1 Thus saith Jehovah: Behold, I will raise up against Babylon, and against them that dwell in the heart of those that rise against me, a destroying wind;
2 and I will send unto Babylon strangers, who shall fan her, and shall empty her land: for in the day of trouble they shall be against her round about.
3 Against him that bendeth let the archer bend his bow, and against him that lifteth himself up in his coat of mail; and spare not her young men: destroy utterly all her host.
4 And the slain shall fall in the land of the Chaldeans, and they that are thrust through in her streets.
5 For Israel is not forsaken, nor Judah of his God, of Jehovah of hosts; for 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; be ye not cut off in her iniquity: for this is the time of Jehovah's vengeance: he shall render unto her a recompence.
7 Babylon hath been a golden cup in Jehovah's hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunk of her wine; therefore have the nations become mad.
8 Babylon is suddenly fallen and ruined. Howl over her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed.
9 We have treated Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country; for her judgment reacheth unto the heavens, and is lifted up to the skies.
10 Jehovah hath brought forth our righteousness: come, and let us declare in Zion the work of Jehovah our God.
11 Sharpen the arrows; take the shields. Jehovah hath stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes; for his purpose is against Babylon, to destroy it; for this is the vengeance of Jehovah, the vengeance of his temple.
12 Lift up a banner towards the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set the watchmen, prepare the ambushes; for Jehovah hath both devised and done that which he spoke against the inhabitants of Babylon.
13 Thou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in treasures, thine end is come, the measure of thy rapacity.
14 Jehovah of hosts hath sworn by himself, I will assuredly fill thee with men, as with caterpillars; and they shall raise a shout against thee.
15 He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his understanding.
16 When he uttereth his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the end of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.
17 Every man is become brutish, so as to have no knowledge; every founder is put to shame by the graven 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 shall perish.
19 The portion of Jacob is not like them; for it is he that hath formed all things: and {Israel} is the rod of his inheritance: Jehovah of hosts is his name.
20 Thou art my maul, {my} weapons of war: and with thee I will break in pieces the nations, and I will with thee destroy kingdoms;
21 and with thee I will break in pieces the horse and his rider; and with thee I will break in pieces the chariot and its driver;
22 and with thee will I break in pieces man and woman; and with thee will I break in pieces old and young; and with thee will I break in pieces the young man and the maid;
23 and with thee will I break in pieces the shepherd and his flock; and with thee will I break in pieces the husbandman and his yoke of oxen; and with thee will I break in pieces governors and rulers.
24 And I will render unto Babylon and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea, in your sight, all their evil which they have done in Zion, saith Jehovah.
25 Behold, I am against thee, mount of destruction, saith Jehovah, which destroyest all the earth; and I will stretch out my hand upon thee, and roll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee a burning mountain.
26 And they shall not take of thee a stone for a corner, nor a stone for foundations; for thou shalt be desolate for ever, saith Jehovah.
27 Lift up a banner in the land, blow the trumpet among the nations, prepare nations against her; call together against her the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz; appoint a captain against her; cause the horses to come up as the bristly caterpillars.
28 Prepare nations against her, the kings of the Medes, their governors and all their rulers, yea, all the land of their dominion.
29 And the land trembleth and is in pain; for the purposes of Jehovah against Babylon do stand, to make the land of Babylon a desolation, without inhabitant.
30 The mighty men of Babylon have ceased to fight, they are sitting in the fortresses; their might hath failed, they are become as women: they have set her dwelling places on fire; her bars are broken.
31 Courier runneth to meet courier, and messenger to meet messenger, to announce to the king of Babylon that his city is taken from end to end;
32 and the passages are seized, and the reedy places are burnt with fire, and the men of war are affrighted.
33 For thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: The daughter of Babylon is like a threshing-floor, at the time of its being trodden; yet a little while, and the time of harvest shall come for her.
34 Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon hath devoured me, he hath crushed me, he hath made me an empty vessel; he hath swallowed me up like a dragon, he hath filled his belly with my delicates, he hath cast me out.
35 The violence done to me and to my flesh be upon Babylon, shall the inhabitress of Zion say; and, My blood be upon the inhabitants of Chaldea, shall Jerusalem say.
36 Therefore thus saith Jehovah: Behold, I will plead thy cause, and take vengeance for thee; and I will dry up her sea, and make her spring dry.
37 And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwelling-place of jackals, an astonishment, and a hissing, without inhabitant.
