" A sword [is] against the Chaldeans," says the LORD, "Against the inhabitants of Babylon, And against her princes and her wise men.

A sword [is] against their horses, Against their chariots, And against all the mixed peoples who [are] in her midst; And they will become like women. A sword [is] against her treasures, and they will be robbed.

Make the arrows bright! Gather the shields! The LORD has raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes. For His plan [is] against Babylon to destroy it, Because it [is] the vengeance of the LORD, The vengeance for His temple.

" You [are] My battle-ax [and] weapons of war: For with you I will break the nation in pieces; With you I will destroy kingdoms;

Gird Your sword upon [Your] thigh, O Mighty One, With Your glory and Your majesty.

Your arrows [are] sharp in the heart of the King's enemies; The peoples fall under You.

"Lift up a banner on the high mountain, Raise your voice to them; Wave your hand, that they may enter the gates of the nobles.

The noise of a multitude in the mountains, Like that of many people! A tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together! The LORD of hosts musters The army for battle.

And he saw a chariot [with] a pair of horsemen, A chariot of donkeys, [and] a chariot of camels, And he listened earnestly with great care.

And look, here comes a chariot of men [with] a pair of horsemen!" Then he answered and said, "Babylon is fallen, is fallen! And all the carved images of her gods He has broken to the ground."

Shout against her all around; She has given her hand, Her foundations have fallen, Her walls are thrown down; For it [is] the vengeance of the LORD. Take vengeance on her. As she has done, so do to her.

Set up the standard on the walls of Babylon; Make the guard strong, Set up the watchmen, Prepare the ambushes. For the LORD has both devised and done What He spoke against the inhabitants of Babylon.

"Behold, I [am] against you, O destroying mountain, Who destroys all the earth," says the LORD. "And I will stretch out My hand against you, Roll you down from the rocks, And make you a burnt mountain.

Because the LORD is plundering Babylon And silencing her loud voice, Though her waves roar like great waters, And the noise of their voice is uttered,

" For I will rise up against them," says the LORD of hosts, "And cut off from Babylon the name and remnant, And offspring and posterity," says the LORD.

The LORD of hosts has sworn, saying, "Surely, as I have thought, so it shall come to pass, And as I have purposed, [so] it shall stand:

Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times [things] that are not [yet] done, Saying, 'My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,'

Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man who executes My counsel, from a far country. Indeed I have spoken [it;] I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed [it;] I will also do it.

"All of you, assemble yourselves, and hear! Who among them has declared these [things?] The LORD loves him; He shall do His pleasure on Babylon, And His arm [shall be against] the Chaldeans.

I, [even] I, have spoken; Yes, I have called him, I have brought him, and his way will prosper.

If a trumpet is blown in a city, will not the people be afraid? If there is calamity in a city, will not the LORD have done [it?]

"Therefore her plagues will come in one day -- death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong [is] the Lord God who judges her.