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1. The LORD spoke concerning Babylon and the land of Babylonia through the prophet Jeremiah.
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1. The word H1697 that H834 the LORD H3068 spoke H1696 against H413 Babylon H894 and against H413 the land H776 of the Chaldeans H3778 by H3027 Jeremiah H3414 the prophet H5030 .
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2. "Announce the news among the nations! Proclaim it! Signal for people to pay attention! Declare the news! Do not hide it! Say: 'Babylon will be captured. Bel will be put to shame. Marduk will be dismayed. Babylon's idols will be put to shame. Her disgusting images will be dismayed.
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2. Declare H5046 ye among the nations H1471 , and publish H8085 , and set up H5375 a standard H5251 ; publish H8085 , and conceal H3582 not H408 : say H559 , Babylon H894 is taken H3920 , Bel H1078 is confounded H3001 , Merodach H4781 is broken in pieces H2844 ; her idols H6091 are confounded H3001 , her images H1544 are broken in pieces H2865 .
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3. For a nation from the north will attack Babylon. It will lay her land waste. People and animals will flee out of it. No one will inhabit it.'
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3. For H3588 out of the north H4480 H6828 there cometh up H5927 a nation H1471 against H5921 her, which H1931 shall make H7896 H853 her land H776 desolate H8047 , and none H3808 shall H1961 dwell H3427 therein : they shall remove H5110 , they shall depart H1980 , both man H4480 H120 and beast H929 .
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4. "When that time comes," says the LORD, "the people of Israel and Judah will return to the land together. They will come back with tears of repentance as they seek the LORD their God.
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4. In those H1992 days H3117 , and in that H1931 time H6256 , saith H5002 the LORD H3068 , the children H1121 of Israel H3478 shall come H935 , they H1992 and the children H1121 of Judah H3063 together H3162 , going H1980 and weeping H1058 : they shall go H1980 , and seek H1245 the LORD H3068 their God H430 .
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5. They will ask the way to Zion; they will turn their faces toward it. They will come and bind themselves to the LORD in a lasting covenant that will never be forgotten.
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5. They shall ask H7592 the way H1870 to Zion H6726 with their faces H6440 thitherward H2008 , saying , Come H935 , and let us join ourselves H3867 to H413 the LORD H3068 in a perpetual H5769 covenant H1285 that shall not H3808 be forgotten H7911 .
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6. "My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have allow them to go astray. They have wandered around in the mountains. They have roamed from one mountain and hill to another. They have forgotten their resting place.
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6. My people H5971 hath been H1961 lost H6 sheep H6629 : their shepherds H7462 have caused them to go astray H8582 , they have turned them away H7725 on the mountains H2022 : they have gone H1980 from mountain H4480 H2022 to H413 hill H1389 , they have forgotten H7911 their resting place H7258 .
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7. All who encountered them devoured them. Their enemies who did this said, 'We are not liable for punishment! For those people have sinned against the LORD, their true pasture. They have sinned against the LORD in whom their ancestors trusted.'
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7. All H3605 that found H4672 them have devoured H398 them : and their adversaries H6862 said H559 , We offend H816 not H3808 , because H8478 H834 they have sinned H2398 against the LORD H3068 , the habitation H5116 of justice H6664 , even the LORD H3068 , the hope H4723 of their fathers H1 .
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8. "People of Judah, get out of Babylon quickly! Leave the land of Babylonia! Be the first to depart! Be like the male goats that lead the herd.
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8. Remove H5110 out of the midst H4480 H8432 of Babylon H894 , and go forth H3318 out of the land H4480 H776 of the Chaldeans H3778 , and be H1961 as the he goats H6260 before H6440 the flocks H6629 .
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9. For I will rouse into action and bring against Babylon a host of mighty nations from the land of the north. They will set up their battle lines against her. They will come from the north and capture her. Their arrows will be like a skilled soldier who does not return from the battle empty-handed.
