⁹ All the nations gather together^(A)
    and the peoples assemble.
Which of their gods foretold^(B) this
    and proclaimed to us the former things?
Let them bring in their witnesses to prove they were right,
    so that others may hear and say, “It is true.”

²¹ Declare what is to be, present it—
    let them take counsel together.
Who foretold^(A) this long ago,
    who declared it from the distant past?^(B)
Was it not I, the Lord?
    And there is no God apart from me,^(C)
a righteous God^(D) and a Savior;^(E)
    there is none but me.

¹⁰ I make known the end from the beginning,^(A)
    from ancient times,^(B) what is still to come.^(C)
I say, ‘My purpose will stand,^(D)
    and I will do all that I please.’

¹¹ From the east I summon^(A) a bird of prey;^(B)
    from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose.
What I have said, that I will bring about;
    what I have planned,^(C) that I will do.^(D)

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.