Jeremiah 50:1-10

Contemporary English Version

Babylon Will Be Captured

50 ^(A) The Lord told me to say:

Announce what will happen
and don't leave anything out.
² Raise the signal flags;
shout so all nations can hear—
Babylon will be captured!

Marduk,^[a] Babylon's god,
will be ashamed and terrified,
    and his idols broken.
³The attack on the Babylonians
    will come from the north;
they and their animals will run,
    leaving the land empty.

Israel and Judah Will Return to Their Land

⁴The Lord said:

People of Israel and Judah,
when these things happen
    you will weep, and together
you will return to your land
and worship me,
    the Lord your God.
⁵You will ask the way to Zion
and then come and join with me
    in making an agreement
    you won't break or forget.

⁶My people, you are lost sheep
abandoned in the mountains
    by their shepherds.
You don't even remember
    your resting place.
⁷I am your true pastureland,
the one who gave hope
    to your ancestors.
But you abandoned me,
so when your enemies found you,
    they felt no guilt
    as they gobbled you up.

⁸^(B) Escape from Babylonia,
    my people.
Get out of that country!
    Don't wait for anyone else.
⁹In the north I am bringing
    great nations together.
They will attack Babylon
    and capture it.
The arrows they shoot
are like the best soldiers,^[b]
    always finding their target.
¹⁰Babylonia will be conquered,
and its enemies will carry off
    everything they want.

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Footnotes

50.2 Marduk: The Hebrew text has “Bel” and “Marduk,” two names for the same god.
50.9 the best soldiers: Some Hebrew manuscripts and two ancient translations; most Hebrew manuscripts “soldiers that kill children.”