38 They shall roar together like young lions, growl as lions' whelps.
39 When they are heated, I will prepare their drink, and I will make them drunken, that they may exult, and sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith Jehovah.
40 I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with he-goats.
41 How is Sheshach taken! and how is the praise of the whole earth seized! How is Babylon become an astonishment among the nations!
42 The sea is come up upon Babylon: she is covered with the multitude of its waves.
43 Her cities are become a desolation, a dry land, and a desert, a land wherein no one dwelleth, neither doth a son of man pass thereby.
44 And I will punish Bel in Babylon, and I will bring forth out of his mouth what he hath swallowed up; and the nations shall not flow together any more unto him: yea, the wall of Babylon is fallen.
45 Go ye out of the midst of her, my people, and deliver every man his soul from the fierce anger of Jehovah!
46 lest your heart faint, and ye fear for the rumour that shall be heard in the land; for a rumour shall come {one} year, and after that a rumour in {another} year, and violence in the earth, ruler against ruler.
47 Therefore behold, days are coming when I will punish the graven images of Babylon; and her whole land shall be put to shame, and all her slain shall fall in the midst of her.
48 And the heavens and the earth, and all that is therein, shall shout aloud over Babylon; for out of the north the spoilers shall come against her, saith Jehovah.
49 As Babylon caused the slain of Israel to fall, so at Babylon shall fall the slain of all the earth.
50 Ye that have escaped the sword, go, stand not still: remember Jehovah from afar, and let Jerusalem come into your mind.
51 -We are put to shame, for we have heard reproach; confusion hath covered our face: for strangers are come into the sanctuaries of Jehovah's house.
52 -Therefore behold, days come, saith Jehovah, that I will punish her graven images; and throughout her land the wounded shall groan.
53 Though Babylon should mount up to the heavens, and though she should fortify the height of her strength, yet from me shall spoilers come unto her, saith Jehovah.
54 The sound of a cry {cometh} from Babylon, and great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans;
55 for Jehovah spoileth Babylon, and he will destroy out of her the great voice; and their waves roar like great waters, the noise of their voice resoundeth.
56 For the spoiler is come against her, against Babylon, and her mighty men are taken; their bows are broken in pieces; for Jehovah, the *God of recompences, will certainly requite.
57 And I will make drunk her princes, and her wise men, her governors, and her rulers, and her mighty men; and they shall sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the King, whose name is Jehovah of hosts.
58 Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: The broad walls of Babylon shall be utterly laid bare, and her high gates shall be burned with fire; so that the peoples will have laboured in vain, and the nations for the fire: and they shall be weary.
59 The word that Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah the son of Nerijah, the son of Mahseiah, when he went with Zedekiah the king of Judah to Babylon in the fourth year of his reign. Now Seraiah was chief chamberlain.
60 And Jeremiah wrote in a book all the evil that should come upon Babylon, all these words that are written against Babylon.
61 And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, When thou comest to Babylon, see that thou read all these words;
62 and say, Jehovah, thou hast spoken concerning this place, that thou wilt cut it off, so that none shall dwell in it, neither man nor beast, but that it shall be desolate for ever.
63 And it shall be, when thou hast ended reading this book, {that} thou shalt bind a stone to it, and cast it into the midst of the Euphrates;
64 and shalt say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise, because of the evil that I will bring upon it: and they shall be weary. Thus far the words of Jeremiah.
