50 The God of their ancestors had continued to send prophets to call them back from their sins, because he wanted to spare them and their Temple.
51 But when the Lord spoke through his prophets, the people ridiculed them and laughed.
52 At last the Lord became so angry with his people and their depraved ways that he ordered the kings of Babylonia to attack them.
53 The Babylonians killed the young men of Judah all round the Temple and did not spare anyone, young or old, man or woman. The Lord handed them all over to their enemies.
54 The Babylonians carried off all the sacred utensils from the Temple, the treasure chests, and the wealth of the king; they took everything away to Babylon, leaving nothing behind.
55 They burnt down the Temple, broke down the city wall, set fire to its towers,
56 and completely destroyed all its beauty. Nebuchadnezzar forced all the survivors to be led away to Babylon,