Jeremiah 50
NIV — New International Version Bible (NIV)
NLT — New Living Translation Bible (NLT)
Verse 1
This is the word the Lord spoke through Jeremiah the prophet concerning Babylon and the land of the Babylonians[a]:
The Lord gave Jeremiah the prophet this message concerning Babylon and the land of the Babylonians.[a]
Verse 2
“Announce and proclaim among the nations,
lift up a banner and proclaim it;
keep nothing back, but say,
‘Babylon will be captured;
Bel will be put to shame,
Marduk filled with terror.
Her images will be put to shame
and her idols filled with terror.’
lift up a banner and proclaim it;
keep nothing back, but say,
‘Babylon will be captured;
Bel will be put to shame,
Marduk filled with terror.
Her images will be put to shame
and her idols filled with terror.’
This is what the Lord says:
“Tell the whole world,
and keep nothing back.
Raise a signal flag
to tell everyone that Babylon will fall!
Her images and idols[b] will be shattered.
Her gods Bel and Marduk will be utterly disgraced.
Verse 3
A nation from the north will attack her
and lay waste her land.
No one will live in it;
both people and animals will flee away.
and lay waste her land.
No one will live in it;
both people and animals will flee away.
For a nation will attack her from the north
and bring such destruction that no one will live there again.
Everything will be gone;
both people and animals will flee.
and bring such destruction that no one will live there again.
Everything will be gone;
both people and animals will flee.
Hope for Israel and Judah
Verse 4
“In those days, at that time,”
declares the Lord,
“the people of Israel and the people of Judah together
will go in tears to seek the Lord their God.
declares the Lord,
“the people of Israel and the people of Judah together
will go in tears to seek the Lord their God.
“In those coming days,”
says the Lord,
“the people of Israel will return home
together with the people of Judah.
They will come weeping
and seeking the Lord their God.
says the Lord,
“the people of Israel will return home
together with the people of Judah.
They will come weeping
and seeking the Lord their God.
Verse 5
They will ask the way to Zion
and turn their faces toward it.
They will come and bind themselves to the Lord
in an everlasting covenant
that will not be forgotten.
and turn their faces toward it.
They will come and bind themselves to the Lord
in an everlasting covenant
that will not be forgotten.
They will ask the way to Jerusalem[c]
and will start back home again.
They will bind themselves to the Lord
with an eternal covenant that will never be forgotten.
and will start back home again.
They will bind themselves to the Lord
with an eternal covenant that will never be forgotten.
Verse 6
“My people have been lost sheep;
their shepherds have led them astray
and caused them to roam on the mountains.
They wandered over mountain and hill
and forgot their own resting place.
their shepherds have led them astray
and caused them to roam on the mountains.
They wandered over mountain and hill
and forgot their own resting place.
“My people have been lost sheep.
Their shepherds have led them astray
and turned them loose in the mountains.
They have lost their way
and can’t remember how to get back to the sheepfold.
Their shepherds have led them astray
and turned them loose in the mountains.
They have lost their way
and can’t remember how to get back to the sheepfold.
Verse 7
Whoever found them devoured them;
their enemies said, ‘We are not guilty,
for they sinned against the Lord, their verdant pasture,
the Lord, the hope of their ancestors.’
their enemies said, ‘We are not guilty,
for they sinned against the Lord, their verdant pasture,
the Lord, the hope of their ancestors.’
All who found them devoured them.
Their enemies said,
‘We did nothing wrong in attacking them,
for they sinned against the Lord,
their true place of rest,
and the hope of their ancestors.’
Their enemies said,
‘We did nothing wrong in attacking them,
for they sinned against the Lord,
their true place of rest,
and the hope of their ancestors.’
Verse 8
“Flee out of Babylon;
leave the land of the Babylonians,
and be like the goats that lead the flock.
leave the land of the Babylonians,
and be like the goats that lead the flock.
“But now, flee from Babylon!
Leave the land of the Babylonians.
Like male goats at the head of the flock,
lead my people home again.
Leave the land of the Babylonians.
Like male goats at the head of the flock,
lead my people home again.
Verse 9
For I will stir up and bring against Babylon
an alliance of great nations from the land of the north.
They will take up their positions against her,
and from the north she will be captured.
Their arrows will be like skilled warriors
who do not return empty-handed.
an alliance of great nations from the land of the north.
They will take up their positions against her,
and from the north she will be captured.
