29-33 “The very land trembles in terror, writhes in pain,
    terrorized by my plans against Babylon,
Plans to turn the country of Babylon
    into a lifeless moonscape—a wasteland.
Babylon’s soldiers have quit fighting.
    They hide out in ruins and caves—
Cowards who’ve given up without a fight,
    exposed as cowering crybabies.
Babylon’s houses are going up in flames,
    the city gates torn off their hinges.
Runner after runner comes racing in,
    each on the heels of the last,
Bringing reports to the king of Babylon
    that his city is a lost cause.
The fords of the rivers are all taken.
    Wildfire rages through the swamp grass.
Soldiers desert left and right.
    I, God-of-the-Angel-Armies, said it would happen:
‘Daughter Babylon is a threshing floor
    at threshing time.
Soon, oh very soon, her harvest will come
    and then the chaff will fly!’

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30 Babylon’s warriors(A) have stopped fighting;
    they remain in their strongholds.
Their strength is exhausted;
    they have become weaklings.(B)
Her dwellings are set on fire;(C)
    the bars(D) of her gates are broken.
31 One courier(E) follows another
    and messenger follows messenger
to announce to the king of Babylon
    that his entire city is captured,(F)
32 the river crossings seized,
    the marshes set on fire,(G)
    and the soldiers terrified.(H)

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