Jeremiah 51 – Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

Yahweh Sends Calamity to Babylon

1 Thus ^H3541 says ^H559 Yahweh ^H3068:

“Behold ^H2009, I am going to arouse ^H5782 against ^H5921 Babylon ^H894

And against ^H413 the inhabitants ^H3427 of [fn]Leb-kamai ^H3820 H6965

[fn]The spirit ^H7307 of a destroyer ^H7843.

2 “I will send ^H7971 [fn]strangers ^H2114 to Babylon ^H894 that they may winnow ^H2219 her

And may empty ^H1238 her land ^H776 to destruction ^H1238;

For on every ^H5439 side ^H5439 they will be against ^H5921 her

In the day ^H3117 of her calamity ^H7451.

3 “[fn]Let not [fn]him who [fn]bends ^H1869 his bow ^H7198 [fn]bend ^H1869 it,

[fn]Nor ^H408 let him rise ^H5927 up ^H5927 in his scale-armor ^H5630;

So do not spare ^H2550 her young ^H970 men ^H970;

Devote ^H2763 all ^H3605 her army ^H6635 to ^H2763 destruction ^H2763.

4 “They will fall ^H5307 down ^H5307 [fn]slain ^H2491 in the land ^H776 of the Chaldeans ^H3778,

And pierced ^H1856 through ^H1856 in their streets ^H2351.”

5 For neither ^H3808 Israel ^H3478 nor ^H3808 Judah ^H3063 has been widowed ^H488

By his God ^H430, by Yahweh ^H3068 of hosts ^H6635,

Although ^H3588 their land ^H776 is full ^H4390 of guilt ^H817

[fn]Before ^H4480 the Holy ^H6918 One ^H6918 of Israel ^H3478.

6 Flee ^H5127 from the midst ^H8432 of Babylon ^H894,

And each ^H376 of you escape ^H4422 with his life ^H5315!

Do not be [fn]silenced ^H1826 in her [fn]iniquity ^H5771,

For this ^H1931 is Yahweh’s ^H3068 time ^H6256 of vengeance ^H5360;

He is going to render ^H7999 recompense ^H1576 to her.

7 Babylon ^H894 has been a golden ^H2091 cup ^H3563 in the hand ^H3027 of Yahweh ^H3068,

Intoxicating ^H7937 all ^H3605 the earth ^H776.

The nations ^H1471 have drunk ^H8354 of her wine ^H3196;

Therefore ^H5921 H3651 the nations ^H1471 are going ^H1984 mad ^H1984.

8 Suddenly ^H6597 Babylon ^H894 has fallen ^H5307 and been broken ^H7665;

Wail ^H3213 over ^H5921 her!

Take ^H3947 [fn]balm ^H6875 for her pain ^H4341;

Perhaps ^H194 she may be healed ^H7495.

9 We applied healing ^H7495 to Babylon ^H894, but she was not healed ^H7495;

Forsake ^H5800 her and let us each ^H376 go ^H1980 to his own country ^H776,

For her judgment ^H4941 has touched ^H5060 heaven ^H8064

And lifts ^H5375 up ^H5375 to the very skies ^H7834.

10 Yahweh ^H3068 has brought ^H3318 [fn]about ^H3318 our righteousness ^H6666;

Come ^H935 and let us recount ^H5608 in Zion ^H6726

The work ^H4639 of Yahweh ^H3068 our God ^H430!

11 Sharpen ^H1305 the arrows ^H2671, fill ^H4390 the quivers ^H7982!

Yahweh ^H3068 has aroused ^H5782 the spirit ^H7307 of the kings ^H4428 of the Medes ^H4074

Because ^H3588 His purpose ^H4209 is against ^H5921 Babylon ^H894 to destroy ^H7843 it;

For it is the vengeance ^H5360 of Yahweh ^H3068, vengeance ^H5360 for His temple ^H1964.

12 Lift ^H5375 up ^H5375 a standard ^H5251 against ^H413 the walls ^H2346 of Babylon ^H894;

Make ^H2388 strong ^H2388 the watch ^H4929;

Raise ^H6965 up ^H6965 [fn]watchmen ^H8104;

Establish ^H3559 men in ^H693 ambush ^H693!

For Yahweh ^H3068 has both ^H1571 purposed ^H2161 and performed ^H6213

What ^H834 He spoke ^H1696 concerning ^H413 the inhabitants ^H3427 of Babylon ^H894.