Their arrows will be like skilled warriors
who do not return empty-handed.
For I am raising up an army
of great nations from the north.
They will join forces to attack Babylon,
and she will be captured.
The enemies’ arrows will go straight to the mark;
they will not miss!
of great nations from the north.
They will join forces to attack Babylon,
and she will be captured.
The enemies’ arrows will go straight to the mark;
they will not miss!
Verse 10
Babylon’s Sure Fall
Verse 11
“Because you rejoice and are glad,
you who pillage my inheritance,
because you frolic like a heifer threshing grain
and neigh like stallions,
you who pillage my inheritance,
because you frolic like a heifer threshing grain
and neigh like stallions,
“You rejoice and are glad,
you who plundered my chosen people.
You frisk about like a calf in a meadow
and neigh like a stallion.
you who plundered my chosen people.
You frisk about like a calf in a meadow
and neigh like a stallion.
Verse 12
your mother will be greatly ashamed;
she who gave you birth will be disgraced.
She will be the least of the nations—
a wilderness, a dry land, a desert.
she who gave you birth will be disgraced.
She will be the least of the nations—
a wilderness, a dry land, a desert.
But your homeland[e] will be overwhelmed
with shame and disgrace.
You will become the least of nations—
a wilderness, a dry and desolate land.
with shame and disgrace.
You will become the least of nations—
a wilderness, a dry and desolate land.
Verse 13
Because of the Lord’s anger she will not be inhabited
but will be completely desolate.
All who pass Babylon will be appalled;
they will scoff because of all her wounds.
but will be completely desolate.
All who pass Babylon will be appalled;
they will scoff because of all her wounds.
Because of the Lord’s anger,
Babylon will become a deserted wasteland.
All who pass by will be horrified
and will gasp at the destruction they see there.
Babylon will become a deserted wasteland.
All who pass by will be horrified
and will gasp at the destruction they see there.
Verse 14
“Take up your positions around Babylon,
all you who draw the bow.
Shoot at her! Spare no arrows,
for she has sinned against the Lord.
all you who draw the bow.
Shoot at her! Spare no arrows,
for she has sinned against the Lord.
“Yes, prepare to attack Babylon,
all you surrounding nations.
Let your archers shoot at her; spare no arrows.
For she has sinned against the Lord.
all you surrounding nations.
Let your archers shoot at her; spare no arrows.
For she has sinned against the Lord.
Verse 15
Shout against her on every side!
She surrenders, her towers fall,
her walls are torn down.
Since this is the vengeance of the Lord,
take vengeance on her;
do to her as she has done to others.
She surrenders, her towers fall,
her walls are torn down.
Since this is the vengeance of the Lord,
take vengeance on her;
do to her as she has done to others.
Shout war cries against her from every side.
Look! She surrenders!
Her walls have fallen.
It is the Lord’s vengeance,
so take vengeance on her.
Do to her as she has done to others!
Look! She surrenders!
Her walls have fallen.
It is the Lord’s vengeance,
so take vengeance on her.
Do to her as she has done to others!
Verse 16
Cut off from Babylon the sower,
and the reaper with his sickle at harvest.
Because of the sword of the oppressor
let everyone return to their own people,
let everyone flee to their own land.
and the reaper with his sickle at harvest.
Because of the sword of the oppressor
let everyone return to their own people,
let everyone flee to their own land.
Take from Babylon all those who plant crops;
send all the harvesters away.
Because of the sword of the enemy,
everyone will run away and rush back to their own lands.
send all the harvesters away.
Because of the sword of the enemy,
everyone will run away and rush back to their own lands.
Hope for God’s People
Verse 17
“Israel is a scattered flock
that lions have chased away.
The first to devour them
was the king of Assyria;
the last to crush their bones
was Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.”
that lions have chased away.
The first to devour them
was the king of Assyria;
the last to crush their bones
was Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.”
“The Israelites are like sheep
that have been scattered by lions.
First the king of Assyria ate them up.
Then King Nebuchadnezzar[f] of Babylon cracked their bones.”
that have been scattered by lions.
First the king of Assyria ate them up.
Then King Nebuchadnezzar[f] of Babylon cracked their bones.”
Verse 18
Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says:
“I will punish the king of Babylon and his land
as I punished the king of Assyria.
Therefore, this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies,
the God of Israel, says:
“Now I will punish the king of Babylon and his land,
just as I punished the king of Assyria.
the God of Israel, says:
“Now I will punish the king of Babylon and his land,
just as I punished the king of Assyria.