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9. For H3588 , lo H2009 , I H595 will raise H5782 and cause to come up H5927 against H5921 Babylon H894 an assembly H6951 of great H1419 nations H1471 from the north H6828 country H4480 H776 : and they shall set themselves in array H6186 against her ; from thence H4480 H8033 she shall be taken H3920 : their arrows H2671 shall be as of a mighty H1368 expert H7919 man; none H3808 shall return H7725 in vain H7387 .
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10. Babylonia will be plundered. Those who plunder it will take all they want," says the LORD.
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10. And Chaldea H3778 shall be H1961 a spoil H7997 : all H3605 that spoil H7998 her shall be satisfied H7646 , saith H5002 the LORD H3068 .
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11. "People of Babylonia, you plundered my people. That made you happy and glad. You frolic about like calves in a pasture. Your joyous sounds are like the neighs of a stallion.
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11. Because H3588 ye were glad H8055 , because H3588 ye rejoiced H5937 , O ye destroyers H8154 of mine heritage H5159 , because H3588 ye are grown fat H6335 as the heifer H5697 at grass H1877 , and bellow H6670 as bulls H47 ;
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12. But Babylonia will be put to great shame. The land where you were born will be disgraced. Indeed, Babylonia will become the least important of all nations. It will become a dry and barren desert.
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12. Your mother H517 shall be sore H3966 confounded H954 ; she that bore H3205 you shall be ashamed H2659 : behold H2009 , the hindmost H319 of the nations H1471 shall be a wilderness H4057 , a dry land H6723 , and a desert H6160 .
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13. After I vent my wrath on it Babylon will be uninhabited. It will be totally desolate. All who pass by will be filled with horror and will hiss out their scorn because of all the disasters that have happened to it.
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13. Because of the wrath H4480 H7110 of the LORD H3068 it shall not H3808 be inhabited H3427 , but it shall be H1961 wholly H3605 desolate H8077 : every one H3605 that goeth H5674 by H5921 Babylon H894 shall be astonished H8074 , and hiss H8319 at H5921 all H3605 her plagues H4347 .
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14. "Take up your battle positions all around Babylon, all you soldiers who are armed with bows. Shoot all your arrows at her! Do not hold any back! For she has sinned against the LORD.
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14. Put yourselves in array H6186 against H5921 Babylon H894 round about H5439 : all H3605 ye that bend H1869 the bow H7198 , shoot H3034 at H413 her, spare H2550 no H408 arrows H2671 : for H3588 she hath sinned H2398 against the LORD H3068 .
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15. Shout the battle cry from all around the city. She will throw up her hands in surrender. Her towers will fall. Her walls will be torn down. Because I, the LORD, am wreaking revenge, take out your vengeance on her! Do to her as she has done!
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15. Shout H7321 against H5921 her round about H5439 : she hath given H5414 her hand H3027 : her foundations H803 are fallen H5307 , her walls H2346 are thrown down H2040 : for H3588 it H1931 is the vengeance H5360 of the LORD H3068 : take vengeance H5358 upon her; as H834 she hath done H6213 , do H6213 unto her.
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16. Kill all the farmers who sow the seed in the land of Babylon. Kill all those who wield the sickle at harvest time. Let all the foreigners return to their own people. Let them hurry back to their own lands to escape destruction by that enemy army.
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16. Cut off H3772 the sower H2232 from Babylon H4480 H894 , and him that handleth H8610 the sickle H4038 in the time H6256 of harvest H7105 : for fear H4480 H6440 of the oppressing H3238 sword H2719 they shall turn H6437 every one H376 to H413 his people H5971 , and they shall flee H5127 every one H376 to his own land H776 .
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17. "The people of Israel are like scattered sheep which lions have chased away. First the king of Assyria devoured them. Now last of all King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon has gnawed their bones.
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17. Israel H3478 is a scattered H6340 sheep H7716 ; the lions H738 have driven him away H5080 : first H7223 the king H4428 of Assyria H804 hath devoured H398 him ; and last H314 this H2088 Nebuchadnezzar H5019 king H4428 of Babylon H894 hath broken his bones H6105 .
