⁴ Listen, a noise on the mountains,
    like that of a great multitude!^(A)
Listen, an uproar^(B) among the kingdoms,
    like nations massing together!
The Lord Almighty^(C) is mustering^(D)
    an army for war.
⁵ They come from faraway lands,
    from the ends of the heavens^(E)—
the Lord and the weapons^(F) of his wrath^(G)—
    to destroy^(H) the whole country.

¹⁷ See, I will stir up^(A) against them the Medes,^(B)
    who do not care for silver
    and have no delight in gold.^(C)
18 Their bows^(D) will strike down the young men;^(E)
    they will have no mercy^(F) on infants,
    nor will they look with compassion on children.^(G)
19 Babylon,^(H) the jewel of kingdoms,^(I)
    the pride and glory^(J) of the Babylonians,^[a]
will be overthrown^(K) by God
    like Sodom and Gomorrah.^(L)

²¹ “Attack the land of Merathaim
    and those who live in Pekod.^(A)
Pursue, kill and completely destroy^[a] them,”
declares the Lord.
    “Do everything I have commanded you.
²² The noise^(B) of battle is in the land,
    the noise of great destruction!
²³ How broken and shattered
    is the hammer^(C) of the whole earth!^(D)
How desolate^(E) is Babylon
    among the nations!
²⁴ I set a trap^(F) for you, Babylon,
    and you were caught before you knew it;
you were found and captured^(G)
    because you opposed^(H) the Lord.
²⁵ The Lord has opened his arsenal
    and brought out the weapons^(I) of his wrath,
for the Sovereign Lord Almighty has work to do
    in the land of the Babylonians.^(J)
26 Come against her from afar.^(K)
    Break open her granaries;
    pile her up like heaps of grain.^(L)
Completely destroy^(M) her
    and leave her no remnant.
²⁷ Kill all her young bulls;^(N)
    let them go down to the slaughter!^(O)
Woe to them! For their day^(P) has come,
    the time^(Q) for them to be punished.
²⁸ Listen to the fugitives^(R) and refugees from Babylon
    declaring in Zion^(S)
how the Lord our God has taken vengeance,^(T)
    vengeance for his temple.^(U)

²⁹ “Summon archers against Babylon,
    all those who draw the bow.^(V)
Encamp all around her;
    let no one escape.^(W)
Repay^(X) her for her deeds;^(Y)
    do to her as she has done.
For she has defied^(Z) the Lord,
    the Holy One^(AA) of Israel.