Babylon's Capture
1 This is the message that the Lord gave me about the city of Babylon and its people:
2 “Tell the news to the nations! Proclaim it!
Give the signal and announce the news!
Do not keep it a secret!
Babylon has fallen!
Her god Marduk has been shattered!
Babylon's idols are put to shame;
her disgusting images are crushed!
3 “A nation from the north has come to attack Babylonia and will make it a desert. People and animals will run away, and no one will live there.”
Israel's Return
4 The Lord says, “When that time comes, the people of both Israel and Judah will come weeping, looking for me, their God. 5 They will ask the way to Zion and then go in that direction. They will make an eternal covenant with me and never break it.
6 “My people are like sheep whose shepherds have let them get lost in the mountains. They have wandered like sheep from one mountain to another, and they have forgotten where their home is. 7 They are attacked by all who find them. Their enemies say, ‘They sinned against the Lord, and so what we have done is not wrong. Their ancestors trusted in the Lord, and they themselves should have remained faithful to him.’
8 “People of Israel, run away from Babylonia! Leave the country! Be the first to leave! 9 I am going to stir up a group of strong nations in the north and make them attack Babylonia. They will line up in battle against the country and conquer it. They are skillful hunters, shooting arrows that never miss the mark. 10 Babylonia will be looted, and those who loot it will take everything they want. I, the Lord, have spoken.”
Babylon's Fall
11 The Lord says, “People of Babylonia, you plundered my nation. You are happy and glad, going about like a cow threshing grain or like a neighing horse, 12 but your own great city will be humiliated and disgraced. Babylonia will be the least important nation of all; it will become a dry and waterless desert. 13 Because of my anger no one will live in Babylon; it will be left in ruins, and all who pass by will be shocked and amazed.
14 “Archers, line up for battle against Babylon and surround it. Shoot all your arrows at Babylon, because it has sinned against me, the Lord. 15 Raise the war cry all around the city! Now Babylon has surrendered. Its walls have been broken through and torn down. I am taking my revenge on the Babylonians. So take your revenge on them, and treat them as they have treated others. 16 Do not let seeds be planted in that country nor let a harvest be gathered. Every foreigner living there will be afraid of the attacking army and will go back home.”
Israel's Return
17 The Lord says, “The people of Israel are like sheep, chased and scattered by lions. First, they were attacked by the emperor of Assyria, and then King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia gnawed on their bones. 18 Because of this, I, the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, will punish King Nebuchadnezzar and his country, just as I punished the emperor of Assyria. 19 I will restore the people of Israel to their land. They will eat the food that grows on Mount Carmel and in the region of Bashan, and they will eat all they want of the crops that grow in the territories of Ephraim and Gilead. 20 When that time comes, no sin will be found in Israel and no wickedness in Judah, because I will forgive those people whose lives I have spared. I, the Lord, have spoken.”
God's Judgment on Babylonia
21 The Lord says, “Attack the people of Merathaim and of Pekod. Kill and destroy them. Do everything I command you. I, the Lord, have spoken. 22 The noise of battle is heard in the land, and there is great destruction. 23 Babylonia hammered the whole world to pieces, and now that hammer is shattered! All the nations are shocked at what has happened to that country. 24 Babylonia, you fought against me, and you have been caught in the trap I set for you, even though you did not know it. 25 I have opened the place where my weapons are stored, and in my anger I have taken them out, because I, the Sovereign Lord Almighty, have work to do in Babylonia. 26 Attack it from every side and break open the places where its grain is stored! Pile up the loot like piles of grain! Destroy the country! Leave nothing at all! 27 Kill all their soldiers! Slaughter them! The people of Babylonia are doomed! The time has come for them to be punished!”
( 28 Refugees escape from Babylonia and come to Jerusalem, and they tell how the Lord our God took revenge for what the Babylonians had done to his Temple.)
29 “Tell the archers to attack Babylon. Send out everyone who knows how to use the bow and arrow. Surround the city and don't let anyone escape. Pay it back for all it has done, and treat it as it has treated others, because it acted with pride against me, the Holy One of Israel. 30 So its young men will be killed in the city streets, and all its soldiers will be destroyed on that day. I, the Lord, have spoken.
31 “Babylonia, you are filled with pride, so I, the Sovereign Lord Almighty, am against you! The time has come for me to punish you. 32 Your proud nation will stumble and fall, and no one will help you up. I will set your cities on fire, and everything around will be destroyed.”
33 The Lord Almighty says, “The people of Israel and of Judah are oppressed. All who captured them are guarding them closely and will not let them go. 34 But the one who will rescue them is strong—his name is the Lord Almighty. He himself will take up their cause and will bring peace to the earth, but trouble to the people of Babylonia.”