Verse 19
But I will bring Israel back to their own pasture,
and they will graze on Carmel and Bashan;
their appetite will be satisfied
on the hills of Ephraim and Gilead.
and they will graze on Carmel and Bashan;
their appetite will be satisfied
on the hills of Ephraim and Gilead.
And I will bring Israel home again to its own land,
to feed in the fields of Carmel and Bashan,
and to be satisfied once more
in the hill country of Ephraim and Gilead.
to feed in the fields of Carmel and Bashan,
and to be satisfied once more
in the hill country of Ephraim and Gilead.
Verse 20
In those days, at that time,”
declares the Lord,
“search will be made for Israel’s guilt,
but there will be none,
and for the sins of Judah,
but none will be found,
for I will forgive the remnant I spare.
declares the Lord,
“search will be made for Israel’s guilt,
but there will be none,
and for the sins of Judah,
but none will be found,
for I will forgive the remnant I spare.
In those days,” says the Lord,
“no sin will be found in Israel or in Judah,
for I will forgive the remnant I preserve.
“no sin will be found in Israel or in Judah,
for I will forgive the remnant I preserve.
The Lord’s Judgment on Babylon
Verse 21
“Attack the land of Merathaim
and those who live in Pekod.
Pursue, kill and completely destroy[c] them,”
declares the Lord.
“Do everything I have commanded you.
and those who live in Pekod.
Pursue, kill and completely destroy[c] them,”
declares the Lord.
“Do everything I have commanded you.
“Go up, my warriors, against the land of Merathaim
and against the people of Pekod.
Pursue, kill, and completely destroy[g] them,
as I have commanded you,” says the Lord.
and against the people of Pekod.
Pursue, kill, and completely destroy[g] them,
as I have commanded you,” says the Lord.
Verse 22
The noise of battle is in the land,
the noise of great destruction!
the noise of great destruction!
“Let the battle cry be heard in the land,
a shout of great destruction.
a shout of great destruction.
Verse 23
How broken and shattered
is the hammer of the whole earth!
How desolate is Babylon
among the nations!
is the hammer of the whole earth!
How desolate is Babylon
among the nations!
Babylon, the mightiest hammer in all the earth,
lies broken and shattered.
Babylon is desolate among the nations!
lies broken and shattered.
Babylon is desolate among the nations!
Verse 24
I set a trap for you, Babylon,
and you were caught before you knew it;
you were found and captured
because you opposed the Lord.
and you were caught before you knew it;
you were found and captured
because you opposed the Lord.
Listen, Babylon, for I have set a trap for you.
You are caught, for you have fought against the Lord.
You are caught, for you have fought against the Lord.
Verse 25
The Lord has opened his arsenal
and brought out the weapons of his wrath,
for the Sovereign Lord Almighty has work to do
in the land of the Babylonians.
and brought out the weapons of his wrath,
for the Sovereign Lord Almighty has work to do
in the land of the Babylonians.
The Lord has opened his armory
and brought out weapons to vent his fury.
The terror that falls upon the Babylonians
will be the work of the Sovereign Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
and brought out weapons to vent his fury.
The terror that falls upon the Babylonians
will be the work of the Sovereign Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
Verse 26
Come against her from afar.
Break open her granaries;
pile her up like heaps of grain.
Completely destroy her
and leave her no remnant.
Break open her granaries;
pile her up like heaps of grain.
Completely destroy her
and leave her no remnant.
Yes, come against her from distant lands.
Break open her granaries.
Crush her walls and houses into heaps of rubble.
Destroy her completely, and leave nothing!
Break open her granaries.
Crush her walls and houses into heaps of rubble.
Destroy her completely, and leave nothing!
Verse 27
Kill all her young bulls;
let them go down to the slaughter!
Woe to them! For their day has come,
the time for them to be punished.
let them go down to the slaughter!
Woe to them! For their day has come,
the time for them to be punished.
Destroy even her young bulls—
it will be terrible for them, too!
Slaughter them all!
For Babylon’s day of reckoning has come.
it will be terrible for them, too!
Slaughter them all!
For Babylon’s day of reckoning has come.
Verse 28
Listen to the fugitives and refugees from Babylon
declaring in Zion
how the Lord our God has taken vengeance,
vengeance for his temple.
declaring in Zion
how the Lord our God has taken vengeance,
vengeance for his temple.
