1 Yahweh says:
"Behold, I will raise up against Babylon,
and against those who dwell in Lebkamai, a destroying wind.
2 I will send to Babylon strangers, who will winnow her.
They will empty her land;
for in the day of trouble they will be against her all around.
3 Against him who bends, let the archer bend his bow,
also against him who lifts himself up in his coat of mail.
Don’t spare her young men!
Utterly destroy all her army!
4 They will fall down slain in the land of the Chaldeans,
and thrust through in her streets.
5 For Israel is not forsaken, nor Judah, by his God,
by Yahweh of Armies;
though their land is full of guilt against the Holy One of Israel.
6 "Flee out of the middle of Babylon!
Everyone save his own life!
Don’t be cut off in her iniquity,
for it is the time of Yahweh’s vengeance.
He will render to her a recompense.
7 Babylon has been a golden cup in Yahweh’s hand,
who made all the earth drunk.
The nations have drunk of her wine;
therefore the nations have gone mad.
8 Babylon has suddenly fallen and been destroyed!
Wail for her!
Take balm for her pain.
Perhaps she may be healed.
9 "We would have healed Babylon,
but she is not healed.
Forsake her,
and let’s each go into his own country;
for her judgment reaches to heaven,
and is lifted up even to the skies.
10 ‘Yahweh has produced our righteousness.
Come, and let’s declare in Zion the work of Yahweh our God.’
11 "Make the arrows sharp!
Hold the shields firmly!
Yahweh has stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes,
because his purpose is against Babylon, to destroy it;
for it is the vengeance of Yahweh,
the vengeance of his temple.
12 Set up a standard against the walls of Babylon!
Make the watch strong!
Set the watchmen,
and prepare the ambushes;
for Yahweh has both purposed and done
that which he spoke concerning the inhabitants of Babylon.
13 You who dwell on many waters, abundant in treasures,
your end has come, the measure of your covetousness.
14 Yahweh of Armies has sworn by himself, saying,
‘Surely I will fill you with men,
as with locusts,
and they will lift up a shout against you.’
15 "He has made the earth by his power.
He has established the world by his wisdom.
By his understanding he has stretched out the heavens.
16 When he utters his voice,
there is a roar of waters in the heavens,
and he causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth.
He makes lightning for the rain,
and brings the wind out of his treasuries.
17 "Every man has become stupid and without knowledge.
Every goldsmith is disappointed by his image,
for his molten images are falsehood,
and there is no breath in them.
18 They are vanity,
a work of delusion.
In the time of their visitation, they will perish.
19 The portion of Jacob is not like these,
for he formed all things,
including the tribe of his inheritance.
Yahweh of Armies is his name.
20 "You are my battle ax and weapons of war.
With you I will break the nations into pieces.
With you I will destroy kingdoms.
21 With you I will break in pieces
the horse and his rider.
22 With you I will break in pieces
the chariot and him who rides therein.
With you I will break in pieces
man and woman.
With you I will break in pieces
the old man and the youth.
With you I will break in pieces
the young man and the virgin.
23 With you I will break in pieces
the shepherd and his flock.
With you I will break in pieces
the farmer and his yoke.
With you I will break in pieces
governors and deputies.
24 "I will render to Babylon and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea all their evil that they have done in Zion in your sight," says Yahweh.
25 "Behold, I am against you, destroying mountain," says Yahweh,
"which destroys all the earth.
I will stretch out my hand on you,
roll you down from the rocks,
and will make you a burned mountain.
26 They won’t take a cornerstone from you,
nor a stone for foundations;
but you will be desolate forever," says Yahweh.
27 "Set up a standard in the land!
Blow the trumpet among the nations!
Prepare the nations against her!
Call together against her the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz!
Appoint a marshal against her!
Cause the horses to come up as the swarming locusts!
28 Prepare against her the nations,
the kings of the Medes, its governors, and all its deputies, and all the land of their dominion!
29 The land trembles and is in pain;
for the purposes of Yahweh against Babylon stand,
to make the land of Babylon a desolation, without inhabitant.
30 The mighty men of Babylon have stopped fighting,
they remain in their strongholds.
Their might has failed.
They have become as women.
Her dwelling places are set on fire.
Her bars are broken.
31 One runner will run to meet another,
and one messenger to meet another,
to show the king of Babylon that his city is taken on every quarter.
32 So the passages are seized.
They have burned the reeds with fire.
The men of war are frightened."
33 For Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel says:
"The daughter of Babylon is like a threshing floor at the time when it is trodden.
Yet a little while, and the time of harvest comes for her."
34 "Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon has devoured me.
He has crushed me.
He has made me an empty vessel.