35 The Lord says,
“Death to Babylonia!
Death to its people,
to its rulers, to its people of wisdom.
36 Death to its lying prophets—
what fools they are!
Death to its soldiers—
how terrified they are!
37 Destroy its horses and chariots!
Death to its hired soldiers—
how weak they are!
Destroy its treasures;
plunder and loot.
38 Bring a drought on its land
and dry up its rivers.
Babylonia is a land of terrifying idols
that have made fools of the people.
39 “And so Babylon will be haunted by demons and evil spirits, and by unclean birds. Never again will people live there, not for all time to come. 40 The same thing will happen to Babylon that happened to Sodom and Gomorrah, when I destroyed them and the nearby towns. No one will ever live there again. I, the Lord, have spoken.
41 “People are coming from a country in the north,
a mighty nation far away;
many kings are preparing for war.
42 They have taken their bows and swords;
they are cruel and merciless.
They sound like the roaring sea,
as they ride their horses.
They are ready for battle against Babylonia.
43 The king of Babylonia hears the news,
and his hands hang limp.
He is seized by anguish,
by pain like a woman in labor.
44 “Like a lion coming out of the thick woods along the Jordan up to the green pasture land, I, the Lord, will come and make the Babylonians run away suddenly from their city. Then the leader I choose will rule the nation. Who can be compared to me? Who would dare challenge me? What ruler could oppose me? 45 So listen to the plan that I have made against the city of Babylon and to what I intend to do to its people. Even their children will be dragged off, and everyone will be horrified. 46 When Babylon falls, there will be such a noise that the entire earth will shake, and the cries of alarm will be heard by the other nations.”
Omahuuriro wotjihuro Babilon
1 Ombuze ya Muhona ndja hungirira otjihuro Babilon novature vatjo notjinyo tjandje oyo ndji:
2 Tjiviseye ombuze koviwaṋa! Zuvariseye yo!
Turikeye erapi rotjiraisiro; nu zuvariseye ombuze!
Amu i undike!
Babilon tja huurwa!
Omukuru watjo Merodak wa hahaurwa!
Oomukuru vovisenginina va Babilon va ṱohoṋi,
oviserekarera vyatjo oviyaukise vya nyanyaurwa!
3 “Otjiwaṋa tji tja zira kokunene kweyuva, tje ya okurwisa ehi ra Babilon, nu matji tjitukisa ro ri rire ongaango. Ovandu mave tupuka novinamuinyo wina, nu kape na umwe ngu ma tura mu ro.”
Omakotokero wotjiwaṋa tja Israel
4 Muhona ma tja nai: “Momayuva ngo otjiwaṋa tja Israel notja Juda mavi ya. Ovyo mavi yende amavi riri, amavi paha ami, Ndjambi wavyo. 5 Ovyo mavi pura ondjira ndji yenda kOsion, tjazumba mavi hungama ngo. Ovyo mavi tjiti omerikutiropamwe omakarere na ami, nu kamaavi ye teya ko.
6 “Otjiwaṋa tjandje tji ri otja ozonḓu nḓa pandjarisiwa i ovarise vazo mozondundu. Otjo aatji ryanga otja ozonḓu okuza kondundu nga kondundu, nu tja zemba onganda kondundu, nu tja zemba onganda yatjo. 7 Otjo tja tura ondjo komurungu wa Muhona, nu ihi eṱe tji twa tjita katja ri posyo. Ooihe mukururume ve riyamekere ku Muhona, nowo oveni wina va sere okukara nouṱakame mu ye.
8 “Vaisrael, taureye mObabilon! Zamoeye mehi! Saneye kozongombe ozondume nḓe hongorera orupanda! 9 Ami me hohiza otjira tjomihoko ominamasa vyokeyuva kokunene, nu me tjiti kutja vi rwise Babilon. Ovyo mavi rirongerere okurwisa ehi nu avi kambura ro. Ovyo oviyeve ovinaunongo, nu vi yumba oviku mbi ha parwisa. 10 Ehi ra Babilon mari pundwa, nu imba mbu mave ri pundu, mave kambura oviṋa avihe mbi mave vanga. Ami, ngu mbi ri Muhona, owami ngu mba hungire.”
