1 The word that the LORD spake against Babylon and against the land of the Chaldeans by Jeremiah the prophet. 2 Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and conceal not: say, Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, Merodach is broken in pieces; her idols are confounded, her images are broken in pieces. 3 For out of the north there cometh up a nation against her, which shall make her land desolate, and none shall dwell therein: they shall remove, they shall depart, both man and beast.
4 ¶ In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek the LORD their God. 5 They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying , Come, and let us join ourselves to the LORD in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten. 6 My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace. 7 All that found them have devoured them: and their adversaries said, We offend not, because they have sinned against the LORD, the habitation of justice, even the LORD, the hope of their fathers. 8 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.
9 ¶ 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.
21 ¶ Go up against the land of Merathaim, even against it, and against the inhabitants of Pekod: waste and utterly destroy after them, saith the LORD, and do according to all that I have commanded thee. 22 A sound of battle is in the land, and of great destruction. 23 How is the hammer of the whole earth cut asunder and broken! how is Babylon become a desolation among the nations! 24 I have laid a snare for thee, and thou art also taken, O Babylon, and thou wast not aware: thou art found, and also caught, because thou hast striven against the LORD. 25 The LORD hath opened his armoury, and hath brought forth the weapons of his indignation: for this is the work of the Lord GOD of hosts in the land of the Chaldeans. 26 Come against her from the utmost border, open her storehouses: cast her up as heaps, and destroy her utterly: let nothing of her be left. 27 Slay all her bullocks; let them go down to the slaughter: woe unto them! for their day is come, the time of their visitation. 28 The voice of them that flee and escape out of the land of Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God, the vengeance of his temple. 29 Call together the archers against Babylon: all ye that bend the bow, camp against it round about; let none thereof escape: recompense her according to her work; according to all that she hath done, do unto her: for she hath been proud against the LORD, against the Holy One of Israel. 30 Therefore shall her young men fall in the streets, and all her men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the LORD. 31 Behold, I am against thee, O thou most proud, saith the Lord GOD of hosts: for thy day is come, the time that I will visit thee. 32 And the most proud shall stumble and fall, and none shall raise him up: and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it shall devour all round about him.
33 ¶ Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The children of Israel and the children of Judah were oppressed together: and all that took them captives held them fast; they refused to let them go. 34 Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name: he shall throughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.
35 ¶ A sword is upon the Chaldeans, saith the LORD, and upon the inhabitants of Babylon, and upon her princes, and upon her wise men . 36 A sword is upon the liars; and they shall dote: a sword is upon her mighty men; and they shall be dismayed. 37 A sword is upon their horses, and upon their chariots, and upon all the mingled people that are in the midst of her; and they shall become as women: a sword is upon her treasures; and they shall be robbed. 38 A drought is upon her waters; and they shall be dried up: for it is the land of graven images, and they are mad upon their idols. 39 Therefore the wild beasts of the desert with the wild beasts of the islands shall dwell there , and the owls shall dwell therein: and it shall be no more inhabited for ever; neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation. 40 As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the LORD; so shall no man abide there, neither shall any son of man dwell therein. 41 Behold, a people shall come from the north, and a great nation, and many kings shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth. 42 They shall hold the bow and the lance: they are cruel, and will not shew mercy: their voice shall roar like the sea, and they shall ride upon horses, every one put in array, like a man to the battle, against thee, O daughter of Babylon. 43 The king of Babylon hath heard the report of them, and his hands waxed feeble: anguish took hold of him, and pangs as of a woman in travail. 44 Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan unto the habitation of the strong: but I will make them suddenly run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who is that shepherd that will stand before me? 45 Therefore hear ye the counsel of the LORD, that he hath taken against Babylon; and his purposes, that he hath purposed against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out: surely he shall make their habitation desolate with them. 46 At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth is moved, and the cry is heard among the 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!
