The Lord sets his people free. He is the Holy One of Israel. He says,“ People of Israel, I will send an army to Babylon to save you. I will cause all the Babylonians to run away. They will try to escape in the ships they were so proud of.

耶和华你们的救赎主、以色列的圣者如此说：“因你们的缘故，我已经打发人到巴比伦去；并且我要使迦勒底人如逃民，都坐自己喜乐的船下来。

耶和华—你们的救赎主、以色列的圣者如此说：“因你们的缘故，我已派遣人到巴比伦去；要使迦勒底人都如难民，坐自己素来宴乐的船下来。

耶和华—你们的救赎主、以色列的圣者如此说：“因你们的缘故，我已派遣人到巴比伦去；要使迦勒底人都如难民，坐自己素来宴乐的船下来。

你们的救赎主耶和华——以色列的圣者说：“为了你们的缘故，我必派大军进攻巴比伦，使迦勒底人坐着他们引以为荣的船逃亡。

你们的救赎主、以色列的圣者、耶和华这样说：“因为你们的缘故，我已经派人到巴比伦去，我要使所有的迦勒底人都像难民一样下来，都坐在他们素来自夸的船下来。

你们的救赎主，以色列的圣者耶和华如此说：“为你们的缘故，我已经派人到巴比伦去，要把所有的人作为难民带下来，使迦勒底人的欢声变为哀歌。

耶和華－你們的救贖主、以色列的聖者如此說：因你們的緣故，我已經打發人到巴比倫去；並且我要使迦勒底人如逃民，都坐自己喜樂的船下來。

耶和華－你們的救贖主、以色列的聖者如此說：「因你們的緣故，我已派遣人到巴比倫去；要使迦勒底人都如難民，坐自己素來宴樂的船下來。

耶和華－你們的救贖主、以色列的聖者如此說：「因你們的緣故，我已派遣人到巴比倫去；要使迦勒底人都如難民，坐自己素來宴樂的船下來。

你們的救贖主耶和華——以色列的聖者說：「為了你們的緣故，我必派大軍進攻巴比倫，使迦勒底人坐著他們引以為榮的船逃亡。

你們的救贖主、以色列的聖者、耶和華這樣說：“因為你們的緣故，我已經派人到巴比倫去，我要使所有的迦勒底人都像難民一樣下來，都坐在他們素來自誇的船下來。

那贖回你們的、以色列之聖者、永恆主這麼說：『為了你們的緣故我已經差遣人到巴比倫去；我必使他們都下來、做逃難之民，使迦勒底人、其歡呼都流為憂傷。

你們的救贖主，以色列的聖者耶和華如此說：「為你們的緣故，我已經派人到巴比倫去，要把所有的人作為難民帶下來，使迦勒底人的歡聲變為哀歌。

贖爾之耶和華、以色列之聖者云、以爾之故、我將遣人至巴比倫、使逃亡之迦勒底人、乘其喜樂之舟而來、

以色列族之聖主耶和華曰、我欲救爾、遣人至巴比倫、毀諸門楗、迦勒底人駕舟、囂然不靖、終亦必亡。

救爾之主、即以色列之聖主如是云、緣爾之故、我遣人至巴比倫、毀諸門楗、使迦勒底人、駕宴樂之舟以逃遁、

This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:“ For your sake I will send to Babylon and bring down as fugitives all the Babylonians, in the ships in which they took pride.

Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:“ For your sake I send to Babylon and bring them all down as fugitives, even the Chaldeans, in the ships in which they rejoice.

This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:“ For your sakes I will send an army against Babylon, forcing the Babylonians to flee in those ships they are so proud of.

This is what the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel says: Because of you, I will send an army to Babylon and bring all of them as fugitives, even the Chaldeans in the ships in which they rejoice.

This is what the Lord your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel says:“ For your sake I have sent to Babylon, And will bring them all down as fugitives, Even the Chaldeans, into the ships over which they rejoice.

Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel:“ For your sake I will send to Babylon, And bring them all down as fugitives— The Chaldeans, who rejoice in their ships.

Thus saith Jehovah, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and I will bring down all of them as fugitives, even the Chaldeans, in the ships of their rejoicing.

This is what the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel says: Because of you, I will send to Babylon and bring all of them as fugitives, even the Chaldeans in the ships in which they rejoice.

Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry[ is] in the ships.

This is what the LORD says, your protector, the Holy One of Israel:“ For your sake I send to Babylon and make them all fugitives, turning the Babylonians’ joyful shouts into mourning songs.

Yahweh, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel says:“ For your sake, I have sent to Babylon, and I will bring all of them down as fugitives, even the Chaldeans, in the ships of their rejoicing.

Look at the land of the Babylonians. No one lives there anymore. The Assyrians have turned it into a place for desert creatures. They built their towers in order to attack it. They took everything out of its forts. They knocked down all its buildings.

“ I am Israel’s King. I set them free. I am the Lord who rules over all. So listen to what I am saying. I am the first and the last. I am the one and only God.

I am the Lord your God. I am the Holy One of Israel. I am the one who saves you. I will give up Egypt to set you free. I will give up Cush and Seba for you.You are priceless to me. I love you and honor you. So I will trade other people for you. I will give up other nations to save your lives.

The Lord says,“ I will stir up the spirits of destroyers. They will march out against Babylon and its people.I will send other nations against it to separate the straw from the grain. I will send them to destroy Babylon completely. They will oppose it on every side. At that time it will be destroyed.Do not let its soldiers get their bows ready to use. Do not let them put on their armor. Do not spare their young men. Destroy their armies completely.They will fall down dead in Babylon. They will receive deadly wounds in its streets.The land of Israel and Judah is full of guilt. Its people have sinned against me. But I have not deserted them. I am their God. I am the Lord who rules over all. I am the Holy One of Israel.“ People of Judah, run away from Babylon! Run for your lives! Do not be destroyed because of the sins of its people. It is time for me to pay them back. I will punish them for what they have done.Babylon was like a gold cup in my hand. That city made the whole earth drunk. The nations drank its wine. So now they have gone crazy.Babylon will suddenly fall and be broken. Weep for it! Get healing lotion for its pain. Perhaps it can be healed.“ The nations say,‘ We would have healed Babylon. But it can’t be healed. So let’s leave it. Let’s each go to our own land. Babylon’s sins reach all the way to the skies. They rise up as high as the heavens.’“ The people of Judah say,‘ The Lord has made things right for us again. So come. Let’s tell in Zion what the Lord our God has done.’“ I have stirred up you kings of the Medes. So sharpen your arrows! Get your shields! I plan to destroy Babylon. I will pay the Babylonians back. They have destroyed my temple.

“ Judah, I will pay Babylon back. You will see it with your own eyes. I will pay back all those who live in Babylon. I will pay them back for all the wrong things they have done in Zion,” announces the Lord.

Kill all Babylon’s strongest warriors. Let them die in battle. How terrible it will be for them! Their time to be judged has come. Now they will be punished.Listen to those who have escaped. Listen to those who have returned from Babylon. They are announcing in Zion how I have paid Babylon back. I have paid it back for destroying my temple.“ Send for men armed with bows and arrows. Send them against Babylon. Set up camp all around it. Do not let anyone escape. Pay it back for what its people have done. Do to them what they have done to others. They have dared to disobey me. I am the Holy One of Israel.You can be sure its young men will fall dead in the streets. All its soldiers will be put to death at that time,” announces the Lord.“ Proud Babylonians, I am against you,” announces the Lord. The Lord who rules over all says,“ Your day to be judged has come. It is time for you to be punished.You proud people will trip and fall. No one will help you up. I will start a fire in your towns. It will burn up everyone around you.”The Lord who rules over all says,“ The people of Israel are being treated badly. So are the people of Judah. Those who have captured them are holding them. They refuse to let them go.But I am strong and will save them. My name is the Lord Who Rules Over All. I will stand up for them. I will bring peace and rest to their land. But I will bring trouble to those who live in Babylon.