Babilon matji haverwa
11 Muhona ma tja nai: “Vababilon, eṋe mwa punda otjiwaṋa tjandje. Eṋe mu nenyando nondjoroka, nu mamu ryanga tjimuna ozongombe ozonḓenḓu, nḓu maze yata ovikokotwa poo tjimuna oukambe outwezu mbu mau vandara. 12 Nungwari otjihuro tjeṋu otjinene matji ṱisiwa ohoṋi natji yambururwa. Otjiwaṋa tja Babilon matji rire otjiṱiṱi pu avihe; ehi ratjo mari kukuta, nu mari rire okuti onguza ku ku ha kara nomeva. 13 Kape na umwe ngu ma tura motjihuro Babilon mena romazenge wandje; otjo matji sewa etundu, navehe mbu mave kapita pu tjo mave kumwa ave temisiwa i otjiwonga otja ihi.
14 “Vayumbe vouta, rirongereye otjirwa mu rwise Babilon nokutjikovera. Yumbeye oviku vyeṋu avihe kObabilon, orondu otjo tja tura ondjo komurungu wandje, ngu mbi ri Muhona. 15 Posiseye ondavaerero yovita okukondoroka otjihuro atjihe! Nambano Babilon tje riyandja. Orumbo rwatjo rwa haṋewa, noviṱunga vyatjo vya teyewa. Ami me sutisa Ovababilon. Nambano eṋe ve sutiseye, nu tjiteye ku wo otja tjinga ava tjita koviwaṋa vyarwe. 16 Amu yandjere ozondwi kutja ze kunwe mehi ndo novikokotwa kutja vi kondwe. Owozonganda auhe ngwa tura mehi ndo ma tira omunavita ngu me mu rwisa, nu ma taurire kehi rawo.”
Omakotokero wotjiwaṋa tja Israel
17 Muhona ma tja nai: “Otjiwaṋa tja Israel tji ri otja ozonḓu nḓu maze rambwa naze rimbwa i ozongeyama. Rutenga tja rwisiwa i ombara ya Asirie, tjazumba Nebukadnesar, ombara ya Babilon, wa korokoha omaṱupa watjo. 18 Mena roviṋa mbi ami, ngu mbi ri Muhona Omunamasaaehe, Ndjambi wa Israel, me vere ombara Nebukadnesar nehi re, otja tji mba verere ombara ya Asirie. 19 Ami me yarura ko otjiwaṋa tja Israel mehi ratjo. Otjo matji ri ovikurya, mbi hapa kondundu Karmel na mehi ra Basan, nu matji ri ovihape avihe mbi matji vanga, mbi hapa mehi rozondundu ra Efraim nora Gilead. 20 Omayuva ngo tji maye ya, kape nouvi mbu mau munika mOisrael, nourunde mOjuda, orondu ami me isire ovandu mba mbu mba yama. Ami, ngu mbi ri Muhona, owami ngu mba hungire.”
Ombanguriro ya Muhona kObabilon
21 Muhona ma tja nai: “Rwisa Ovamerataim nOvapekod. Ve zepa nu u ve yandeke. Tjita avihe mbi mbe ku rakiza. Ami, ngu mbi ri Muhona, owami ngu mba hungire. 22 Ondokohero yotjirwa mai zuvaka mehi, nu mu nomanyoneno omanene. 23 Babilon, indji ongowa ndja nyanyaura ouye auhe, nambano oyo oini ya hahaurwa. Oviwaṋa avihe vya kumisirwe i imbi mbya tjitwa kehi ndo. 24 Babilon, ove we ndji rwisa, nu wa kamburwa i ongwehe, ndji mbe ku twira po, nandarire kutja ove ko tjivirwe otjiṋa hi. 25 Ami mba paturura poṋa pu pe horekwa ovirwise vyandje, nu momazenge wandje e vi pitisa, ami, ngu mbi ri Muhona Ndjambi Omunamasaaehe, tjinga ambi noviungura mehi ra Babilon okuungura. 26 Rwiseye ehi ra Babilon okuza komikuma avihe, nu mu paturure omatuwo waro womapwikiro wovirya! Wongereye ovipundwa vyaro kumwe tjimuna ondundu yovirya! Nyoneye ehi! Amu sye mo otjiṋa oparukaze! 27 Zepeye ovarwe varo omitanda wovita avehe. Ve zepeye! Ovababilon va pwa pokuyandekwa. Oruveze rwokuverwa kwawo rweya!”
28 Ovature mave taura mehi ra Babilon nave ya kOjerusalem, nowo mave serekarere imbi Muhona, Ndjambi wetu mbya sutisa Ovababilon mena raimbi mbi va tjitire kondjuwo ye.