Listen to the people who have escaped from Babylon,
as they tell in Jerusalem
how the Lord our God has taken vengeance
against those who destroyed his Temple.
as they tell in Jerusalem
how the Lord our God has taken vengeance
against those who destroyed his Temple.
Verse 29
“Summon archers against Babylon,
all those who draw the bow.
Encamp all around her;
let no one escape.
Repay her for her deeds;
do to her as she has done.
For she has defied the Lord,
the Holy One of Israel.
all those who draw the bow.
Encamp all around her;
let no one escape.
Repay her for her deeds;
do to her as she has done.
For she has defied the Lord,
the Holy One of Israel.
“Send out a call for archers to come to Babylon.
Surround the city so none can escape.
Do to her as she has done to others,
for she has defied the Lord, the Holy One of Israel.
Surround the city so none can escape.
Do to her as she has done to others,
for she has defied the Lord, the Holy One of Israel.
Verse 30
Therefore, her young men will fall in the streets;
all her soldiers will be silenced in that day,”
declares the Lord.
all her soldiers will be silenced in that day,”
declares the Lord.
Her young men will fall in the streets and die.
Her soldiers will all be killed,”
says the Lord.
Her soldiers will all be killed,”
says the Lord.
Verse 31
“See, I am against you, you arrogant one,”
declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty,
“for your day has come,
the time for you to be punished.
declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty,
“for your day has come,
the time for you to be punished.
“See, I am your enemy, you arrogant people,”
says the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
“Your day of reckoning has arrived—
the day when I will punish you.
says the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
“Your day of reckoning has arrived—
the day when I will punish you.
Verse 32
The arrogant one will stumble and fall
and no one will help her up;
I will kindle a fire in her towns
that will consume all who are around her.”
and no one will help her up;
I will kindle a fire in her towns
that will consume all who are around her.”
O land of arrogance, you will stumble and fall,
and no one will raise you up.
For I will light a fire in the cities of Babylon
that will burn up everything around them.”
and no one will raise you up.
For I will light a fire in the cities of Babylon
that will burn up everything around them.”
Verse 33
This is what the Lord Almighty says:
“The people of Israel are oppressed,
and the people of Judah as well.
All their captors hold them fast,
refusing to let them go.
This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says:
“The people of Israel and Judah have been wronged.
Their captors hold them and refuse to let them go.
“The people of Israel and Judah have been wronged.
Their captors hold them and refuse to let them go.
Verse 34
Yet their Redeemer is strong;
the Lord Almighty is his name.
He will vigorously defend their cause
so that he may bring rest to their land,
but unrest to those who live in Babylon.
the Lord Almighty is his name.
He will vigorously defend their cause
so that he may bring rest to their land,
but unrest to those who live in Babylon.
But the one who redeems them is strong.
His name is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
He will defend them
and give them rest again in Israel.
But for the people of Babylon
there will be no rest!
His name is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
He will defend them
and give them rest again in Israel.
But for the people of Babylon
there will be no rest!
Verse 35
“A sword against the Babylonians!”
declares the Lord—
“against those who live in Babylon
and against her officials and wise men!
declares the Lord—
“against those who live in Babylon
and against her officials and wise men!
“The sword of destruction will strike the Babylonians,”
says the Lord.
“It will strike the people of Babylon—
her officials and wise men, too.
says the Lord.
“It will strike the people of Babylon—
her officials and wise men, too.
Verse 36
A sword against her false prophets!
They will become fools.
A sword against her warriors!
They will be filled with terror.
They will become fools.
A sword against her warriors!
They will be filled with terror.
The sword will strike her wise counselors,
and they will become fools.
The sword will strike her mightiest warriors,
and panic will seize them.
and they will become fools.
The sword will strike her mightiest warriors,
and panic will seize them.
Verse 37
A sword against her horses and chariots
and all the foreigners in her ranks!
They will become weaklings.
A sword against her treasures!
They will be plundered.
and all the foreigners in her ranks!
They will become weaklings.
A sword against her treasures!
They will be plundered.
The sword will strike her horses and chariots
and her allies from other lands,
and they will all become like women.
The sword will strike her treasures,
and they all will be plundered.
and her allies from other lands,
and they will all become like women.
The sword will strike her treasures,
and they all will be plundered.
Verse 38
A drought on[d] her waters!
