1 The word that Yahweh spoke concerning Babylon, concerning the land of the Chaldeans, by Jeremiah the prophet.
2 "Declare among the nations and publish,
and set up a standard;
publish, and don’t conceal;
say, ‘Babylon has been taken,
Bel is disappointed,
Merodach is dismayed!
Her images are disappointed.
Her idols are dismayed.’
3 For a nation comes up out of the north against her,
which will make her land desolate,
and no one will dwell in it.
They have fled.
They are gone,
both man and animal.
4 "In those days, and in that time," says Yahweh,
"the children of Israel will come,
they and the children of Judah together;
they will go on their way weeping,
and will seek Yahweh their God.
5 They will inquire concerning Zion with their faces turned toward it,
saying, ‘Come, and join yourselves to Yahweh in an everlasting covenant
that will not be forgotten.’
6 My people have 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 resting place.
7 All who found them have devoured them.
Their adversaries said, ‘We are not guilty,
because they have sinned against Yahweh,
the habitation of righteousness,
even Yahweh, the hope of their fathers.’
8 "Flee out of the middle of Babylon!
Go out of the land of the Chaldeans,
and be as the male goats before the flocks.
9 For, behold, I will stir up
and cause to come up against Babylon a company of great nations from the north country;
and they will set themselves in array against her.
She will be taken from there.
Their arrows will be as of an expert mighty man.
None of them will return in vain.
10 Chaldea will be a prey.
All who prey on her will be satisfied," says Yahweh.
11 "Because you are glad,
because you rejoice,
O you who plunder my heritage,
because you are wanton as a heifer that treads out the grain,
and neigh as strong horses,
12 your mother will be utterly disappointed.
She who bore you will be confounded.
Behold, she will be the least of the nations,
a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert.
13 Because of Yahweh’s wrath she won’t be inhabited,
but she will be wholly desolate.
Everyone who goes by Babylon will be astonished,
and hiss at all her plagues.
14 Set yourselves in array against Babylon all around,
all you who bend the bow;
shoot at her.
Spare no arrows,
for she has sinned against Yahweh.
15 Shout against her all around.
She has submitted herself.
Her bulwarks have fallen.
Her walls have been thrown down,
for it is the vengeance of Yahweh.
Take vengeance on her.
As she has done, do to her.
16 Cut off the sower from Babylon,
and him who handles the sickle in the time of harvest.
For fear of the oppressing sword,
they will each return to their own people,
and they will each flee to their own land.
17 "Israel is a hunted sheep.
The lions have driven him away.
First, the king of Assyria devoured him,
and now at last Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has broken his bones."
18 Therefore Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says:
"Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land,
as I have punished the king of Assyria.
19 I will bring Israel again to his pasture,
and he will feed on Carmel and Bashan.
His soul will be satisfied on the hills of Ephraim and in Gilead.
20 In those days, and in that time," says Yahweh,
"the iniquity of Israel will be sought for,
and there will be none,
also the sins of Judah,
and they won’t be found;
for I will pardon them whom I leave as a remnant.
21 "Go up against the land of Merathaim,
even against it, and against the inhabitants of Pekod.
Kill and utterly destroy after them," says Yahweh,
"and do according to all that I have commanded you.
22 A sound of battle is in the land,
and of great destruction.
23 How the hammer of the whole earth is cut apart and broken!
How Babylon has become a desolation among the nations!
24 I have laid a snare for you,
and you are also taken, Babylon,
and you weren’t aware.
You are found,
and also caught,
because you have fought against Yahweh.
25 Yahweh has opened his armory,
and has brought out the weapons of his indignation;
for the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, has a work to do in the land of the Chaldeans.
26 Come against her from the farthest border.
Open her storehouses.
Cast her up as heaps.
Destroy her utterly.
Let nothing of her be left.
27 Kill all her bulls.
Let them go down to the slaughter.
Woe to them! For their day has come,
the time of their visitation.
28 Listen to those who flee and escape out of the land of Babylon,
to declare in Zion the vengeance of Yahweh our God,
the vengeance of his temple.
29 "Call together the archers against Babylon,
all those who bend the bow.
Encamp against her all around.
Let none of it escape.
Pay her back according to her work.
According to all that she has done, do to her;
for she has been proud against Yahweh,
against the Holy One of Israel.
30 Therefore her young men will fall in her streets.
All her men of war will be brought to silence in that day," says Yahweh.
31 "Behold, I am against you, you proud one," says the Lord, Yahweh of Armies;
"for your day has come,
the time that I will visit you.
32 The proud one will stumble and fall,
and no one will raise him up.
I will kindle a fire in his cities,
and it will devour all who are around him."
33 Yahweh of Armies says: "The children of Israel and the children of Judah are oppressed together.
All who took them captive hold them fast.
They refuse to let them go.
34 Their Redeemer is strong.
Yahweh of Armies is his name.
