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.
1 以下是耶和华借耶利米先知论到巴比伦， 就是迦勒底人的地所说的话。
2 "你们要在列国中传扬和宣告， 要竖起旗帜宣扬， 不可隐瞒， 说： ‘巴比伦被攻取了！ 彼勒蒙羞， 米罗达惊慌； 巴比伦的神像都蒙羞， 它的偶像都惊慌。’
3 因为有一个国家从北方来攻击它， 使它的地荒凉； 没有人在那里居住， 人畜都逃跑无踪。
4 到那些日子、那时候（这是耶和华的宣告）， 以色列人必和犹大人一同来， 边走边哭， 要寻找耶和华他们的 神。
5 他们要询问往锡安的路， 又面向锡安， 说： ‘来吧！ 我们要以那永不可忘记的约与耶和华连合。’
6 我的子民成了迷失的羊， 他们的牧人使他们走错了路， 使他们在山上徘徊； 他们从大山走到小山， 忘记了他们安歇之处。
7 所有遇见他们的都吞吃他们； 他们的敌人说： ‘我们没有罪， 因为他们得罪了耶和华， 那真正的居所； 耶和华是他们列祖的盼望。’
8 我的子民哪！ 你们要从巴比伦中间逃跑， 从迦勒底人的地出来； 要像公山羊走在羊群前面。
9 因为， 看哪！ 我必激动强国从北方之地联群而来， 攻击巴比伦； 他们要列阵攻打巴比伦； 巴比伦就必被攻取。他们的箭必像善战的勇士， 不会空手而回。
10 迦勒底必成为掠物， 掳掠它的都必心满意足。"这是耶和华的宣告。
11 "抢夺我产业的啊！ 你们虽然欢喜快乐， 像踹谷的小牛跳跃， 像雄壮的马嘶叫；
12 但你们的母亲必极度羞愧， 生你们的必受耻辱。看哪！ 她要在列国中沦为最弱小的， 成为旷野、旱地、沙漠。"
13 因耶和华的烈怒， 巴比伦必没有人居住， 完全荒废； 每一个住过巴比伦的， 都必因这地遭受的一切创伤而惊骇， 并且嗤笑它。
14 所有拉弓的啊！ 你们要在巴比伦四围列阵； 射箭攻击它， 不要吝啬箭枝， 因为它得罪了耶和华。
15 你们要在它的四周吶喊攻击它； 它投降了， 它城墙的支柱倒塌了， 它的城墙拆毁了。因为这是耶和华的报复； 你们要向巴比伦报复， 它怎样待人， 你们也要怎样待它。
16 你们要把播种的， 和在收割的时候手持镰刀的， 都从巴比伦剪除； 因为欺压者的刀剑， 他们各人必归回自己的本族， 各自逃回自己的故乡。
17 以色列是被赶散的羊， 它被狮子赶逐。先是亚述王把它吞灭， 现在巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒要咬碎它的骨头。
18 因此， 万军之耶和华 神这样说： "看哪！ 我必惩罚巴比伦王和他的国土， 像我以前惩罚亚述王一样，
19 我必领以色列回到它的牧场， 它必在迦密和巴珊吃草， 又在以法莲山地和基列地吃得饱足。
20 到那些日子， 那时候， 人要寻查以色列的罪孽， 却无所发现； 要查究犹大的罪恶， 却一无所见； 因为我必赦免我留下的那些人。"这是耶和华的宣告。
21 "你们要攻击米拉大翁的地， 上去攻击她， 又攻击比割的居民， 屠杀他们， 把他们彻底消灭， 照着我吩咐你们的一切执行。"这是耶和华的宣告。
22 境内有战争的声音， 和极大的毁灭。
23 击打全地的大锤， 怎么被砍断毁掉！ 巴比伦在列国中， 怎么成了令人惊骇的对象呢！
