank its wine and went out of their minds. 8 Babylonia has suddenly fallen and is destroyed! Mourn over it! Get medicine for its wounds, and maybe it can be healed. 9 Foreigners living there said, ‘We tried to help Babylonia, but it was too late. Let's leave now and go back home. God has punished Babylonia with all his might and has destroyed it completely.’”
10 The Lord says, “My people shout, ‘The Lord has shown that we are in the right. Let's go and tell the people in Jerusalem what the Lord our God has done.’”
11 The Lord has stirred up the kings of Media, because he intends to destroy Babylonia. That is how he will take revenge for the destruction of his Temple.
The attacking officers command, “Sharpen your arrows! Get your shields ready! 12 Give the signal to attack Babylon's walls. Strengthen the guard! Post the sentries! Place troops in ambush!”
The Lord has done what he said he would do to the people of Babylonia. 13 That country has many rivers and rich treasures, but its time is up, and its thread of life is cut. 14 The Lord Almighty has sworn by his own life that he will bring many men to attack Babylonia like a swarm of locusts, and they will shout with victory.
A Hymn of Praise to God
15 The Lord made the earth by his power;
by his wisdom he created the world
and stretched out the heavens.
16 At his command the waters above the sky roar;
he brings clouds from the ends of the earth.
He makes lightning flash in the rain
and sends the wind from his storeroom.
17 At the sight of this, people feel stupid and senseless;
those who make idols are disillusioned
because the gods they make are false and lifeless.
18 They are worthless and should be despised;
they will be destroyed when the Lord comes to deal with them.
19 The God of Jacob is not like them;
he is the one who made everything,
and he has chosen Israel to be his very own people.
The Lord Almighty is his name.
The Lord's Hammer
20 The Lord says,
“Babylonia, you are my hammer, my weapon of war.
I used you to crush nations and kingdoms,
21 to shatter horses and riders,
to shatter chariots and their drivers,
22 to kill men and women,
to slay old and young,
to kill boys and girls,
23 to slaughter shepherds and their flocks,
to slaughter farmers and their plow horses,
to crush rulers and high officials.”
Babylonia's Punishment
24 The Lord says, “You will see me repay Babylonia and its people for all the evil they did to Jerusalem. 25 Babylonia, you are like a mountain that destroys the whole world, but I, the Lord, am your enemy. I will take hold of you, level you to the ground, and leave you in ashes. 26 None of the stones from your ruins will ever be used again for building. You will be like a desert forever. I, the Lord, have spoken.
27 “Give the signal to attack! Blow the trumpet so that the nations can hear! Prepare the nations for war against Babylonia! Tell the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz to attack. Appoint an officer to lead the attack. Bring up the horses like a swarm of locusts. 28 Prepare the nations for war against Babylonia. Send for the kings of Media, their leaders and officials, and the armies of all the countries they control. 29 The earth trembles and shakes because the Lord is carrying out his plan to make Babylonia a desert, where no one lives. 30 The Babylonian soldiers have stopped fighting and remain in their forts. They have lost their courage and have become helpless. The city gates are broken down, and the houses are on fire. 31 Messenger after messenger runs to tell the king of Babylonia that his city has been broken into from every side. 32 The enemy have captured the river crossing and have set the fortresses on fire. The Babylonian soldiers have panicked. 33 Soon the enemy will cut them down and trample them like grain on a threshing place. I, the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, have spoken.”
34 The king of Babylonia cut Jerusalem up
and ate it.
He emptied the city like a jar;
like a monster he swallowed it.
He took what he wanted
and threw the rest away.
35 Let the people of Zion say,
“May Babylonia be held responsible
for the violence done to us!”
Let the people of Jerusalem say,
“May Babylonia be held responsible
for what we have suffered!”