He has, like a monster, swallowed me up.
He has filled his mouth with my delicacies.
He has cast me out.
35 May the violence done to me and to my flesh be on Babylon!"
the inhabitant of Zion will say; and,
"May my blood be on the inhabitants of Chaldea!"
will Jerusalem say.
36 Therefore Yahweh says:
"Behold, I will plead your cause,
and take vengeance for you.
I will dry up her sea,
and make her fountain dry.
37 Babylon will become heaps,
a dwelling place for jackals,
an astonishment, and a hissing,
without inhabitant.
38 They will roar together like young lions.
They will growl as lions’ cubs.
39 When they are inflamed, I will make their feast,
and I will make them drunk,
that they may rejoice,
and sleep a perpetual sleep,
and not wake up," says Yahweh.
40 "I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter,
like rams with male goats.
41 "How Sheshach is taken!
How the praise of the whole earth is seized!
How Babylon has become a desolation among the nations!
42 The sea has come up on Babylon.
She is covered with the multitude of its waves.
43 Her cities have become a desolation,
a dry land, and a desert,
a land in which no man dwells.
No son of man passes by it.
44 I will execute judgment on Bel in Babylon,
and I will bring out of his mouth that which he has swallowed up.
The nations will not flow any more to him.
Yes, the wall of Babylon will fall.
45 "My people, go away from the middle of her,
and each of you save yourselves from Yahweh’s fierce anger.
46 Don’t let your heart faint.
Don’t fear for the news that will be heard in the land.
For news will come one year,
and after that in another year news will come,
and violence in the land,
ruler against ruler.
47 Therefore behold, the days come that I will execute judgment on the engraved images of Babylon;
and her whole land will be confounded.
All her slain will fall in the middle of her.
48 Then the heavens and the earth,
and all that is therein,
will sing for joy over Babylon;
for the destroyers will come to her from the north," says Yahweh.
49 "As Babylon has caused the slain of Israel to fall,
so the slain of all the land will fall at Babylon.
50 You who have escaped the sword, go!
Don’t stand still!
Remember Yahweh from afar,
and let Jerusalem come into your mind."
51 "We are confounded
because we have heard reproach.
Confusion has covered our faces,
for strangers have come into the sanctuaries of Yahweh’s house."
52 "Therefore behold, the days come," says Yahweh,
"that I will execute judgment on her engraved images;
and through all her land the wounded will groan.
53 Though Babylon should mount up to the sky,
and though she should fortify the height of her strength,
yet destroyers will come to her from me," says Yahweh.
54 "The sound of a cry comes from Babylon,
and of great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans!
55 For Yahweh lays Babylon waste,
and destroys out of her the great voice!
Their waves roar like many waters.
The noise of their voice is uttered.
56 For the destroyer has come on her,
even on Babylon.
Her mighty men are taken.
Their bows are broken in pieces,
for Yahweh is a God of retribution.
He will surely repay.
57 I will make her princes, her wise men,
her governors, her deputies, and her mighty men drunk.
They will sleep a perpetual sleep,
and not wake up,"
says the King, whose name is Yahweh of Armies.
58 Yahweh of Armies says:
"The wide walls of Babylon will be utterly overthrown.
Her high gates will be burned with fire.
The peoples will labor for vanity,
and the nations for the fire;
and they will be weary."
59 The word which Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah the son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, when he went with Zedekiah the king of Judah to Babylon in the fourth year of his reign. Now Seraiah was chief quartermaster. 60 Jeremiah wrote in a book all the evil that should come on Babylon, even all these words that are written concerning Babylon. 61 Jeremiah said to Seraiah, "When you come to Babylon, then see that you read all these words, 62 and say, ‘Yahweh, you have spoken concerning this place, to cut it off, that no one will dwell in it, neither man nor animal, but that it will be desolate forever.’ 63 It will be, when you have finished reading this book, that you shall bind a stone to it, and cast it into the middle of the Euphrates. 64 Then you shall say, ‘Thus will Babylon sink, and will not rise again because of the evil that I will bring on her; and they will be weary.’"
Thus far are the words of Jeremiah.
