Jeremiah 50:4-20

YAHWEH says: “When that day comes the people of Israel and the people of Judah will go out together with tears streaming down their cheeks to seek YAHWEH their God. They will ask the way to Zion and turn their faces toward her, saying to one another, ‘Come, let us bind our hearts to YAHWEH in an eternal covenant, which we will never break.’ “My people are like lost sheep; their shepherds led them astray. They are lost, wandering about in the mountains. They went from mountain to hill, forgetting their resting place. Whoever came across them took advantage of them. Their enemies said, ‘We are not to blame, for they have sinned against YAHWEH, the True Home of Justice, against YAHWEH, the Living Hope of their ancestors.’ “My people, flee Babylon and run from the land of the Chaldeans. Be the first ones to leave! For listen, I am stirring up trouble out of the north against Babylon, and raising up a coalition of mighty nations to attack her. They will take up battle positions against her and conquer her. Their arrows are like a skilled soldier who kills and never returns empty-handed. I, YAHWEH, declare that Chaldea will be plundered, and all who plunder her will be satisfied.” “I, YAHWEH, say to the people of Babylon: You rejoiced when you robbed my people, my inheritance. You had a good time, making more noise than horses neighing and frolicking like playful heifers at the time of the threshing of grain. But your motherland is covered with shame, and the city that nurtured you like a mother is totally disgraced. Now, she is the least of nations, nothing but a desert, a parched wasteland. Because of YAHWEH’s anger, Babylon will become desolate and uninhabited forever. Everyone who passes by will be shocked to see what has happened and will hiss out their scorn. Archers! Take your positions against Babylon and surround her. Shoot at her! Empty your quiver, for she has sinned against YAHWEH. Raise the war cry against her from all sides. She surrenders! The attackers have broken down her fortifications and walls. This is YAHWEH’s vengeance! Take revenge on her. Do to them what they did to others. Uproot from Babylon those who plant fields and harvest crops. They have all fled from the attacking army and returned to their homelands.” “Israel was like straying lambs, driven away and scattered by lions. “First, the king of Assyria devoured them, and now, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has gnawed their bones. So I, YAHWEH, God of Israel, Commander of Angel Armies, say this: Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his nation as I punished the king of Assyria. “I will bring Israel back to her own land. The people will be like sheep eating their fill on Mount Carmel, in Bashan, in the hill country of Ephraim, and in Gilead. They will all be satisfied. I, YAHWEH, declare that at that time, you may look for Israel’s guilt, but it will disappear, you may search for Judah’s sins, but you will not find them, for I will forgive the remnant whose lives I have spared.”