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1. This is the message the Lord spoke through the prophet Jeremiah about the nation of Babylon and the Babylonian people.
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1. The word H1697 that H834 the LORD H3068 spoke H1696 against H413 Babylon H894 and against H413 the land H776 of the Chaldeans H3778 by H3027 Jeremiah H3414 the prophet H5030 .
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2. "Announce this to all nations! Lift up a flag and announce the message! Speak the whole message and say, 'The nation of Babylon will be captured. The god Bel will be put to shame. The god Marduk will be very afraid. Babylon's idols will be put to shame. Her gods will be filled with terror.'
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2. Declare H5046 ye among the nations H1471 , and publish H8085 , and set up H5375 a standard H5251 ; publish H8085 , and conceal H3582 not H408 : say H559 , Babylon H894 is taken H3920 , Bel H1078 is confounded H3001 , Merodach H4781 is broken in pieces H2844 ; her idols H6091 are confounded H3001 , her images H1544 are broken in pieces H2865 .
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3. A nation from the north will attack Babylon. That nation will make Babylon like an empty desert. No one will live there. Both men and animals will run away."
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3. For H3588 out of the north H4480 H6828 there cometh up H5927 a nation H1471 against H5921 her, which H1931 shall make H7896 H853 her land H776 desolate H8047 , and none H3808 shall H1961 dwell H3427 therein : they shall remove H5110 , they shall depart H1980 , both man H4480 H120 and beast H929 .
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4. The Lord says, "At that time the people of Israel and the people of Judah will be together. They will cry and cry together, and together, they will go look for the Lord their God.
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4. In those H1992 days H3117 , and in that H1931 time H6256 , saith H5002 the LORD H3068 , the children H1121 of Israel H3478 shall come H935 , they H1992 and the children H1121 of Judah H3063 together H3162 , going H1980 and weeping H1058 : they shall go H1980 , and seek H1245 the LORD H3068 their God H430 .
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5. They will ask how to go to Zion. They will start to go in that direction. They will say, 'Come, let us join ourselves to the Lord. Let's make an agreement that will last forever. Let's make an agreement that we will never forget.'
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5. They shall ask H7592 the way H1870 to Zion H6726 with their faces H6440 thitherward H2008 , saying , Come H935 , and let us join ourselves H3867 to H413 the LORD H3068 in a perpetual H5769 covenant H1285 that shall not H3808 be forgotten H7911 .
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6. "My people have been like lost sheep. Their shepherds led them the wrong way and made them wander around in the mountains and hills. They forgot where their resting place was.
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6. My people H5971 hath been H1961 lost H6 sheep H6629 : their shepherds H7462 have caused them to go astray H8582 , they have turned them away H7725 on the mountains H2022 : they have gone H1980 from mountain H4480 H2022 to H413 hill H1389 , they have forgotten H7911 their resting place H7258 .
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7. Whoever found my people hurt them. And those enemies said, 'We did nothing wrong.' Those people sinned against the Lord, their true resting place. He was the God who their fathers trusted in.
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7. All H3605 that found H4672 them have devoured H398 them : and their adversaries H6862 said H559 , We offend H816 not H3808 , because H8478 H834 they have sinned H2398 against the LORD H3068 , the habitation H5116 of justice H6664 , even the LORD H3068 , the hope H4723 of their fathers H1 .
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8. "Run away from Babylon. Leave the land of the Babylonians. Be like the goats that lead the flock.
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8. Remove H5110 out of the midst H4480 H8432 of Babylon H894 , and go forth H3318 out of the land H4480 H776 of the Chaldeans H3778 , and be H1961 as the he goats H6260 before H6440 the flocks H6629 .
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9. I will bring many nations together from the north. This group of nations will get ready for war against Babylon. Babylon will be captured by people from the north. Those nations will shoot many arrows at Babylon. Their arrows will be like soldiers who don't come back from war with their hands empty.
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9. For H3588 , lo H2009 , I H595 will raise H5782 and cause to come up H5927 against H5921 Babylon H894 an assembly H6951 of great H1419 nations H1471 from the north H6828 country H4480 H776 : and they shall set themselves in array H6186 against her ; from thence H4480 H8033 she shall be taken H3920 : their arrows H2671 shall be as of a mighty H1368 expert H7919 man; none H3808 shall return H7725 in vain H7387 .