1 耶和华这样说： "看哪！ 我必激动毁灭者的心， 去攻击巴比伦和住在立加米的人。
2 我必打发外族人去巴比伦簸扬它， 扬净它的地； 在它遭祸的日子， 他们必从四围攻击它。
3 不要容拉弓的拉他的弓， 也不要容战士穿上盔甲站起来； 不要顾惜巴比伦的年轻人， 要把它的全军灭绝。
4 它的全军必在迦勒底人的地被杀倒下， 在它的街道上被刺死。"
5 虽然以色列和犹大境内（"以色列和犹大境内"或译： "巴比伦境内"）充满了违背以色列圣者的罪恶， 以色列和犹大却不会被他们的 神万军之耶和华遗弃。
6 你仍要从巴比伦境内逃出来， 各自逃命！ 不要因它的罪孽灭亡； 因为这是耶和华报复的时候， 他必向巴比伦施行应得的报应。
7 巴比伦曾是耶和华手中的金杯， 使全地都喝醉； 列国喝了它的酒， 就都疯狂乱性。
8 巴比伦必突然倾覆毁灭， 你们要为它哀号！ 拿乳香来消除它的痛楚， 也许可以治好它。
9 我们本想医治巴比伦， 但它没有治好。我们离开它， 各归本地去吧！ 因为它的刑罚极大， 上达于天， 直到云霄。
10 耶和华已为我们伸冤； 来吧！ 我们要在锡安宣扬耶和华我们 神的作为。
11 你们要磨尖箭头， 拿起盾牌（"拿起盾牌"《七十士译本》译作"装满箭袋"）； 耶和华定意要毁灭巴比伦， 所以激动玛代诸王的心； 这是耶和华的报复， 就是为他的殿而施行的报复。
12 你们要竖起旗帜， 攻击巴比伦的城墙， 并要加强防卫， 设立防哨， 布下埋伏； 因为耶和华不但定意， 也必作成他攻击巴比伦居民的话。
13 你这住在众水旁， 多有财宝的啊！ 你的结局到了， 你被剪除的时刻到了。
14 万军之耶和华指着自己起誓， 说： "我必使敌人充满你， 像蝗虫一样布满你的全地， 他们必对你发出胜利的吶喊。"
15 耶和华用自己的能力创造了大地， 用自己的智慧坚立了世界， 又用自己的聪明展开了诸天。
16 他一发声， 空中诸水就澎湃； 他使云雾从地极上腾； 他造了闪电和雷雨， 又使风从他的仓库里吹出来。
17 人人都是顽梗无知； 所有的金匠都因偶像羞愧， 因为他们铸造的像都是虚假， 没有气息。
18 偶像都是虚无的， 是荒谬可笑的作品； 到了讨罪的时候， 它们必被除灭。
19 那作雅各产业的并不像这些偶像， 因为他是万物的创造者； 以色列是属他的民族， 万军之耶和华是他的名。
20 耶和华说： "你是我的铁锤， 作我的兵器； 我用你们打碎列国， 用你毁灭万邦。
21 我用你打碎战马和骑马的， 用你打碎战车和坐战车的。
22 我用你打碎男人和妇女， 用你打碎老年人和少年人， 用你打碎少男和少女。
23 我用你打碎牧人和他的羊群， 用你打碎农夫和他的耕牛， 用你打碎省长和总监。
24 "但我必在你们眼前报复巴比伦和迦勒底所有的居民在锡安所作的一切恶事。"这是耶和华的宣告。
25 "行毁灭的山哪， 就是毁灭全地的山哪！ 我要和你作对， 我要伸手攻击你， 使你从山岩上滚下来， 使你成为烧毁了的山。"这是耶和华的宣告。
26 "人必不从你那里取石头作房角石， 也不从你那里取石头作基石， 因为你必永远荒凉。"这是耶和华的宣告。
27 "你们要在地上竖起旗帜， 在列国中吹号角， 使列国作好准备攻击巴比伦， 把亚拉腊、米尼、亚实基拿等国召来攻击她， 又指派元帅来攻击她， 使马匹像蝗虫汹涌上来。
28 你们要使列国作好准备攻击她， 使玛代诸王， 和她的省长、总监， 以及他们辖下各地的人民都作好准备攻击她。
29 大地震动翻腾， 因为耶和华攻击巴比伦所定的旨意立定不移， 要使巴比伦的地荒凉， 没有人居住。
30 巴比伦的勇士停止作战， 留在堡垒里面； 他们的勇士消退， 变成像妇人一样软弱。巴比伦的房屋被火焚烧， 她的门闩都被折断。
31 驿卒一个接一个跑来， 报信的也相继而至， 向巴比伦王报告， 他的京城已经完全被攻取了。
32 渡口已经被占据了， 生满芦苇的沼泽也被火烧了， 军兵都惊慌失措。"
33 因为万军之耶和华以色列的 神这样说： "巴比伦城（"城"原文作"女子"）好像正被踹平的禾场， 再过片时， 她被收割的时候就到了。"