The Lord Will Help Israel
36 And so the Lord said to the people of Jerusalem, “I will take up your cause and will make your enemies pay for what they did to you. I will dry up the source of Babylonia's water and make its rivers go dry. 37 That country will become a pile of ruins where wild animals live. It will be a horrible sight; no one will live there, and all who see it will be terrified. 38 The Babylonians all roar like lions and growl like lion cubs. 39 Are they greedy? I will prepare them a feast and make them drunk and happy. They will go to sleep and never wake up. 40 I will take them to be slaughtered, like lambs, goats, and rams. I, the Lord, have spoken.”
Babylon's Fate
41 The Lord says about Babylon: “The city that the whole world praised has been captured! What a horrifying sight Babylon has become to the nations! 42 The sea has rolled over Babylon and covered it with roaring waves. 43 The towns have become a horrifying sight and are like a waterless desert, where no one lives or even travels. 44 I will punish Bel, the god of Babylonia, and make him give up his stolen goods; the nations will not worship him any more.
“Babylon's walls have fallen. 45 People of Israel, run away from there! Run for your life from my fierce anger. 46 Do not lose courage or be afraid because of the rumors you hear. Every year a different rumor spreads—rumors of violence in the land and of one king fighting another. 47 And so the time is coming when I will deal with Babylonia's idols. The whole country will be put to shame, and all its people will be killed. 48 Everything on earth and in the sky will shout for joy when Babylonia falls to the people who come from the north to destroy it. 49 Babylonia caused the death of people all over the world, and now Babylonia will fall because it caused the death of so many Israelites. I, the Lord, have spoken.”
God's Message to the Israelites in Babylonia
50 The Lord says to his people in Babylonia: “You have escaped death! Now go! Don't wait! Though you are far from home, think about me, your Lord, and remember Jerusalem. 51 You say, ‘We've been disgraced and made ashamed; we feel completely helpless because foreigners have taken over the holy places in the Temple.’ 52 So then, I say that the time is coming when I will deal with Babylon's idols, and the wounded will groan throughout the country. 53 Even if Babylon could climb to the sky and build a strong fortress there, I would still send people to destroy it. I, the Lord, have spoken.”
Further Destruction on Babylon
54 The Lord says,
“Listen to the sound of crying in Babylon,
of mourning for the destruction in the land.
55 I am destroying Babylon
and putting it to silence.
The armies rush in like roaring waves
and attack with noisy shouts.
56 They have come to destroy Babylon;
its soldiers are captured,
and their bows are broken.
I am a God who punishes evil,
and I will treat Babylon as it deserves.
57 I will make its rulers drunk—
men of wisdom, leaders, and soldiers.
They will go to sleep and never wake up.
I, the king, have spoken;
I am the Lord Almighty.
58 The walls of mighty Babylon will be thrown to the ground,
and its towering gates burned down.
The work of the nations is all for nothing;
their efforts go up in flames.
I, the Lord Almighty, have spoken.”
Jeremiah's Message Is Sent to Babylonia
59 King Zedekiah's personal attendant was Seraiah, the son of Neriah and grandson of Mahseiah. In the fourth year that Zedekiah was king of Judah, Seraiah was going to Babylonia with him, and I gave him some instructions. 60 I wrote in a book an account of all the destruction that would come on Babylonia, as well as all these other things about Babylonia. 61 I told Seraiah, “When you get to Babylon, be sure to read aloud to the people everything that is written here. 62 Then pray, ‘Lord, you have said that you would destroy this place, so that there would be no living creatures in it, neither people nor animals, and it would be like a desert forever.’ 63 Seraiah, when you finish reading this book to the people, then tie it to a rock and throw it into the Euphrates River 64 and say, ‘This is what will happen to Babylonia—it will sink and never rise again because of the destruction that the Lord is going to bring on it.’”
The words of Jeremiah end here.
Bābeles sodīšana par grēku pret Israēlu
1 Tā saka Kungs:
“Redzi, es musināšu pret Bābeli
un pret Lev-Kamī iemītniekiem
postītāja garu!