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10. The enemy will take all the wealth from the Chaldeans. The soldiers will take all they want." This is what the Lord said.
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10. And Chaldea H3778 shall be H1961 a spoil H7997 : all H3605 that spoil H7998 her shall be satisfied H7646 , saith H5002 the LORD H3068 .
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11. "Babylon, you are excited and happy. You took my land. You dance around like a young cow that got into the grain. Your laughter is like the happy sounds that horses make.
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11. Because H3588 ye were glad H8055 , because H3588 ye rejoiced H5937 , O ye destroyers H8154 of mine heritage H5159 , because H3588 ye are grown fat H6335 as the heifer H5697 at grass H1877 , and bellow H6670 as bulls H47 ;
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12. Now your mother will be very ashamed. The woman who gave you birth will be embarrassed. Babylon will be the least important of all the nations. She will be an empty, dry desert.
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12. Your mother H517 shall be sore H3966 confounded H954 ; she that bore H3205 you shall be ashamed H2659 : behold H2009 , the hindmost H319 of the nations H1471 shall be a wilderness H4057 , a dry land H6723 , and a desert H6160 .
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13. The Lord will show his anger, so no one will live there. Babylon will be completely empty. Everyone who passes by Babylon will be afraid. They will shake their heads when they see how badly it has been destroyed.
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13. Because of the wrath H4480 H7110 of the LORD H3068 it shall not H3808 be inhabited H3427 , but it shall be H1961 wholly H3605 desolate H8077 : every one H3605 that goeth H5674 by H5921 Babylon H894 shall be astonished H8074 , and hiss H8319 at H5921 all H3605 her plagues H4347 .
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14. "Prepare for war against Babylon. All you soldiers with bows, shoot your arrows at Babylon. Don't save any of your arrows. Babylon has sinned against the Lord.
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14. Put yourselves in array H6186 against H5921 Babylon H894 round about H5439 : all H3605 ye that bend H1869 the bow H7198 , shoot H3034 at H413 her, spare H2550 no H408 arrows H2671 : for H3588 she hath sinned H2398 against the LORD H3068 .
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15. Soldiers around Babylon, shout the cry of victory! Babylon has surrendered! Her walls and towers have been pulled down! The Lord is giving her people the punishment they deserve. You nations should give Babylon the punishment she deserves. Do to her what she has done to other nations.
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15. Shout H7321 against H5921 her round about H5439 : she hath given H5414 her hand H3027 : her foundations H803 are fallen H5307 , her walls H2346 are thrown down H2040 : for H3588 it H1931 is the vengeance H5360 of the LORD H3068 : take vengeance H5358 upon her; as H834 she hath done H6213 , do H6213 unto her.
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16. Don't let the people from Babylon plant their crops. Don't let them gather the harvest. The soldiers of Babylon brought many prisoners to their city. Now the enemy soldiers have come, so the prisoners are going back home. They are running back to their own countries.
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16. Cut off H3772 the sower H2232 from Babylon H4480 H894 , and him that handleth H8610 the sickle H4038 in the time H6256 of harvest H7105 : for fear H4480 H6440 of the oppressing H3238 sword H2719 they shall turn H6437 every one H376 to H413 his people H5971 , and they shall flee H5127 every one H376 to his own land H776 .
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17. "Israel is like a flock of sheep that was scattered all over the country. Israel is like sheep that were chased away by lions. The first lion to attack was the king of Assyria. The last lion to crush Israel's bones was King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.
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17. Israel H3478 is a scattered H6340 sheep H7716 ; the lions H738 have driven him away H5080 : first H7223 the king H4428 of Assyria H804 hath devoured H398 him ; and last H314 this H2088 Nebuchadnezzar H5019 king H4428 of Babylon H894 hath broken his bones H6105 .
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18. So this is what the Lord All-Powerful, the God of Israel, says: 'I will soon punish the king of Babylon and his country as I punished the king of Assyria.
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18. Therefore H3651 thus H3541 saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 , the God H430 of Israel H3478 ; Behold H2009 , I will punish H6485 H413 the king H4428 of Babylon H894 and his land H776 , as H834 I have punished H6485 H413 the king H4428 of Assyria H804 .