He will thoroughly plead their cause,
that he may give rest to the earth,
and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.
35 "A sword is on the Chaldeans," says Yahweh,
"and on the inhabitants of Babylon,
on her princes,
and on her wise men.
36 A sword is on the boasters,
and they will become fools.
A sword is on her mighty men,
and they will be dismayed.
37 A sword is on their horses,
on their chariots,
and on all the mixed people who are in the middle of her;
and they will become as women.
A sword is on her treasures,
and they will be robbed.
38 A drought is on her waters,
and they will be dried up;
for it is a land of engraved images,
and they are mad over idols.
39 Therefore the wild animals of the desert
with the wolves will dwell there.
The ostriches will dwell therein.
It will be inhabited no more forever,
neither will it be lived in from generation to generation.
40 As when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and its neighbor cities," says Yahweh,
"so no man will dwell there,
neither will any son of man live therein.
41 "Behold, a people comes from the north.
A great nation and many kings will be stirred up from the uttermost parts of the earth.
42 They take up bow and spear.
They are cruel, and have no mercy.
Their voice roars like the sea.
They ride on horses,
everyone set in array,
as a man to the battle,
against you, daughter of Babylon.
43 The king of Babylon has heard the news of them,
and his hands become feeble.
Anguish has taken hold of him,
pains as of a woman in labor.
44 Behold, the enemy will come up like a lion
from the thickets of the Jordan against the strong habitation;
for I will suddenly make them run away from it.
Whoever is chosen,
I will appoint him over it,
for who is like me?
Who will appoint me a time?
Who is the shepherd who can stand before me?"
45 Therefore hear the counsel of Yahweh
that he has taken against Babylon;
and his purposes
that he has purposed against the land of the Chaldeans:
Surely they will drag them away,
even the little ones of the flock.
Surely he will make their habitation desolate over them.
46 The earth trembles at the noise of the taking of Babylon.
The cry is heard among the nations.
1 PALABRA que habló Jehová contra Babilonia, contra la tierra de los Caldeos, por mano de Jeremías profeta.
2 Denunciad en las gentes, y haced saber; levantad también bandera: publicad, y no encubráis: decid: Tomada es Babilonia, Bel es confundido, deshecho es Merodach; confundidas son sus esculturas, quebrados son sus ídolos.
3 Porque subió contra ella gente del aquilón, la cual pondrá su tierra en asolamiento, y no habrá ni hombre ni animal que en ella more: moviéronse, se fueron.
4 En aquellos días y en aquel tiempo, dice Jehová, vendrán los hijos de Israel, ellos y los hijos de Judá juntamente; é irán andando y llorando, y buscarán á Jehová su Dios.
5 Preguntarán por el camino de Sión, hacia donde volverán sus rostros, diciendo: Venid, y juntaos á Jehová con pacto eterno, que jamás se ponga en olvido.
6 Ovejas perdidas fueron mi pueblo: sus pastores las hicieron errar, por los montes las descarriaron: anduvieron de monte en collado, olvidáronse de sus majadas.
7 Todos los que los hallaban, los comían; y decían sus enemigos: No pecaremos, porque ellos pecaron á Jehová morada de justicia, á Jehová, esperanza de sus padres.
8 Huid de en medio de Babilonia, y salid de la tierra de los Caldeos, y sed como los mansos delante del ganado.
9 Porque he aquí que yo suscito y hago subir contra Babilonia reunión de grandes pueblos de la tierra del aquilón; y desde allí se aparejarán contra ella, y será tomada: sus flechas como de valiente diestro, que no se tornará en vano.
10 Y la Caldea será para presa: todos los que la saquearen, saldrán hartos, dice Jehová.
11 Porque os alegrasteis, porque os gozasteis destruyendo mi heredad, porque os henchisteis como becerra de renuevos, y relinchasteis como caballos;
12 Vuestra madre se avergonzó mucho, afrentóse la que os engendró; he aquí será la postrera de las gentes: desierto, sequedad, y páramo.
13 Por la ira de Jehová no será habitada, sino que asolada será toda ella; todo hombre que pasare por Babilonia se asombrará, y silbará sobre todas sus plagas.
14 Apercibíos contra Babilonia alrededor, todos los que entesáis arco; tirad contra ella, no escatiméis las saetas: porque pecó contra Jehová.
15 Gritad contra ella en derredor; dió su mano; caído han sus fundamentos, derribados son sus muros; porque venganza es de Jehová. Tomad venganza de ella; haced con ella como ella hizo.
16 Talad de Babilonia sembrador, y el que tiene hoz en tiempo de la siega: delante de la espada opresora cada uno volverá el rostro hacia su pueblo, cada uno huirá hacia su tierra.
17 Ganado descarriado es Israel; leones lo amontonaron: el rey de Asiria lo devoró el primero; este Nabucodonosor rey de Babilonia lo deshuesó el postrero.
