1. Thus says Yahweh: Look, I will raise up against Babylon, and against those who dwell in Leb-kamai, a destroying wind.

2. And I will send to Babylon strangers, that will winnow her; and they will empty her land: for in the day of trouble they will be against her round about.

3. Against [him who] bends let the archer bend his bow, and against [him who] lifts himself up in his coat of mail: and don't spare+ her young men; destroy+ completely all her host.

4. And 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, of his God, of Yahweh of hosts; though their land is full of guilt against the Holy One of Israel.

6. Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and save every man his 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, that made all the earth drunk: the nations have drank of her wine; therefore the nations are mad.

8. Babylon has suddenly fallen and destroyed: wail for her; take balm for her pain, if perhaps she may be healed.

9. We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country; for her judgment reaches to heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies.

10. Yahweh has brought forth our righteousness: come, and let us declare in Zion the work of Yahweh our God.

11. Make sharp the arrows; hold firm the shields: 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, prepare the ambushes; for Yahweh has both purposed and done that which he spoke concerning the inhabitants of Babylon.

13. O you who stay on many waters, abundant in treasures, your end has come, the measure of your covetousness.

14. Yahweh of hosts has sworn by himself, [saying,] Surely I will fill you with man, as with the cankerworm; 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, and by his understanding he has stretched out the heavens:

16. when he utters his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and he causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; he makes lightnings for the rain, and brings forth the wind out of his treasuries.

17. Everyone among man has become brutish [and is] without knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his image; for his molten image is 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.