2 Es sūtīšu uz Bābeli vētītājus,
un tie viņu vētīs,
viņi izlaupīs tās zemi,
kad ļaunā dienā
sanāks tai visapkārt!
3 Loka šāvējs nepaspēs atvilkt loku,
nedz apvilks kāds savas bruņas!
Netaupiet viņas jaunekļus,
ziedojiet nīcībai visu tās pulku!
4 Nokauti viņi kritīs kaldiešu zemē,
caururbti – viņas ielās.”
5 Bet Israēls un Jūda nepaliks atraitnēs
sava Dieva, Pulku Kunga, dēļ –
kaut viņu zeme ir pilna grēka
pret Israēla Svēto!
6 Bēdziet no Bābeles,
visi savu dzīvību glābiet,
neaizejiet bojā viņas vainas dēļ,
jo šis Kungam ir atriebes laiks,
viņš atmaksā un atdara!
7 Zelta kauss, kas apdzirda visu zemi,
bija Bābele Kunga rokā,
no tās vīna tautas dzēra,
tādēļ trakoja tautas!
8 “Piepeši Bābele krita,
sagrāva to, –
kauciet par viņu,
uzklājiet balzamu viņas brūcēm –
varbūt sadzīs!”
9 “Mēs būtu Bābeli dziedinājuši,
bet viņa dziedēties neļāvās,
pametam viņu un ejam
katrs uz savu zemi,
jo līdz debesīm sniedzas tās spriedums,
tas pacelts līdz padebešiem!”
10 Kungs pats licis mūsu taisnībai nākt,
ejiet un stāstiet Ciānā
par Dieva, mūsu Kunga, darbu!
11 Asiniet bultas, piebāziet bultmakus,
Kungs ir samusinājis Mēdijas ķēniņu garu,
jo viņa nodoms pret Bābeli,
lai to izpostītu,
jo tā ir Kunga atriebība,
atriebība par viņa templi!
12 Pret Bābeles mūriem karogus slejiet,
pastipriniet sardzi,
nolieciet sargus,
ietaisiet slēpņus –
jo Kungs darījis, ko nolēmis,
ko sacījis par Bābeles iemītniekiem!
13 Tu, kas pie daudzajiem ūdeņiem mīti,
kam dārgumu daudz,
tev pienāks gals,
mērs tavai netaisnībai!
14 Zvērēja pats Pulku Kungs:
“Es tevi pildīšu ļaudīm kā siseņiem,
un tie skandēs par tevi vīnspaida dziesmu!”
15 Viņš taisīja zemi
ar savu spēku
un nostiprināja cietzemi
ar savu prātu un gudrību,
viņš izpleta debesis!
16 Kad viņš ceļ balsi –
krāc debesu ūdeņi!
Viņš ceļ garaiņus no zemes galiem,
zibeņo lietū,
un no savām krātuvēm atnes vēju!
17 Dumjš ir cilvēks – bez zināšanas,
apkaunots zeltkalis ar saviem elku tēliem,
jo meli ir viņa lējumi
un tajos nav gara!
18 Tie ir tukšība,
smiekla darbs,
kad tos piemeklēs,
tad tie ies bojā!
19 Ne tāda ir Jēkaba daļa,
jo visu veidoja viņš!
Un Israēls ir viņa mantojuma cilts!
Viņa vārds ir – Pulku Kungs!
Israēls ir Dieva ierocis
20 “Tu esi mana milna,
mans kara rīks!
Ar tevi es sadragāšu tautas,
ar tevi es nopostīšu ķēniņvalstis!
21 Ar tevi es sadragāšu zirgu un jātnieku,
ar tevi es sadragāšu ratus un braucēju!
22 Ar tevi es sadragāšu vīru un sievu,
ar tevi es sadragāšu veci un zēnu,
ar tevi es sadragāšu puisi un meitu!
