You suffering people of Jerusalem, you that stagger as though you were drunk,

In my anger I trampled whole nations and shattered them. I poured out their lifeblood on the ground."

Laugh on, people of Edom and Uz; be glad while you can. Your disaster is coming too; you too will stagger naked in shame.

You in turn will be covered with shame instead of honor. You yourself will drink and stagger. The LORD will make you drink your own cup of punishment, and your honor will be turned to disgrace.

When they drink from it, they will stagger and go out of their minds because of the war I am sending against them."

Across all the desert highlands people have come to plunder. I have sent war to destroy the entire land; no one can live in peace.

This is the day of the Sovereign LORD Almighty: today he will take revenge; today he will punish his enemies. His sword will eat them until it is full, and drink their blood until it is satisfied. Today the Almighty sacrifices his victims in the north, by the Euphrates.

"Proclaim it in the towns of Egypt, in Migdol, Memphis, and Tahpanhes: 'Get ready to defend yourselves; all you have will be destroyed in war!

You cry out, 'Sword of the LORD! How long will you go on slashing? Go back to your scabbard, stay there and rest!'

But how can it rest, when I have given it work to do? I have commanded it to attack Ashkelon and the people who live on the coast."

The LORD says, "Death to Babylonia! Death to its people, to its rulers, to its people of wisdom.

My arrows will drip with their blood, and my sword will kill all who oppose me. I will spare no one who fights against me; even the wounded and prisoners will die.'

I will use my sword against everyone from south to north.

Everyone will know that I, the LORD, have drawn my sword and that I will not put it away.

to give you Israelites this message: You are proud of the strength of the Temple. You like to look at it and to visit it, but the LORD is going to profane it. And the younger members of your families who are left in Jerusalem will be killed in war.

You will not go bareheaded or barefoot or mourn or cry. You will waste away because of your sins, and you will groan to one another.

The LORD said, "Now, mortal man, I will take away from them the strong Temple that was their pride and joy, which they liked to look at and to visit. And I will take away their sons and daughters.