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19. "'I will bring Israel back to his own fields. He will eat food that grows on Mount Carmel and in the land of Bashan. He will eat and be full. He will eat on the hills in the lands of Ephraim and Gilead.'"
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19. And I will bring H7725 H853 Israel H3478 again to H413 his habitation H5116 , and he shall feed H7462 on Carmel H3760 and Bashan H1316 , and his soul H5315 shall be satisfied H7646 upon mount H2022 Ephraim H669 and Gilead H1568 .
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20. The Lord says, "At that time people will try hard to find Israel's guilt, but there will be no guilt. People will try to find Judah's sins, but no sins will be found. That is because I am saving a few survivors from Israel and Judah. And I am forgiving them for all their sins."
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20. In those H1992 days H3117 , and in that H1931 time H6256 , saith H5002 the LORD H3068 , H853 the iniquity H5771 of Israel H3478 shall be sought for H1245 , and there shall be none H369 ; and the sins H2403 of Judah H3063 , and they shall not H3808 be found H4672 : for H3588 I will pardon H5545 them whom H834 I reserve H7604 .
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21. The Lord says, "Attack the country of Merathaim! Attack the people living in Pekod! Attack them! Kill them and destroy them completely! Do everything I commanded you!
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21. Go up H5927 against H5921 the land H776 of Merathaim H4850 , even against H5921 it , and against H413 the inhabitants H3427 of Pekod H6489 : waste H2717 and utterly destroy H2763 after H310 them, saith H5002 the LORD H3068 , and do H6213 according to all H3605 that H834 I have commanded H6680 thee.
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22. "The noise of battle can be heard all over the country. It is the noise of much destruction.
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22. A sound H6963 of battle H4421 is in the land H776 , and of great H1419 destruction H7667 .
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23. Babylon was called 'The Hammer of the Whole Earth.' But now the 'Hammer' is shattered. Babylon is the most ruined of the nations.
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23. How H349 is the hammer H6360 of the whole H3605 earth H776 cut asunder H1438 and broken H7665 ! how H349 is Babylon H894 become H1961 a desolation H8047 among the nations H1471 !
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24. Babylon, I set a trap for you, and you were caught before you knew it. You fought against the Lord, so you were found and captured.
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24. I have laid a snare H3369 for thee , and thou art also H1571 taken H3920 , O Babylon H894 , and thou H859 wast not H3808 aware H3045 : thou art found H4672 , and also H1571 caught H8610 , because H3588 thou hast striven H1624 against the LORD H3068 .
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25. The Lord has opened up his storeroom and brought out the weapons of his anger. The Lord God All-Powerful brought out those weapons, because he has work to do in the land of the Chaldeans.
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25. The LORD H3068 hath opened H6605 H853 his armory H214 , and hath brought forth H3318 H853 the weapons H3627 of his indignation H2195 : for H3588 this H1931 is the work H4399 of the Lord H136 GOD H3069 of hosts H6635 in the land H776 of the Chaldeans H3778 .
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26. "Come against Babylon from far away. Break open the storehouses where she keeps her grain. Destroy Babylon completely. Don't leave anyone alive. Pile up her dead bodies like big piles of grain.
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26. Come H935 against her from the utmost border H4480 H7093 , open H6605 her storehouses H3965 : cast her up H5549 as heaps H6194 , and destroy H2763 her utterly : let nothing H408 of her be H1961 left H7611 .
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27. Kill all the young men in Babylon. Let them be slaughtered like bulls. How terrible for them that their day of defeat has come! It is time for them to be punished.
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27. Slay H2717 all H3605 her bullocks H6499 ; let them go down H3381 to the slaughter H2874 : woe H1945 unto H5921 them! for H3588 their day H3117 is come H935 , the time H6256 of their visitation H6486 .
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28. People are running out of Babylon. They are escaping from that country and coming to Zion. They are telling everyone the good news about what the Lord is doing. The Lord our God is giving Babylon the punishment it deserves. The Lord is destroying Babylon, because it destroyed his Temple!