“ Announce this message among the nations. Lift up a banner. Let the nations hear the message. Do not keep anything back. Say,‘ Babylon will be captured. The god named Bel will be put to shame. The god named Marduk will be filled with terror. Babylon’s gods will be put to shame. The gods its people made will be filled with terror.’A nation from the north will attack it. That nation will destroy Babylon. No one will live there. People and animals alike will run away.“ The days are coming,” announces the Lord.“ At that time the people of Israel and Judah will gather together. They will come in tears to me. I am the Lord their God.They will ask how to get to Zion. Then they will turn their faces toward it. They will come and join themselves to me. They will enter into the covenant I make with them. It will last forever. It will never be forgotten.“ My people have been like lost sheep. Their shepherds have led them astray. They have caused them to wander in the mountains. They have wandered over mountains and hills. They have forgotten that I am their true resting place.Everyone who found them destroyed them. Their enemies said,‘ We aren’t guilty. They sinned against the Lord. He gave them everything they needed. He has always been Israel’s hope.’“ People of Judah, run away from Babylon. Leave the land of Babylon. Be like the goats that lead the flock.I will stir up great nations that will join forces against Babylon. I will bring them from the land of the north. They will take up their battle positions against Babylon. They will come from the north and capture it. Their arrows will be like skilled soldiers. They will not miss their mark.So the riches of Babylon will be taken away. All those who steal from it will have more than enough,” announces the Lord.“ People of Babylon, you have stolen what belongs to me. That has made you glad and full of joy. You dance around like a young cow on a threshing floor. You neigh like stallions.

The Lord says,“ People of Israel, I set you free. I formed you when you were born as a nation.“ I am the Lord. I am the Maker of everything. I alone stretch out the heavens. I spread out the earth by myself.“ Some prophets are not really prophets at all. I show that their signs are fake. I make those who practice evil magic look foolish. I destroy the learning of those who think they are wise. Their knowledge does not make any sense at all.I make the words of my servants the prophets come true. I carry out what my messengers say will happen.“ I say about Jerusalem,‘ My people will live there again.’ I say about the towns of Judah,‘ They will be rebuilt.’ I say about their broken- down buildings,‘ I will make them like new again.’I say to the deep waters,‘ Dry up. Let your streams become dry.’I say about Cyrus,‘ He is my shepherd. He will accomplish everything I want him to. He will say about Jerusalem,“ Let it be rebuilt.” And he will say about the temple,“ Let its foundations be laid.” ’“ Cyrus is my anointed king. I take hold of his right hand. I give him the power to bring nations under his control. I help him strip kings of their power to go to war against him. I break city gates open so he can go through them. I say to him,‘ I will march out ahead of you. I will make the mountains level. I will break down bronze gates. I will cut through their heavy iron bars.I will give you treasures that are hidden away. I will give you riches that are stored up in secret places. Then you will know that I am the Lord. I am the God of Israel. I am sending for you by name.Cyrus, I am sending for you by name. I am doing it for the good of the family of Jacob. They are my servant. I am doing it for Israel. They are my chosen people. You do not know anything about me. But I am giving you a title of honor.I am the Lord. There is no other Lord. I am the one and only God. You do not know anything about me. But I will make you strong.

Family of Jacob, the Lord created you. People of Israel, he formed you. He says,“ Do not be afraid. I will set you free. I will send for you by name. You belong to me.