13 O you who dwell ^H7931 by abundant ^H7227 waters ^H4325,

Abundant ^H7227 in treasures ^H214,

Your end ^H7093 has come ^H935,

The [fn]measure ^H520 of your [fn]end ^H1215.

14 Yahweh ^H3068 of hosts ^H6635 has sworn ^H7650 by Himself ^H5315:

“Surely ^H3588 H518 I will fill ^H4390 you with a [fn]population ^H120 like locusts ^H3218,

And they will cry ^H6030 out ^H6030 with [fn]shouts ^H1959 of ^H1959 victory ^H1959 over ^H5921 you.”

15 It is He who made ^H6213 the earth ^H776 by His power ^H3581,

Who established ^H3559 the world ^H8398 by His wisdom ^H2451,

And by His understanding ^H8394 He stretched ^H5186 out ^H5186 the heavens ^H8064.

16 When He gives ^H5414 forth His voice ^H6963, there is a tumult ^H1995 of waters ^H4325 in the heavens ^H8064,

And He causes the clouds ^H5387 to ascend ^H5927 from the end ^H7097 of the earth ^H776;

He makes ^H6213 lightning ^H1300 for the rain ^H4306

And brings ^H3318 forth ^H3318 the wind ^H7307 from His storehouses ^H214.

17 All ^H3605 mankind ^H120 is ^H1197 senseless ^H1197, devoid ^H4480 of knowledge ^H1847;

Every ^H3605 goldsmith ^H6884 is put ^H954 to ^H954 shame ^H954 by his graven ^H6459 image ^H6459,

For his molten ^H5262 images ^H5262 are a lie ^H8267,

And there is no ^H3808 breath ^H7307 in them.

18 They are vanity ^H1892, a work ^H4639 of mockery ^H8595;

In the time ^H6256 of their punishment ^H6486 they will perish ^H6.

19 The portion ^H2506 of Jacob ^H3290 is not like these ^H428;

For the [fn]Maker ^H3335 of all ^H3605 is He,

And of the [fn]tribe ^H7626 of His inheritance ^H5159;

Yahweh ^H3068 of hosts ^H6635 is His name ^H8034.

20 He says, “You are My instrument of shattering ^H4661, My weapon ^H3627 of war ^H4421;

And with you I shatter ^H5310 nations ^H1471,

And with you I destroy ^H7843 kingdoms ^H4467.

21 “With you I shatter ^H5310 the horse ^H5483 and his rider ^H7392,

And with you I shatter ^H5310 the chariot ^H7393 and its rider ^H7392,

22 And with you I shatter ^H5310 man ^H376 and woman ^H802,

And with you I shatter ^H5310 old ^H2205 man ^H376 and youth ^H5288,

And with you I shatter ^H5310 choice ^H970 man ^H970 and virgin ^H1330,

23 And with you I shatter ^H5310 the shepherd ^H7462 and his flock ^H5739,

And with you I shatter ^H5310 the farmer ^H406 and his pair ^H6776 of oxen,

And with you I shatter ^H5310 governors ^H6346 and prefects ^H5461.

24 “But I will repay ^H7999 Babylon ^H894 and all ^H3605 the inhabitants ^H3427 of Chaldea ^H3778 for all ^H3605 their evil ^H7451 that they have done ^H6213 in Zion ^H6726 before your eyes ^H5869,” declares ^H5002 Yahweh ^H3068.

25 “Behold ^H2009, I am against ^H413 you, O destroying ^H4889 mountain ^H2022,

Who destroys ^H7843 the whole ^H3605 earth ^H776,” declares ^H5002 Yahweh ^H3068,

“And I will stretch ^H5186 out ^H5186 My hand ^H3027 against ^H5921 you

And roll ^H1556 you down ^H1556 from the crags ^H5553,

And I will make ^H5414 you a burnt ^H8316 out mountain ^H2022.

26 “They will not take ^H3947 from you even a stone ^H68 for a corner ^H6438

Nor ^H3808 a stone ^H68 for foundations ^H4144,

But you will be a perpetual ^H5769 desolation ^H8077,” declares ^H5002 Yahweh ^H3068.

27 Lift ^H5375 up ^H5375 a standard ^H5251 in the land ^H776,

Blow ^H8628 a trumpet ^H7782 among the nations ^H1471!