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28. The voice H6963 of them that flee H5127 and escape H6412 out of the land H4480 H776 of Babylon H894 , to declare H5046 in Zion H6726 H853 the vengeance H5360 of the LORD H3068 our God H430 , the vengeance H5360 of his temple H1964 .
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29. "Call for the archers. Tell them to attack Babylon. Tell them to surround the city. Don't let anyone escape. Pay her back for the bad things she has done. Do to her what she has done to other nations. Babylon did not respect the Lord. Babylon was very rude to the Holy One of Israel. So punish Babylon.
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29. Call together H8085 the archers H7228 against H413 Babylon H894 : all H3605 ye that bend H1869 the bow H7198 , camp H2583 against H5921 it round about H5439 ; let H1961 none H408 thereof escape H6413 : recompense H7999 her according to her work H6467 ; according to all H3605 that H834 she hath done H6213 , do H6213 unto her: for H3588 she hath been proud H2102 against H413 the LORD H3068 , against H413 the Holy One H6918 of Israel H3478 .
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30. Babylon's young men will be killed in the streets. All her soldiers will die on that day." This is what the Lord says.
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30. Therefore H3651 shall her young men H970 fall H5307 in the streets H7339 , and all H3605 her men H376 of war H4421 shall be cut off H1826 in that H1931 day H3117 , saith H5002 the LORD H3068 .
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31. "Babylon, you are too proud, and I am against you," says the Lord God All-Powerful. "I am against you, and the time has come for you to be punished.
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31. Behold H2009 , I am against H413 thee, O thou most proud H2087 , saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD H3069 of hosts H6635 : for H3588 thy day H3117 is come H935 , the time H6256 that I will visit H6485 thee.
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32. Proud Babylon will stumble and fall, and no one will help her get up. I will start a fire in her towns. That fire will completely burn up everyone around her."
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32. And the most proud H2087 shall stumble H3782 and fall H5307 , and none H369 shall raise him up H6965 : and I will kindle H3341 a fire H784 in his cities H5892 , and it shall devour H398 all H3605 round about H5439 him.
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33. This is what the Lord All-Powerful says: "The people of Israel and Judah are slaves. The enemy took them, and the enemy will not let Israel go.
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33. Thus H3541 saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 ; The children H1121 of Israel H3478 and the children H1121 of Judah H3063 were oppressed H6231 together H3162 : and all H3605 that took them captives H7617 held them fast H2388 ; they refused H3985 to let them go H7971 .
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34. But God will get them back. His name is the Lord God All-Powerful. He will defend them very strongly. He will argue their case so that he can let their land rest. But there will be no rest for those living in Babylon."
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34. Their Redeemer H1350 is strong H2389 ; the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 is his name H8034 : he shall throughly plead H7378 H7378 H853 their cause H7379 , that H4616 he may give rest H7280 H853 to the land H776 , and disquiet H7264 the inhabitants H3427 of Babylon H894 .
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35. The Lord says, "Sword, kill the people living in Babylon. Sword, kill the king's officials and the wise men of Babylon.
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35. A sword H2719 is upon H5921 the Chaldeans H3778 , saith H5002 the LORD H3068 , and upon H413 the inhabitants H3427 of Babylon H894 , and upon H413 her princes H8269 , and upon H413 her wise H2450 men .
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36. Sword, kill the priests of Babylon. They will be like fools. Sword, kill the soldiers of Babylon. They will be full of fear.
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36. A sword H2719 is upon H413 the liars H907 ; and they shall dote H2973 : a sword H2719 is upon H413 her mighty men H1368 ; and they shall be dismayed H2865 .
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37. Sword, kill the horses and chariots of Babylon. Sword, kill all the soldiers hired from other countries. They will be like frightened women. Sword, destroy the treasures of Babylon. Those treasures will be taken away.
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37. A sword H2719 is upon H413 their horses H5483 , and upon H413 their chariots H7393 , and upon H413 all H3605 the mingled people H6154 that H834 are in the midst H8432 of her ; and they shall become H1961 as women H802 : a sword H2719 is upon H413 her treasures H214 ; and they shall be robbed H962 .
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38. Sword, strike the waters of Babylon. Those waters will be dried up. Babylon has many, many idols. These idols show that the people of Babylon are foolish. So bad things will happen to them.
