3 The Lord will take away the Israelites’ hard work and will comfort them. They will no longer have to work hard as slaves.
4 On that day Israel will sing this song about the king of Babylon:The cruel king who ruled us is finished;his angry rule is finished!
5 The Lord has broken the scepter of evil rulersand taken away their power.
6 The king of Babylon struck people in angeragain and again.He ruled nations in angerand continued to hurt them.
7 But now, the whole world rests and is quiet.Now the people begin to sing.
8 Even the pine trees are happy,and the cedar trees of Lebanon rejoice.They say, “The king has fallen,so no one will ever cut us down again.”
9 The place of the dead is excitedto meet you when you come.It wakes the spirits of the dead,the leaders of the world.It makes kings of all nationsstand up from their thrones to greet you.