11 “Sharpen the arrows!Pick up your shields!The Lord has stirred up the kings of the Medes,because he wants to destroy Babylon.The Lord will punish them as they deservefor destroying his Temple.
12 Lift up a banner against the walls of Babylon!Bring more guards.Put the watchmen in their places,and get ready for a secret attack!The Lord will certainly do what he has plannedand what he said he would do against the people of Babylon.
13 People of Babylon, you live near much waterand are rich with many treasures,but your end as a nation has come.It is time to stop you from robbing other nations.
14 The Lord All-Powerful has promised in his own name:‘Babylon, I will surely fill you with so many enemy soldiers they will be like a swarm of locusts.They will stand over you and shout their victory.’
15 “The Lord made the earth by his power.He used his wisdom to build the worldand his understanding to stretch out the skies.
16 When he thunders, the waters in the skies roar.He makes clouds rise in the sky all over the earth.He sends lightning with the rainand brings out the wind from his storehouses.
17 “People are so stupid and know so little.Goldsmiths are made ashamed by their idols,because those statues are only false gods.They have no breath in them.