23 Ar tevi es sadragāšu ganu un ganāmpulku,
ar tevi es sadragāšu zemnieku un pajūgu,
ar tevi es sadragāšu pārvaldniekus un vietvalžus!
Bābelei nolemtais gals
24 Es atdarīšu Bābelei
un visiem kaldiešiem
visu ļaunumu, ko jūsu acu priekšā
viņi darīja Ciānā!”
saka Kungs.
25 “Redzi, es pret tevi, postītājkaln,”
saka Kungs,
“kas izposti visu zemi,
pret tevi es izstiepšu savu roku,
noripināšu tevi no klintīm,
izdedzināšu tevi!
26 Un no tevis neņems
ne akmeni stūrim,
ne akmeni pamatam,
jo uz mūžiem tu būsi izpostīts!”
saka Kungs.
27 Celiet virs zemes karogu,
pūtiet starp tautām ragu,
svētiet pret viņu tautas,
sasauciet pret viņu ķēniņvalstis –
Arāratu, Minnī un Aškanazu,
norīkojiet pret viņu pavēlnieku,
slejiet pret viņu zirgus kā siseņu pulku!
28 Svētiet pret viņu tautas –
Mēdijas ķēniņus,
pārvaldniekus, vietvalžus
un visas zemes, kurās tie valda!
29 Drebēs zeme un kauks,
jo Kunga nodomi par Bābeli nu piepildās,
lai padarītu Bābeles zemi par postažu,
kur nemīt neviens!
30 Bābeles varoņi cīnoties izsīkuši,
mūros nolīduši,
izkaltis viņu spēks,
par sievām palikuši,
viņu mājokļi nosvilināti,
uzlauzti aizšaujamie!
31 Skrējējs pret skrējēju skrien,
vēstnesis pret vēstnesi,
lai Bābeles ķēniņam pavēstītu,
ka viņa pilsēta ieņemta no visām pusēm!
32 Pieejas viņi ieņēma,
aizslietņus ar uguni nodedzināja,
un karavīri zaudēja drosmi!
33 Jo tā saka Pulku Kungs, Israēla Dievs:
“Bābeles meita ir
kā klons kulšanas laikā!
Vēl mirklis, un ražas laiks klāt!”
34 “Rija mani, sveilēja mani
Bābeles ķēniņš Nebūkadnecars,
nolika mani kā iztemptu trauku,
rija mani kā nezvērs,
ar maniem kārumiem pildīja savu māgu,
mani izlaistīja!
35 Varasdarbi pret manu miesu – nu Bābelei!”
saka Ciānā mītošā,
“un manas asinis – pār kaldiešiem tagad!”
saka Jeruzāleme.
36 Tādēļ tā saka Kungs:
“Redzi, es tavu strīdu izstrīdēšu,
atriebšu tavu atriebšanu,
es viņas jūru nosusināšu,
es viņas avotu izkaltēšu!
37 Bābele kļūs par drupām,
par šakāļu midzeni un šausmām – to izsmies,
neviens tur nemitīs!
38 Un viņi rēks kā lauvas,
ņurdēs kā lauvēni!
39 Kad tie būs iekarsuši,
es tiem rīkošu dzīres
un piedzirdīšu, lai līksmo,
lai aizmieg mūža miegā
un nepamostas! –
saka Kungs.
40 Es viņus novedīšu uz kaušanu
kā jērus, kā aunus, kā āžus!
41 Redzi, kā ieņemta Šēšaha,
sagūstīta visas zemes slava!
Redzi, kā par šausmām kļuvusi
starp tautām Bābele!
42 Nāca pār Bābeli jūra,
apklāja to, krākdama viļņus!
43 Viņas pilsētas kļuva par izpostījumu,
par izkaltušu zemi, par kailatni,
par zemi, kur nemīt neviens,
ko nešķērso cilvēka dēls!
