Jeremiah 51:4, 11, 20-24, 34-36, 56

They will be killed in the land of the Babylonians and will die in her streets.

“Sharpen the arrows! Pick up your shields! The LORD has stirred up the kings of the Medes, because he wants to destroy Babylon. The LORD will punish them as they deserve for destroying his Temple.

“You are my war club, my battle weapon. I use you to smash nations. I use you to destroy kingdoms. I use you to smash horses and riders. I use you to smash chariots and drivers. I use you to smash men and women. I use you to smash old people and young people. I use you to smash young men and young women. I use you to smash shepherds and flocks. I use you to smash farmers and oxen. I use you to smash governors and officers. “But I will pay back Babylon and all the Babylonians for all the evil things they did to Jerusalem in your sight,” says the LORD.

“Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has defeated and destroyed us. In the past he took our people away, and we became like an empty jar. He was like a giant snake that swallowed us. He filled his stomach with our best things. Then he spit us out. Babylon did terrible things to hurt us. Now let those things happen to Babylon,” say the people of Jerusalem. “The people of Babylon killed our people. Now let them be punished for what they did,” says Jerusalem. So this is what the LORD says: “I will soon defend you, Judah, and make sure that Babylon is punished. I will dry up Babylon’s sea and make her springs become dry.

The army has come to destroy Babylon. Her soldiers have been captured, and their bows are broken, because the LORD is a God who punishes people for the evil they do. He gives them the full punishment they deserve.