18 Por tanto, así ha dicho Jehová de los ejércitos, Dios de Israel: He aquí que yo visito al rey de Babilonia y á su tierra como visité al rey de Asiria.
19 Y volveré á traer á Israel á su morada, y pacerá en el Carmelo y en Basán; y en el monte de Ephraim y de Galaad se hartará su alma.
20 En aquellos días y en aquel tiempo, dice Jehová, la maldad de Israel será buscada, y no parecerá; y los pecados de Judá, y no se hallarán: porque perdonaré á los que yo hubiere dejado.
21 Sube contra la tierra de Merathaim, contra ella, y contra los moradores de Pekod: destruye y mata en pos de ellos, dice Jehová, y haz conforme á todo lo que yo te he mandado.
22 Estruendo de guerra en la tierra, y quebrantamiento grande.
23 Cómo fué cortado y quebrado el martillo de toda la tierra! cómo se tornó Babilonia en desierto entre las gentes!
24 Púsete lazos, y aun fuiste tomada, oh Babilonia, y tú no lo supiste: fuiste hallada, y aun presa, porque provocaste á Jehová.
25 Abrió Jehová tu tesoro, y sacó los vasos de su furor: porque esta es obra de Jehová, Dios de los ejércitos, en la tierra de los Caldeos.
26 Venid contra ella desde el cabo de la tierra: abrid sus almacenes: hacedla montones, y destruidla: no le queden reliquias.
27 Matad todos sus novillos; vayan al matadero: ay de ellos! que venido es su día, el tiempo de su visitación.
28 Voz de los que huyen y escapan de la tierra de Babilonia, para dar las nuevas en Sión de la venganza de Jehová nuestro Dios, de la venganza de su templo.
29 Haced juntar sobre Babilonia flecheros, á todos los que entesan arco; asentad campo sobre ella alrededor; no escape de ella ninguno: pagadle según su obra; conforme á todo lo que ella hizo, haced con ella: porque contra Jehová se ensoberbeció, contra el Santo de Israel.
30 Por tanto sus mancebos caerán es sus plazas, y todos su hombres de guerra serán talados en aquel día, dice Jehová.
31 He aquí yo contra ti, oh soberbio, dice el Señor Jehová de los ejércitos: porque tu día es venido, el tiempo en que te visitaré.
32 Y el soberbio tropezará y caerá, y no tendrá quien lo levante: y encenderé fuego en sus ciudades, y quemaré todos sus alrededores.
33 Así ha dicho Jehová de los ejércitos: Oprimidos fueron los hijos de Israel y los hijos de Judá juntamente: y todos los que los tomaron cautivos, se los retuvieron; no los quisieron soltar.
34 El redentor de ellos es el Fuerte; Jehová de los ejércitos es su nombre: de cierto abogará la causa de ellos, para hacer quietar la tierra, y turbar los moradores de Babilonia.
35 Cuchillo sobre los Caldeos, dice Jehová, y sobre los moradores de Babilonia, y sobre sus príncipes, y sobre sus sabios.
36 Cuchillo sobre los adivinos, y se atontarán; cuchillo sobre sus valientes, y serán quebrantados.
37 Cuchillo sobre sus caballos, y sobre sus carros, y sobre todo el vulgo que está en medio de ella, y serán como mujeres: cuchillo sobre sus tesoros, y serán saqueados.
38 Sequedad sobre sus aguas, y secaránse: porque tierra es de esculturas, y en ídolos enloquecen.
39 Por tanto, allí morarán bestias monteses con lobos, morarán también en ella pollos de avestruz: y no más será poblada para siempre, ni se habitará de generación en generación.
40 Como en el trastornamiento de Dios á Sodoma y á Gomorra y á sus ciudades vecinas, dice Jehová, no morará allí hombre, ni hijo de hombre la habitará.
41 He aquí viene un pueblo del aquilón; y una nación grande, y muchos reyes se levantarán de los lados de la tierra.
42 Arco y lanza manejarán; serán crueles, y no tendrán compasión; su voz sonará como la mar, y montarán sobre caballos: apercibirse han como hombre á la pelea, contra ti, oh hija de Babilonia.
43 Oyó su fama el rey de Babilonia, y sus manos se descoyuntaron: angustia le tomó, dolor como de mujer de parto.
44 He aquí que como león subirá de la hinchazón del Jordán á la morada fuerte: porque muy pronto le haré correr de sobre ella, y al que fuere escogido la encargaré: porque ¿quién es semejante á mí? ¿y quién me emplazará? ¿ó quién será aquel pastor que me podrá resistir?
45 Por tanto, oid el consejo de Jehová, que ha acordado sobre Babilonia, y sus pensamientos que ha formado sobre la tierra de los Caldeos: Ciertamente los más pequeños del hato los arrastrarán, y destruirán sus moradas con ellos.
46 Del grito de la toma de Babilonia la tierra tembló, y el clamor se oyó entre las gentes.