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38. A drought H2721 is upon H413 her waters H4325 ; and they shall be dried up H3001 : for H3588 it is the land H776 of graven images H6456 , and they H1931 are mad H1984 upon their idols H367 .
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39. Babylon will never again be filled with people. Wild dogs, ostriches, and other desert animals will live there. But no one will live there ever again.
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39. Therefore H3651 the wild beasts of the desert H6728 with H854 the wild beasts of the islands H338 shall dwell H3427 there , and the owls H1323 H3284 shall dwell H3427 therein : and it shall be no H3808 more H5750 inhabited H3427 forever H5331 ; neither H3808 shall it be dwelt in H7931 from H5704 generation H1755 to generation H1755 .
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40. God completely destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah and the towns around them. In the same way no one will live in Babylon, and no one will ever go to live there.
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40. As God H430 overthrew H4114 H853 Sodom H5467 and Gomorrah H6017 and the neighbor H7934 cities thereof, saith H5002 the LORD H3068 ; so shall no H3808 man H376 abide H3427 there H8033 , neither H3808 shall any son H1121 of man H120 dwell H1481 therein.
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41. "Look! There are people coming from the north. They come from a powerful nation. Many kings are coming together from all around the world.
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41. Behold H2009 , a people H5971 shall come H935 from the north H4480 H6828 , and a great H1419 nation H1471 , and many H7227 kings H4428 shall be raised up H5782 from the coasts H4480 H3411 of the earth H776 .
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42. Their armies have bows and spears. The soldiers are cruel. They have no mercy. The soldiers come riding on their horses; the sound is loud like the roaring sea. They stand in their places, ready for battle. They are ready to attack you, city of Babylon.
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42. They shall hold H2388 the bow H7198 and the lance H3591 : they H1992 are cruel H394 , and will not H3808 show mercy H7355 : their voice H6963 shall roar H1993 like the sea H3220 , and they shall ride H7392 upon H5921 horses H5483 , every one put in array H6186 , like a man H376 to the battle H4421 , against H5921 thee , O daughter H1323 of Babylon H894 .
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43. The king of Babylon heard about those armies, and he is paralyzed with fear. He is overcome with fear and pain, like a woman giving birth.
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43. The king H4428 of Babylon H894 hath heard H8085 H853 the report H8088 of them , and his hands H3027 waxed feeble H7503 : anguish H6869 took hold H2388 of him, and pangs H2427 as of a woman in travail H3205 .
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44. "Sometimes a lion will come from the thick bushes near the Jordan River. It will walk into the fields where people have their animals. I will be like that lion; I will chase Babylon from its land. Who should I choose to do this? There is no one like me. There is no one who can challenge me. No shepherd will come to chase me away. I will chase away the Babylonians."
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44. Behold H2009 , he shall come up H5927 like a lion H738 from the swelling H4480 H1347 of Jordan H3383 unto H413 the habitation H5116 of the strong H386 : but H3588 I will make them suddenly H7280 run away H7323 from H4480 H5921 her : and who H4310 is a chosen H977 man, that I may appoint H6485 over H413 her? for H3588 who H4310 is like me H3644 ? and who H4310 will appoint me the time H3259 ? and who H4310 is that H2088 shepherd H7462 that H834 will stand H5975 before H6440 me?
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45. Listen to what the Lord has planned to do to Babylon. Listen to what he has decided to do to the Babylonians. "I promise that an enemy will drag away the young kids of Babylon's flock, and Babylon will become an empty pasture.
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45. Therefore H3651 hear H8085 ye the counsel H6098 of the LORD H3068 , that H834 he hath taken H3289 against H413 Babylon H894 ; and his purposes H4284 , that H834 he hath purposed H2803 against H413 the land H776 of the Chaldeans H3778 : Surely H518 H3808 the least H6810 of the flock H6629 shall draw them out H5498 : surely H518 H3808 he shall make their habitation H5116 desolate H8074 with H5921 them.
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46. Babylon will fall, and that fall will shake the earth. People in all nations will hear about the destruction of Babylon."
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46. At the noise H4480 H6963 of the taking H8610 of Babylon H894 the earth H776 is moved H7493 , and the cry H2201 is heard H8085 among the nations H1471 .
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