43 Her towns are devastated;her land is scorched and barren,a place where no one livesor dares to pass through.
44 I will punish Bel in Babylon;I will force him to vomitwhat he’s consumed.Then nations will no longerstream to him,and Babylon’s walls will collapse!
45 Get out of Babylon, my people!Run for your livesfrom the Lord’s fierce anger.
46 Don’t be distracted or frightenedby the rumors you hear in the land.Sometimes you hear one thingand another time something else:rumors of violence and uprisings.
47 The time is comingwhen I will deal with Babylon’s idols;the whole land will be disgraced,and her wounded will fall in her midst.
48 Then all creation will rejoice over Babylon,because out of the northdestroying armies will come to attack her,declares the Lord.
49 Babylon must fallfor the dead in Israel,as the dead of all the earthhave fallen to Babylon.