1 耶和华这样说： "看哪！ 我必激动毁灭者的心， 去攻击巴比伦和住在立加米的人。
2 我必打发外族人去巴比伦簸扬它， 扬净它的地； 在它遭祸的日子， 他们必从四围攻击它。
3 不要容拉弓的拉他的弓， 也不要容战士穿上盔甲站起来； 不要顾惜巴比伦的年轻人， 要把它的全军灭绝。
4 它的全军必在迦勒底人的地被杀倒下， 在它的街道上被刺死。"
5 虽然以色列和犹大境内（"以色列和犹大境内"或译： "巴比伦境内"）充满了违背以色列圣者的罪恶， 以色列和犹大却不会被他们的 神万军之耶和华遗弃。
6 你仍要从巴比伦境内逃出来， 各自逃命！ 不要因它的罪孽灭亡； 因为这是耶和华报复的时候， 他必向巴比伦施行应得的报应。
7 巴比伦曾是耶和华手中的金杯， 使全地都喝醉； 列国喝了它的酒， 就都疯狂乱性。
8 巴比伦必突然倾覆毁灭， 你们要为它哀号！ 拿乳香来消除它的痛楚， 也许可以治好它。
9 我们本想医治巴比伦， 但它没有治好。我们离开它， 各归本地去吧！ 因为它的刑罚极大， 上达于天， 直到云霄。
10 耶和华已为我们伸冤； 来吧！ 我们要在锡安宣扬耶和华我们 神的作为。
11 你们要磨尖箭头， 拿起盾牌（"拿起盾牌"《七十士译本》译作"装满箭袋"）； 耶和华定意要毁灭巴比伦， 所以激动玛代诸王的心； 这是耶和华的报复， 就是为他的殿而施行的报复。
12 你们要竖起旗帜， 攻击巴比伦的城墙， 并要加强防卫， 设立防哨， 布下埋伏； 因为耶和华不但定意， 也必作成他攻击巴比伦居民的话。
13 你这住在众水旁， 多有财宝的啊！ 你的结局到了， 你被剪除的时刻到了。
14 万军之耶和华指着自己起誓， 说： "我必使敌人充满你， 像蝗虫一样布满你的全地， 他们必对你发出胜利的吶喊。"
15 耶和华用自己的能力创造了大地， 用自己的智慧坚立了世界， 又用自己的聪明展开了诸天。
16 他一发声， 空中诸水就澎湃； 他使云雾从地极上腾； 他造了闪电和雷雨， 又使风从他的仓库里吹出来。
17 人人都是顽梗无知； 所有的金匠都因偶像羞愧， 因为他们铸造的像都是虚假， 没有气息。
18 偶像都是虚无的， 是荒谬可笑的作品； 到了讨罪的时候， 它们必被除灭。
19 那作雅各产业的并不像这些偶像， 因为他是万物的创造者； 以色列是属他的民族， 万军之耶和华是他的名。
20 耶和华说： "你是我的铁锤， 作我的兵器； 我用你们打碎列国， 用你毁灭万邦。
21 我用你打碎战马和骑马的， 用你打碎战车和坐战车的。
22 我用你打碎男人和妇女， 用你打碎老年人和少年人， 用你打碎少男和少女。
23 我用你打碎牧人和他的羊群， 用你打碎农夫和他的耕牛， 用你打碎省长和总监。
24 "但我必在你们眼前报复巴比伦和迦勒底所有的居民在锡安所作的一切恶事。"这是耶和华的宣告。
25 "行毁灭的山哪， 就是毁灭全地的山哪！ 我要和你作对， 我要伸手攻击你， 使你从山岩上滚下来， 使你成为烧毁了的山。"这是耶和华的宣告。
26 "人必不从你那里取石头作房角石， 也不从你那里取石头作基石， 因为你必永远荒凉。"这是耶和华的宣告。
27 "你们要在地上竖起旗帜， 在列国中吹号角， 使列国作好准备攻击巴比伦， 把亚拉腊、米尼、亚实基拿等国召来攻击她， 又指派元帅来攻击她， 使马匹像蝗虫汹涌上来。
28 你们要使列国作好准备攻击她， 使玛代诸王， 和她的省长、总监， 以及他们辖下各地的人民都作好准备攻击她。
29 大地震动翻腾， 因为耶和华攻击巴比伦所定的旨意立定不移， 要使巴比伦的地荒凉， 没有人居住。
30 巴比伦的勇士停止作战， 留在堡垒里面； 他们的勇士消退， 变成像妇人一样软弱。巴比伦的房屋被火焚烧， 她的门闩都被折断。
31 驿卒一个接一个跑来， 报信的也相继而至， 向巴比伦王报告， 他的京城已经完全被攻取了。
32 渡口已经被占据了， 生满芦苇的沼泽也被火烧了， 军兵都惊慌失措。"
33 因为万军之耶和华以色列的 神这样说： "巴比伦城（"城"原文作"女子"）好像正被踹平的禾场， 再过片时， 她被收割的时候就到了。"