29 “Raereye ovayumbe vomauta avehe kutja ve rwise Babilon. Hindeye ngamwa auhe ngu tjiwa okuyumba outa notjiku. Kovereye otjihuro, nu ape ningi umwe ngu ma poṋa. Sutiseye otjihuro hi mena roviṋa avihe mbi tja tjita, nu mu tjite ku tjo otja tji tja tjitire kovandu varwe, orondu otjo tja tjita nai mokuritongamisira ami, ngu mbi ri Omuyapuke wa Israel. 30 Ovarumendu vatjo omitanda otji mave ṱire momivanda vyotjihuro, novarwe vatjo avehe wovita mave yandekwa meyuva ndo. Ami, ngu mbi ri Muhona, owami ngu mba hungire.
31 “Babilon, ove we ritongamisa tjinene; nami, Muhona Ndjambi Omunamasaaehe, otji me ku sekamene. Omayuva ye ya ami mu me ku vere. 32 Otjiwaṋa tjoye otjihahu matji putara natji u, nu kape na umwe ngu me tji yeura. Ami me nyosa ovihuro vyoye, nu ngamwa atjihe tji tji ri meṋe yavyo matji sesetwa i omuriro mbwi.”
33 Muhona Omunamasaaehe ma tja nai: “Ovaisrael nOvajuda ve ṋiṋikiziwa. Avehe mbe ve kambura, ve ve tjevera noukukutu, nu kamaave ve esa kutja ve yende. 34 Nungwari ingwi ngu meve kutura, eye omunamasa, ena re ‘oMuhona Omunamasaaehe’. Eye omuini ongu ma yeura otjiposa tjawo, nongu ma eta ohange kehi; nungwari ma eta ekurungo kovature va Babilon.”
35 Muhona ma tja nai:
“Onḓiro ngai ye kombanda yehi ra Babilon
na kovature votjihuro Babilon
na kovanane na kovarumendu varo ozonongo!
36 Onḓiro ngai ye kombanda yovaprofete varo ovanavizeze;
owo ngave rire omayova!
Onḓiro ngai ye kombanda yovarwe varo ozombangaṋe;
owo ngave rire ovimumandu!
37 Onḓiro ngai ye kombanda youkambe waro
na komatemba waro wovita
na kovarwe varo wovita mba yazemwa;
owo ngave mumapare!
Omanyoneno ngaye ye kombanda yovihuze vyaro;
ovyo ngavi pundwe!
38 Ourumbu ngau ye mehi ndi
kokutja ozonḓonḓu zaro ze pwire.
Babilon ehi roomukuru ovatirise vovisenginina,
novature va Babilon oveni
va purukisiwa ozondunge i wo.
39 “Motjihuro Babilon otji mamu ryanga ouhwe nozombandje nozombo. Mu tjo kamaamu tura ovandu rukwao, nandarire momayuva ngu maye ya. 40 Otjiṋa tjingetjo tji tja tjitirwa kOsodom na Gomora novirongo vyopopezu na vyo, otjinga ama tji tjitwa kObabilon. Kape na umwe ngu ma tura mu tjo rukwao. Ami, ngu mbi ri Muhona, owami ngu mba hungire.
41 “Omuhoko mau zu kehi rokeyuva kokunene; otjiwaṋa otjinamasa tjokokure nozombara ozengi; maze rirongerere ovita. 42 Owo va toora omauta nomangaruvyo wawo; owo ovanautwe, nu kave notjari. Ve hwaara tjimuna ozongazona zokuvare, tji mave kavire oukambe wawo; nu ve rirongerera okurwisa Babilon. 43 Ombara ya Babilon tji ya zuva ombuze ndji, omaoko wayo otji ya rira ovitata. Oyo ya kamburwa i omburuma nomuhihamo tjimuna ozongama zomukazendu mombandukiro.
44 “Otja ongeyama, ndji mai zu movihwa ovipote meṋe ya Jordan okuyenda kehi romaryo oruhapo, ami, ngu mbi ri Muhona, opunga a meya ne ramba Ovababilon tjimanga motjihuro tjawo. Omunane ngu me toorora, ongu ma honaparere otjiwaṋa. Owaṋi ngu ma sasanekwa na ami? Owaṋi ngu ma roro okundjitwara kombanguriro? Omunane uṋe ngu ma yenene okundjipirukira? 45 Otji mamu sokupuratena kondando, ndji mba tyera otjihuro Babilon, na kondunge, ndji mbe ripurira okutjita kehi ra Babilon. Nandarire ovanatje vawo mave kokozorwa okutwarewa, navehe mave zezerisiwa i imbi mbi mave munu. 46 Babilon tji tja haverwa, mape kara ondokohero onene tjinene, nga ehi arihe tji mari nyinganyinga, nondjuriro yondokohero ndji mai zuvaka moviwaṋa.”