44 Es piemeklēšu Bābeles Bēlu,
izraušu tam no žokļiem aprīto,
un pie viņa vairs neplūdīs tautas!
Arī Bābeles mūri ir krituši!
45 Mana tauta,
ej projām no tās,
glāb savu dzīvību
no Kunga dusmu kvēles! –
46 kamēr vēl jūsu sirds nav tapusi mīksta un jūs neesat nobijušies no baumām, ko dzird pa visu zemi! Un nākamo gadu baumos atkal, visā zemē būs varasdarbi, un valdnieks pret valdnieku ies!
47 Tādēļ, redzi, nāk dienas,
kad es piemeklēšu Bābeles elkus!
Visa tās zeme būs kaunā,
viņas vidū nokautie gulēs!
48 Debesis un zeme,
un visi, kas tajā,
Bābeli apdziedās,
jo no ziemeļiem
pret viņu postītājs nācis! –
saka Kungs.
49 Kā Bābele lika krist
Israēlā nokautajiem,
tā pašai Bābelei kritīs nokautie
pa visu zemi!
50 Kas no zobena paglābāties,
ejiet, nestāviet,
iztālēm Kungu pieminiet,
Jeruzālemi sirdī paturiet!
51 Mēs esam apkaunoti,
izsmieklu dzirdējām,
negods klāja mums vaigu,
jo svešinieki nāca
pār Kunga nama svētvietām!”
52 “Tādēļ, redzi, nāk dienas,”
saka Kungs,
“kad es piemeklēšu tās elkus
un visā tās zemē vaidēs ievainotie.
53 Kaut Bābele slējās debesīs,
kaut varenos augstumos mūrus cēla –
no manis nāks pār to postītāji!”
saka Kungs.
54 Kliedziena balss no Bābeles
un liels posts no kaldiešu zemes!
55 Jo Kungs nīcina Bābeli,
izdeldē skaļo balsi, –
kā vareni ūdeņi viļņi krāc,
šalkas – to balss!
56 Jo nāca pār viņu,
pār Bābeli, postītājs,
sagrābti viņas varoņi,
salauzti viņu loki,
jo Kungs ir atmaksas Dievs,
atdarīt atdarīs!
57 “Es piedzirdīšu tās augstmaņus un gudros, tās pārvaldniekus un vietvalžus, un tās varoņus – tie aizmigs mūža miegā un nemodīsies,” saka Ķēniņš, Pulku Kungs ir viņa vārds.
58 Tā saka Pulku Kungs:
“Bābeles mūri ir biezi,
taču noplēst noplēsīs!
Tās vārti ir augsti,
ar uguni nosvilinās!
Tautas par velti strādāja,
ciltis priekš uguns pūlējās!”
Jeremija dod uzdevumu Serājam
59 Tie ir vārdi, ko pravietis Jeremija pavēlēja Serājam, Nērijas dēlam, Mahsējas dēlam, kad viņš kopā ar Jūdas ķēniņu Cedekiju devās uz Bābeli ceturtajā viņa valdīšanas gadā. Serāja bija nometnes pavēlnieks. 60 Un Jeremija rakstīja grāmatā visu to ļaunumu, kas nāks pār Bābeli, visus šos vārdus, kuri rakstīti par Bābeli. 61 Jeremija teica Serājam: “Kad tu nonāksi Bābelē, pielūko, ka tu izlasi visus šos vārdus, 62 un tad saki: Kungs, tu runāji par šo vietu, lai iznīdētu tās iemītniekus no cilvēka līdz zvēram, jo tā kļūs par mūžīgu izpostījumu! 63 Kad tu beigsi lasīt šo grāmatu, piesien tai akmeni un iemet Eifrātā! 64 Un saki: tā nogrims Bābele un neuzpeldēs ļaunuma dēļ, ko es nesu pār to. Viņi pagurs!”
Līdz šejienei – Jeremijas vārdi.