34 以色列人说： "巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒吞灭了我们， 使我们十分混乱， 又使我们成为空的器皿； 他像怪兽把我们吞下， 他的肚塞满了我们的美物， 他却把我们吐出去。"
35 锡安的居民要说： "愿巴比伦以强暴待我们（"我们"或译： "我和我骨肉之亲"）的罪归到巴比伦身上。"耶路撒冷要说： "愿流我血的罪归到迦勒底的居民身上。"
36 因此， 耶和华这样说： "看哪！ 我必为你的案件申诉， 为你报仇； 我必使巴比伦的河水枯竭， 使它们的水源干涸。
37 巴比伦必变成乱堆， 成为野狗的巢穴， 成为令人惊骇和嗤笑的对象， 没有人居住。
38 巴比伦人必像少壮狮子一起吼叫， 又像幼狮咆哮。
39 他们食欲大动的时候， 我必为他们摆设筵席， 使他们喝醉， 狂欢乱叫， 然后永远沉睡， 不再醒来（这是耶和华的宣告）。
40 我必使他们像羊羔， 像公绵羊和公山羊一样下到屠宰之地。
41 示沙克怎么竟被攻取！ 全地所称赞的怎么竟被占领！ 巴比伦在列国中怎么竟成了令人惊骇的对象！
42 大海上涨漫过巴比伦， 它被汹涌的波浪淹没。
43 它的城镇变为荒凉， 成为干旱的地和沙漠， 没有人住在里面， 也没有人经过。
44 我必惩罚巴比伦的彼勒， 使它从口中吐出它所吞噬的； 列国必不再归附它， 巴比伦的城墙也倒塌了。
45 我的子民哪！ 你们要从它那里出来， 各自逃命， 躲避耶和华的烈怒。
46 你们不要心惊胆怯， 也不要因在境内听到的谣言惧怕； 因为今年有谣言传来， 明年也会有谣言传来， 境内有强暴的事， 官长互相攻击。
47 因此， 你看， 日子快到， 我必惩罚巴比伦的偶像； 巴比伦全地都必蒙羞， 所有被刺杀的人都必倒在境内。
48 那时天地和其中的一切， 都必因巴比伦的倾覆欢呼， 因为行毁灭的要从北方来攻击她。"这是耶和华的宣告。
49 "巴比伦必因以色列被刺杀的人而倒下， 就如全地被刺杀的人因巴比伦而倒下。
50 那些已逃脱了刀剑的人哪！ 走吧！ 不要站着， 要从远方记念耶和华， 心中惦念耶路撒冷。
51 我们因听见辱骂而蒙羞， 满面惭愧； 因为外族人进入了耶和华殿的圣所。
52 因此， 看哪！ 日子快到， 这是耶和华的宣告。我必惩罚巴比伦的偶像， 在巴比伦全境到处都有被刺伤的人在唉哼。
53 即使巴比伦升到天上， 即使它在高处建造难以进侵的堡垒， 但必有行毁灭的从我这里去攻击它。"这是耶和华的宣告。
54 "听啊！ 有哀号的声音从巴比伦传出， 有大毁灭的声音从迦勒底人的地发出。
55 因为耶和华正在毁灭巴比伦， 使城中喧闹的声音灭绝。敌军好像洪水， 波浪澎湃， 发出吶喊的声音。
56 因为有一位行毁灭的来攻击巴比伦， 巴比伦的勇士被擒住， 他们的弓弩折断了， 因为耶和华是报应的 神， 他必报复巴比伦。
57 我必使巴比伦的领袖和智慧人， 省长、总监和勇士都喝醉， 永远沉睡， 不再醒来。"这是君王的宣告， 万军之耶和华是他的名。
58 万军之耶和华这样说： "巴比伦宽阔的城墙必被夷为平地， 它高大的城门必被焚烧； 万民所劳碌的都必成空， 万族所辛劳的都付诸一炬。"
59 犹大王西底家执政的第四年， 玛西雅的孙子、尼利亚的儿子西莱雅和王同去巴比伦的时候， 耶利米先知有话吩咐西莱雅， 他是掌管住宿事务的官员。
60 耶利米把一切将要临到巴比伦的灾祸， 就是这一切论到巴比伦的话， 都写在一卷书上。
61 耶利米对西莱雅说： "你到了巴比伦以后， 一定要宣读这一切话，
62 然后你要说： ‘耶和华啊！ 论到这地方， 你曾经亲自说过要把它剪除， 使这地永远荒凉， 没有人畜居住。’
63 你宣读完这书卷以后， 要把一块石头和书拴在一起， 丢进幼发拉底河里，
64 然后说： ‘巴比伦必因耶和华（"耶和华"原文作"我"）所要降给它的灾祸， 照样沉下去， 不再浮上来； 它的人民也必灭没。’"耶利米的话到此为止。