24 "巴比伦哪！ 我设下网罗捉拿你， 你被捉住， 仍不自觉； 你被发现， 也被抓住， 因为你和耶和华争斗。"
25 耶和华打开了自己的军械库， 拿出他忿怒的武器； 因为主万军之耶和华在迦勒底人的地有事要作。
26 你们要从四面八方攻击巴比伦， 打开它的谷仓， 把它堆起来好像堆谷物一样； 把它彻底消灭， 什么都不留下。
27 要击杀它所有的公牛， 使他们下去被屠杀！ 他们有祸了！ 因为他们的日子， 就是他们受惩罚的时候， 来到了。
28 听哪！ 从巴比伦的地逃出得以脱险的人， 在锡安述说耶和华我们 神的报复， 就是为他的殿而施行的报复。
29 "要召集弓箭手去攻击巴比伦， 要召集所有拉弓的； 要在巴比伦的四围安营攻击它， 不容一人逃脱。要照着它的所作所为报应它， 它怎样待人， 你们也要怎样待它； 因它狂傲地敌对耶和华， 与以色列的圣者为敌。
30 所以， 它的年轻人必仆倒在它的街道上， 到那一天， 它所有的战士都必被消灭。"这是耶和华的宣告。
31 "傲慢的人哪！ 我必敌对你（这是主万军之耶和华的宣告）， 因为你的日子， 就是我惩罚你的时候， 来到了。
32 那傲慢的必绊跌仆倒， 没有人扶他起来； 我必在他的城镇中放火， 吞灭他四围的一切。"
33 万军之耶和华这样说： "以色列人被压迫， 犹大人也一样受到欺压； 所有俘掳他们的都紧紧抓住他们， 不肯释放他们。
34 但他们的救赎主大有能力， 万军之耶和华是他的名； 他必认真地为他们的案件申辩， 好使那地得到安宁， 却使巴比伦的居民惶乱不安。
35 刀剑必攻击迦勒底人， 攻击巴比伦的居民， 攻击它的领袖和智慧人。"这是耶和华的宣告。
36 "刀剑必攻击胡说八道的假先知， 他们必变成愚昧； 刀剑必攻击它的勇士， 他们必惊惶失措；
37 刀剑必攻击它的马匹和战车， 攻击它境内所有外族的人， 他们必像妇女一样柔弱； 刀剑必攻击它的一切宝库， 它们必被抢掠；
38 刀剑（"刀剑"按照《马索拉抄本》应作"干旱"； 现参照《七十士译本》翻译）必攻击它的河流， 它们必干涸； 因为这是偶像的地， 人必因可怕的偶像迷失本性。
39 旷野的走兽和豺狼必住在那里， 鸵鸟也必住在其中； 那地永远再没有人居住， 世世代代不再有人住在那里，
40 就像 神倾覆的所多玛、蛾摩拉， 和它们邻近的城镇一样； 必没有人住在那里， 也必没有人在那里寄居。"这是耶和华的宣告。
41 "看哪！ 有一个民族从北方而来， 有一大国和许多君王被激动， 从地极来到。
42 他们紧握弓和枪， 性情残忍， 毫无怜悯； 他们的声音像海洋怒吼； 巴比伦的居民哪！ 他们骑着战马， 在战场上如同一人， 列阵攻击你们。
43 巴比伦王听了有关他们的消息， 手就发软； 痛苦紧紧抓住他， 他疼痛好像正在生产的妇人。
44 看哪！ 狮子怎样从约旦河边的丛林走上来， 攻击常绿的牧场， 照样， 我必在眨眼之间把巴比伦赶走， 使它离开这地； 谁蒙拣选， 我就派谁治理这地。谁能和我相比呢？谁可以把我传来审讯呢？哪一个牧人能在我面前站立得住呢？"
45 因此， 你们要听耶和华筹谋对付巴比伦的计划， 和他为了攻击迦勒底人的地所定下的策略。他们羊群中最小的也必被拉去， 他们的牧场也必因临到它们的灾祸而荒废。
46 因巴比伦陷落的响声， 地就震动； 列国都听见它的哀叫声。