34 以色列人说： "巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒吞灭了我们， 使我们十分混乱， 又使我们成为空的器皿； 他像怪兽把我们吞下， 他的肚塞满了我们的美物， 他却把我们吐出去。"
35 锡安的居民要说： "愿巴比伦以强暴待我们（"我们"或译： "我和我骨肉之亲"）的罪归到巴比伦身上。"耶路撒冷要说： "愿流我血的罪归到迦勒底的居民身上。"
36 因此， 耶和华这样说： "看哪！ 我必为你的案件申诉， 为你报仇； 我必使巴比伦的河水枯竭， 使它们的水源干涸。
37 巴比伦必变成乱堆， 成为野狗的巢穴， 成为令人惊骇和嗤笑的对象， 没有人居住。
38 巴比伦人必像少壮狮子一起吼叫， 又像幼狮咆哮。
39 他们食欲大动的时候， 我必为他们摆设筵席， 使他们喝醉， 狂欢乱叫， 然后永远沉睡， 不再醒来（这是耶和华的宣告）。
40 我必使他们像羊羔， 像公绵羊和公山羊一样下到屠宰之地。
41 示沙克怎么竟被攻取！ 全地所称赞的怎么竟被占领！ 巴比伦在列国中怎么竟成了令人惊骇的对象！
42 大海上涨漫过巴比伦， 它被汹涌的波浪淹没。
43 它的城镇变为荒凉， 成为干旱的地和沙漠， 没有人住在里面， 也没有人经过。
44 我必惩罚巴比伦的彼勒， 使它从口中吐出它所吞噬的； 列国必不再归附它， 巴比伦的城墙也倒塌了。
45 我的子民哪！ 你们要从它那里出来， 各自逃命， 躲避耶和华的烈怒。
46 你们不要心惊胆怯， 也不要因在境内听到的谣言惧怕； 因为今年有谣言传来， 明年也会有谣言传来， 境内有强暴的事， 官长互相攻击。
47 因此， 你看， 日子快到， 我必惩罚巴比伦的偶像； 巴比伦全地都必蒙羞， 所有被刺杀的人都必倒在境内。
48 那时天地和其中的一切， 都必因巴比伦的倾覆欢呼， 因为行毁灭的要从北方来攻击她。"这是耶和华的宣告。
49 "巴比伦必因以色列被刺杀的人而倒下， 就如全地被刺杀的人因巴比伦而倒下。
50 那些已逃脱了刀剑的人哪！ 走吧！ 不要站着， 要从远方记念耶和华， 心中惦念耶路撒冷。
51 我们因听见辱骂而蒙羞， 满面惭愧； 因为外族人进入了耶和华殿的圣所。
52 因此， 看哪！ 日子快到， 这是耶和华的宣告。我必惩罚巴比伦的偶像， 在巴比伦全境到处都有被刺伤的人在唉哼。
53 即使巴比伦升到天上， 即使它在高处建造难以进侵的堡垒， 但必有行毁灭的从我这里去攻击它。"这是耶和华的宣告。
54 "听啊！ 有哀号的声音从巴比伦传出， 有大毁灭的声音从迦勒底人的地发出。
55 因为耶和华正在毁灭巴比伦， 使城中喧闹的声音灭绝。敌军好像洪水， 波浪澎湃， 发出吶喊的声音。
56 因为有一位行毁灭的来攻击巴比伦， 巴比伦的勇士被擒住， 他们的弓弩折断了， 因为耶和华是报应的 神， 他必报复巴比伦。
57 我必使巴比伦的领袖和智慧人， 省长、总监和勇士都喝醉， 永远沉睡， 不再醒来。"这是君王的宣告， 万军之耶和华是他的名。
58 万军之耶和华这样说： "巴比伦宽阔的城墙必被夷为平地， 它高大的城门必被焚烧； 万民所劳碌的都必成空， 万族所辛劳的都付诸一炬。"
59 犹大王西底家执政的第四年， 玛西雅的孙子、尼利亚的儿子西莱雅和王同去巴比伦的时候， 耶利米先知有话吩咐西莱雅， 他是掌管住宿事务的官员。
60 耶利米把一切将要临到巴比伦的灾祸， 就是这一切论到巴比伦的话， 都写在一卷书上。
61 耶利米对西莱雅说： "你到了巴比伦以后， 一定要宣读这一切话，
62 然后你要说： ‘耶和华啊！ 论到这地方， 你曾经亲自说过要把它剪除， 使这地永远荒凉， 没有人畜居住。’
63 你宣读完这书卷以后， 要把一块石头和书拴在一起， 丢进幼发拉底河里，
64 然后说： ‘巴比伦必因耶和华（"耶和华"原文作"我"）所要降给它的灾祸， 照样沉下去， 不再浮上来； 它的人民也必灭没。’"耶利米的话到此为止。