All those who man the oars will desert their ships. The sailors and all the officers will stand on the shore.They will raise their voices. They will cry bitterly over you. They will sprinkle dust on their heads. They will roll in ashes.They will shave their heads because of you. And they will put on the clothes of sadness. They will weep over you. Their spirits will be greatly troubled. They will be very sad.As they weep and mourn over you, they will sing a song of sadness about you. They will say,‘ Who was ever like Tyre? It was destroyed in the sea.’Your goods went out on the seas. You supplied many nations with what they needed. You had so much wealth and so many products. You made the kings of the earth rich.Now the sea has torn you apart. You have sunk deep down into it. Your products and all your people have gone down with you.All those who live in the lands along the coast are shocked because of what has happened to you. Their kings tremble with fear. Their faces are twisted in horror.The traders among the nations laugh at you. You have come to a horrible end. And you will be gone forever.” ’ ”

I made you. I am now your husband. My name is the Lord Who Rules Over All. I am the Holy One of Israel. I have set you free. I am the God of the whole earth.You were like a wife who was deserted. And her heart was broken. You were like a wife who married young. And her husband sent her away. But now I am calling you to come back,” says your God.“ For a brief moment I left you. But because I love you so much, I will bring you back.For a moment I turned my face away from you. I was very angry with you. But I will show you my loving concern. My faithful love will continue forever,” says the Lord. He is the one who set you free.

“ The traders of the world will weep and mourn over her. No one buys what they sell anymore.Here is what they had for sale.“ Gold, silver, jewels, pearls. Fine linen, purple, silk, bright red cloth. Every kind of citron wood. All sorts of things made out of ivory, valuable wood, bronze, iron, marble.Cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense. Wine, olive oil, fine flour, wheat. Cattle, sheep, horses, carriages, and human beings sold as slaves.“ The merchants will say,‘ The pleasure you longed for has left you. All your riches and glory have disappeared forever.’The traders who sold these things became rich because of Babylon. When she suffers, they will stand far away. Her suffering will terrify them. They will weep and mourn.They will cry out,“‘ How terrible! How terrible it is for you, great city, dressed in fine linen, purple and bright red! How terrible for you, great city, gleaming with gold, jewels and pearls!In just one hour your great wealth has been destroyed!’“ Every sea captain and all who travel by ship will stand far away. So will the sailors and all who earn their living from the sea.They will see the smoke rising as Babylon burns. They will ask,‘ Was there ever a city like this great city?’They will throw dust on their heads. They will weep and mourn. They will cry out,“‘ How terrible! How terrible it is for you, great city! All who had ships on the sea became rich because of her wealth! In just one hour she has been destroyed!’“ You heavens, be glad for this! You people of God, be glad! You apostles and prophets, be glad! God has judged her with the judgment she gave to you.”Then a mighty angel picked up a huge rock. It was the size of a large millstone. He threw it into the sea. Then he said,“ That is how the great city of Babylon will be thrown down. Never again will it be found.

Here is the new song they sang.“ You are worthy to take the scroll and break open its seals. You are worthy because you were put to death. With your blood you bought people for God. They come from every tribe, people and nation, no matter what language they speak.

Lord, may these words of my mouth please you. And may these thoughts of my heart please you also. You are my Rock and my Redeemer.

“ Israel is like a scattered flock that lions have chased away. The first lion that ate them up was the king of Assyria. The last one that broke their bones was Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon.”The Lord who rules over all is the God of Israel. He says,“ I punished the king of Assyria. In the same way, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land.

The people of Jerusalem say,“ Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, has destroyed us. He has thrown us into a panic. He has emptied us out like a jar. Like a snake he has swallowed us up. He has filled his stomach with our rich food. Then he has spit us out of his mouth.”The people continue,“ May the people of Babylon pay for the harmful things they have done to us. May those who live in Babylon pay for spilling the blood of our people.” That’s what the people who live in Zion say.So the Lord says,“ I will stand up for you. I will pay the Babylonians back for what they did to you. I will dry up their water supply. I will make their springs run dry.Babylon will have all its buildings knocked down. It will be a home for wild dogs. No one will live there. People will be shocked at it. They will make fun of it.