They will dry up.
For it is a land of idols,
idols that will go mad with terror.
They will dry up.
For it is a land of idols,
idols that will go mad with terror.
A drought[h] will strike her water supply,
causing it to dry up.
And why? Because the whole land is filled with idols,
and the people are madly in love with them.
causing it to dry up.
And why? Because the whole land is filled with idols,
and the people are madly in love with them.
Verse 39
“So desert creatures and hyenas will live there,
and there the owl will dwell.
It will never again be inhabited
or lived in from generation to generation.
and there the owl will dwell.
It will never again be inhabited
or lived in from generation to generation.
“Soon Babylon will be inhabited by desert animals and hyenas.
It will be a home for owls.
Never again will people live there;
it will lie desolate forever.
It will be a home for owls.
Never again will people live there;
it will lie desolate forever.
Verse 40
As I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah
along with their neighboring towns,”
declares the Lord,
“so no one will live there;
no people will dwell in it.
along with their neighboring towns,”
declares the Lord,
“so no one will live there;
no people will dwell in it.
I will destroy it as I[i] destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah
and their neighboring towns,” says the Lord.
“No one will live there;
no one will inhabit it.
and their neighboring towns,” says the Lord.
“No one will live there;
no one will inhabit it.
Verse 41
“Look! An army is coming from the north;
a great nation and many kings
are being stirred up from the ends of the earth.
a great nation and many kings
are being stirred up from the ends of the earth.
“Look! A great army is coming from the north.
A great nation and many kings
are rising against you from far-off lands.
A great nation and many kings
are rising against you from far-off lands.
Verse 42
They are armed with bows and spears;
they are cruel and without mercy.
They sound like the roaring sea
as they ride on their horses;
they come like men in battle formation
to attack you, Daughter Babylon.
they are cruel and without mercy.
They sound like the roaring sea
as they ride on their horses;
they come like men in battle formation
to attack you, Daughter Babylon.
They are armed with bows and spears.
They are cruel and show no mercy.
As they ride forward on horses,
they sound like a roaring sea.
They are coming in battle formation,
planning to destroy you, Babylon.
They are cruel and show no mercy.
As they ride forward on horses,
they sound like a roaring sea.
They are coming in battle formation,
planning to destroy you, Babylon.
Verse 43
The king of Babylon has heard reports about them,
and his hands hang limp.
Anguish has gripped him,
pain like that of a woman in labor.
and his hands hang limp.
Anguish has gripped him,
pain like that of a woman in labor.
The king of Babylon has heard reports about the enemy,
and he is weak with fright.
Pangs of anguish have gripped him,
like those of a woman in labor.
and he is weak with fright.
Pangs of anguish have gripped him,
like those of a woman in labor.
Verse 44
Like a lion coming up from Jordan’s thickets
to a rich pastureland,
I will chase Babylon from its land in an instant.
Who is the chosen one I will appoint for this?
Who is like me and who can challenge me?
And what shepherd can stand against me?”
to a rich pastureland,
I will chase Babylon from its land in an instant.
Who is the chosen one I will appoint for this?
Who is like me and who can challenge me?
And what shepherd can stand against me?”
“I will come like a lion from the thickets of the Jordan,
leaping on the sheep in the pasture.
I will chase Babylon from its land,
and I will appoint the leader of my choice.
For who is like me, and who can challenge me?
What ruler can oppose my will?”
leaping on the sheep in the pasture.
I will chase Babylon from its land,
and I will appoint the leader of my choice.
For who is like me, and who can challenge me?
What ruler can oppose my will?”
Verse 45
Therefore, hear what the Lord has planned against Babylon,
what he has purposed against the land of the Babylonians:
The young of the flock will be dragged away;
their pasture will be appalled at their fate.
what he has purposed against the land of the Babylonians:
The young of the flock will be dragged away;
their pasture will be appalled at their fate.
Listen to the Lord’s plans against Babylon
and the land of the Babylonians.
Even the little children will be dragged off like sheep,
and their homes will be destroyed.
and the land of the Babylonians.
Even the little children will be dragged off like sheep,
and their homes will be destroyed.
Verse 46
At the sound of Babylon’s capture the earth will tremble;
its cry will resound among the nations.
its cry will resound among the nations.
The earth will shake with the shout, “Babylon has been taken!”
and its cry of despair will be heard around the world.
and its cry of despair will be heard around the world.