Set ^H6942 apart ^H6942 the nations ^H1471 against ^H5921 her;

Summon ^H8085 against ^H5921 her the kingdoms ^H4467 of Ararat ^H780, Minni ^H4508, and Ashkenaz ^H813;

Appoint ^H6485 a marshal ^H2951 against ^H5921 her;

Bring ^H5927 up ^H5927 the horses ^H5483 like bristly ^H5569 locusts ^H3218.

28 Set ^H6942 apart ^H6942 the nations ^H1471 against ^H5921 her,

The kings ^H4428 of the Medes ^H4074,

[fn]Their governors ^H6346 and all ^H3605 [fn]their [fn]prefects ^H5461

And every ^H3605 land ^H776 of [fn]their rule ^H4475.

29 So the land ^H776 quakes ^H7493 and writhes ^H2342,

For the purposes ^H4284 of Yahweh ^H3068 against ^H5921 Babylon ^H894 stand ^H6965,

To make ^H7760 the land ^H776 of Babylon ^H894

[fn]A desolation ^H8047 without ^H369 inhabitants ^H3427.

30 The mighty ^H1368 men ^H1368 of Babylon ^H894 have ceased ^H2308 fighting ^H3898;

They inhabit ^H3427 the strongholds ^H4679;

Their might ^H1369 is dried ^H5405 up;

They are becoming ^H1961 like women ^H802;

Their dwelling ^H4908 places ^H4908 are set ^H3341 on ^H3341 fire ^H3341;

The bars ^H1280 of her gates are broken ^H7665.

31 One runner ^H7323 runs ^H7323 to meet ^H7122 [fn]another ^H7323,

And one messenger ^H5046 to meet ^H7122 [fn]another ^H5046,

To give ^H5046 a message ^H5046 to the king ^H4428 of Babylon ^H894

That his city ^H5892 has been captured ^H3920 from end ^H7097 to end;

32 The fords ^H4569 also have been seized ^H8610,

And they have burned ^H8313 the marshes ^H98 with fire ^H784,

And the men ^H376 of war ^H4421 are terrified ^H926.

33 For thus ^H3541 says ^H559 Yahweh ^H3068 of hosts ^H6635, the God ^H430 of Israel ^H3478:

“The daughter ^H1323 of Babylon ^H894 is like a threshing ^H1637 floor ^H1637

At the time ^H6256 [fn]it is stamped ^H1869 firm ^H1869;

Yet ^H5750 in a little ^H4592 while ^H4592 the time ^H6256 of harvest ^H7105 will come ^H935 for her.”

34 “Nebuchadnezzar ^H5019 king ^H4428 of Babylon ^H894 has devoured ^H398 me and brought ^H2000 me into confusion ^H2000;

He has set ^H3322 me down ^H3322 like an empty ^H7386 vessel ^H3627;

He has swallowed ^H1104 me like a sea monster ^H8577;

He has filled ^H4390 his stomach ^H3770 with my delicacies ^H5730;

He has rinsed ^H1740 me away ^H1740.

35 “May the violence ^H2555 done to me and to my flesh ^H7607 be upon Babylon ^H894,”

The [fn]inhabitant ^H3427 of Zion ^H6726 will say ^H559;

And, “May my blood ^H1818 be upon the inhabitants ^H3427 of Chaldea ^H3778,”

Jerusalem ^H3389 will say ^H559.

36 Therefore ^H3651 thus ^H3541 says ^H559 Yahweh ^H3068,

“Behold ^H2009, I am going to plead ^H7378 your case ^H7379

And exact ^H5358 full ^H5360 vengeance ^H5360 for you;

And I will dry ^H2717 up ^H2717 her [fn]sea ^H3220

And make ^H3001 her fountain ^H4726 dry ^H3001.

37 “Babylon ^H894 will become ^H1961 a heap ^H1530 of ruins, a haunt ^H4583 of jackals ^H8565,

An object ^H8047 of ^H8047 horror ^H8047 and hissing ^H8322, without ^H369 inhabitants ^H3427.

38 “They will roar ^H7580 together ^H3162 like young ^H3715 lions ^H3715;

They will growl ^H5286 like lions’ ^H738 cubs ^H1484.

39 “When they become ^H2552 heated ^H2552 up, I will set ^H7896 before them their feast ^H4960

And make ^H7937 them drunk ^H7937, that they may exult ^H5937

And may sleep ^H3462 a perpetual ^H5769 sleep ^H8142

And not wake ^H3364 up,” declares ^H5002 Yahweh ^H3068.

40 “I will bring ^H3381 them down ^H3381 like [fn]lambs ^H3733 to the slaughter ^H2873,

Like rams ^H352 together ^H5973 with ^H5973 male ^H6260 goats ^H6260.

41 “How ^H349 [fn]Sheshak ^H8347 has been captured ^H3920,

And the praise ^H8416 of the whole ^H3605 earth ^H776 been seized ^H8610!

How ^H349 Babylon ^H894 has become ^H1961 an object ^H8047 of ^H8047 horror ^H8047 among the nations ^H1471!

42 “The [fn]sea ^H3220 has come ^H5927 up ^H5927 over ^H5921 Babylon ^H894;

She has been covered ^H3680 with its tumultuous ^H1995 waves ^H1530.

43 “Her cities ^H5892 have become ^H1961 an object ^H8047 of ^H8047 horror ^H8047,

A parched ^H6723 land ^H776, and a desert ^H6160,

A land ^H776 in which ^H2004 no ^H3808 H3605 man ^H376 lives ^H3427

And through which ^H2004 no ^H3808 son ^H1121 of man ^H120 passes ^H5674.

44 “I will punish ^H6485 Bel ^H1078 in Babylon ^H894,

And I will make what ^H1105 he has swallowed ^H1105 come ^H3318 out ^H3318 of his mouth ^H6310;

And the nations ^H1471 will no ^H3808 longer ^H5750 stream ^H5102 to him.

Even ^H1571 the wall ^H2346 of Babylon ^H894 has fallen ^H5307 down ^H5307!

45 “Come ^H3318 forth ^H3318 from her midst ^H8432, My people ^H5971,

And each ^H376 of you escape ^H4422 with his life ^H5315

From the burning ^H2740 anger ^H639 of Yahweh ^H3068.

46 “Now lest ^H6435 your heart ^H3824 grow ^H7401 faint ^H7401,

And you fear ^H3372 the report ^H8052 that will be heard ^H8085 in the land ^H776—

For the report ^H8052 will come ^H935 [fn]one year ^H8141,

And after ^H310 that [fn]another report ^H8052 in [fn]another year ^H8141,

And violence ^H2555 will be in the land ^H776

With ruler ^H4910 against ^H5921 ruler ^H4910—

47 Therefore ^H3651 behold ^H2009, days ^H3117 are coming ^H935

When I will punish ^H6485 the graven ^H6456 images ^H6456 of Babylon ^H894;

And her whole ^H3605 land ^H776 will be put ^H954 to ^H954 shame ^H954,

And all ^H3605 her slain ^H2491 will fall ^H5307 in her midst ^H8432.

48 “Then heaven ^H8064 and earth ^H776 and all ^H3605 that is in them

Will shout ^H7442 for ^H7442 joy ^H7442 over ^H5921 Babylon ^H894,

For the destroyers ^H7703 will come ^H935 to her from the north ^H6828,”

Declares ^H5002 Yahweh ^H3068.

49 Indeed ^H1571 Babylon ^H894 is to fall ^H5307 for the slain ^H2491 of Israel ^H3478,

As also ^H1571 for Babylon ^H894 the slain ^H2491 of all ^H3605 the earth ^H776 have fallen ^H5307.

50 You who ^H6412 have escaped ^H6412 the sword ^H2719,

Go ^H1980! Do not stand ^H5975 around!

Remember ^H2142 Yahweh ^H3068 from afar ^H7350,

And let Jerusalem ^H3389 come ^H5927 upon your heart ^H3824.

51 We are ^H954 ashamed ^H954 because ^H3588 we have heard ^H8085 reproach ^H2781;

Dishonor ^H3639 has covered ^H3680 our faces ^H6440,

For strangers ^H2114 have entered ^H935

The holy ^H4720 places ^H4720 of the house ^H1004 of Yahweh ^H3068.

52 “Therefore ^H3651 behold ^H2009, the days ^H3117 are coming ^H935,” declares ^H5002 Yahweh ^H3068,

“When I will punish ^H6485 her graven ^H6456 images ^H6456,

And the mortally ^H2491 wounded ^H2491 will groan ^H602 throughout ^H3605 her land ^H776.

53 “Though ^H3588 Babylon ^H894 should ascend ^H5927 to the heavens ^H8064,

And though ^H3588 she should fortify ^H1219 [fn]her lofty ^H4791 stronghold ^H5797,

From Me destroyers ^H7703 will come ^H935 to her,” declares ^H5002 Yahweh ^H3068.

54 The sound ^H6963 of an outcry ^H2201 from Babylon ^H894,

And of great ^H1419 destruction ^H7667 from the land ^H776 of the Chaldeans ^H3778!

55 For Yahweh ^H3068 is going to destroy ^H7703 Babylon ^H894,

And He will make ^H6 her loud ^H1419 [fn]noise ^H6963 [fn]vanish ^H6 from her.

And their waves ^H1530 will roar ^H1993 like many ^H7227 waters ^H4325;

The rumbling ^H7588 of their voices ^H6963 [fn]sounds ^H5414 forth ^H5414.

56 For the destroyer ^H7703 is coming ^H935 against ^H5921 her, against ^H5921 Babylon ^H894,

And her mighty ^H1368 men ^H1368 will be captured ^H3920;

Their bows ^H7198 are shattered ^H2865;

For Yahweh ^H3068 is a God ^H410 of recompense ^H1578,

He will fully ^H7999 repay ^H7999.

57 “I will make ^H7937 her princes ^H8269 and her wise ^H2450 men ^H2450 drunk ^H7937,

Her governors ^H6346, her prefects ^H5461, and her mighty ^H1368 men ^H1368,

That they may sleep ^H3462 a perpetual ^H5769 sleep ^H8142 and not wake ^H3364 up,”

Declares ^H5002 the King ^H4428, whose name ^H8034 is Yahweh ^H3068 of hosts ^H6635.

58 Thus ^H3541 says ^H559 Yahweh ^H3068 of hosts ^H6635,

“The broad ^H7342 wall ^H2346 of Babylon ^H894 will be completely ^H6209 razed ^H6209,

And her high ^H1364 gates ^H8179 will be set ^H3341 on fire ^H784;

So the peoples ^H5971 will toil ^H3021 for nothing ^H1767 H7385,

And the nations ^H3816 become ^H3286 weary ^H3286 only for fire ^H784.”

59 The [fn]message ^H1697 which ^H834 Jeremiah ^H3414 the prophet ^H5030 commanded ^H6680 Seraiah ^H8304 the son ^H1121 of Neriah ^H5374, the grandson ^H1121 of Mahseiah ^H4271, when he went ^H1980 with Zedekiah ^H6667 the king ^H4428 of Judah ^H3063 to Babylon ^H894 in the fourth ^H7243 year ^H8141 of his reign ^H4427. (Now Seraiah ^H8304 was quartermaster ^H8269 H4496.)

60 So Jeremiah ^H3414 wrote ^H3789 in a single ^H259 [fn]scroll ^H5612 all ^H3605 the calamity ^H7451 which ^H834 would come ^H935 upon Babylon ^H894, that is, all ^H3605 these ^H428 words ^H1697 which have been written ^H3789 concerning ^H413 Babylon ^H894. 61 Then Jeremiah ^H3414 said ^H559 to Seraiah ^H8304, “As soon as you come ^H935 to Babylon ^H894, then see ^H7200 that you read ^H7121 all ^H3605 these ^H428 words ^H1697 aloud, 62 and then you will say ^H559, ‘You, O Yahweh ^H3068, have [fn]promised ^H1696 concerning ^H413 this ^H2088 place ^H4725 to cut ^H3772 it off ^H3772, so that there will be nothing ^H1115 inhabiting ^H3427 it, [fn]whether ^H4480 man ^H120 or beast ^H929, but it will be a perpetual ^H5769 desolation ^H8077.’ 63 And as soon as you finish ^H3615 reading ^H7121 this ^H2088 [fn]scroll ^H5612, you will tie ^H7194 a stone ^H68 to it and throw ^H7993 it into the middle ^H8432 of the Euphrates ^H6578, 64 and then you will say ^H559, ‘Just ^H3602 so ^H3602 shall Babylon ^H894 sink ^H8257 down ^H8257 and not rise ^H6965 again because ^H4480 H6440 of the calamity ^H7451 that I am going to bring ^H935 upon her; and they will become ^H3286 utterly weary ^H3286.’” Thus ^H2008 far ^H5704 are the words ^H1697 of Jeremiah ^H3414.