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18. So I, the LORD God of Israel who rules over all, say: 'I will punish the king of Babylon and his land just as I punished the king of Assyria.
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18. Therefore H3651 thus H3541 saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 , the God H430 of Israel H3478 ; Behold H2009 , I will punish H6485 H413 the king H4428 of Babylon H894 and his land H776 , as H834 I have punished H6485 H413 the king H4428 of Assyria H804 .
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19. But I will restore the flock of Israel to their own pasture. They will graze on Mount Carmel and the land of Bashan. They will eat until they are full on the hills of Ephraim and the land of Gilead.
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19. And I will bring H7725 H853 Israel H3478 again to H413 his habitation H5116 , and he shall feed H7462 on Carmel H3760 and Bashan H1316 , and his soul H5315 shall be satisfied H7646 upon mount H2022 Ephraim H669 and Gilead H1568 .
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20. When that time comes, no guilt will be found in Israel. No sin will be found in Judah. For I will forgive those of them I have allowed to survive. I, the LORD, affirm it!'"
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20. In those H1992 days H3117 , and in that H1931 time H6256 , saith H5002 the LORD H3068 , H853 the iniquity H5771 of Israel H3478 shall be sought for H1245 , and there shall be none H369 ; and the sins H2403 of Judah H3063 , and they shall not H3808 be found H4672 : for H3588 I will pardon H5545 them whom H834 I reserve H7604 .
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21. The LORD says, "Attack the land of Merathaim and the people who live in Pekod! Pursue, kill, and completely destroy them! Do just as I have commanded you!
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21. Go up H5927 against H5921 the land H776 of Merathaim H4850 , even against H5921 it , and against H413 the inhabitants H3427 of Pekod H6489 : waste H2717 and utterly destroy H2763 after H310 them, saith H5002 the LORD H3068 , and do H6213 according to all H3605 that H834 I have commanded H6680 thee.
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22. The noise of battle can be heard in the land of Babylonia. There is the sound of great destruction.
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22. A sound H6963 of battle H4421 is in the land H776 , and of great H1419 destruction H7667 .
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23. Babylon hammered the whole world to pieces. But see how that 'hammer' has been broken and shattered! See what an object of horror Babylon has become among the nations!
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23. How H349 is the hammer H6360 of the whole H3605 earth H776 cut asunder H1438 and broken H7665 ! how H349 is Babylon H894 become H1961 a desolation H8047 among the nations H1471 !
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24. I set a trap for you, Babylon; you were caught before you knew it. You fought against me. So you were found and captured.
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24. I have laid a snare H3369 for thee , and thou art also H1571 taken H3920 , O Babylon H894 , and thou H859 wast not H3808 aware H3045 : thou art found H4672 , and also H1571 caught H8610 , because H3588 thou hast striven H1624 against the LORD H3068 .
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25. I have opened up the place where my weapons are stored. I have brought out the weapons for carrying out my wrath. For I, the Lord GOD who rules over all, have work to carry out in the land of Babylonia.
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25. The LORD H3068 hath opened H6605 H853 his armory H214 , and hath brought forth H3318 H853 the weapons H3627 of his indignation H2195 : for H3588 this H1931 is the work H4399 of the Lord H136 GOD H3069 of hosts H6635 in the land H776 of the Chaldeans H3778 .
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26. Come from far away and attack Babylonia! Open up the places where she stores her grain! Pile her up in ruins! Destroy her completely! Do not leave anyone alive!
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26. Come H935 against her from the utmost border H4480 H7093 , open H6605 her storehouses H3965 : cast her up H5549 as heaps H6194 , and destroy H2763 her utterly : let nothing H408 of her be H1961 left H7611 .
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27. Kill all her soldiers! Let them be slaughtered! They are doomed, for their day of reckoning has come, the time for them to be punished."
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27. Slay H2717 all H3605 her bullocks H6499 ; let them go down H3381 to the slaughter H2874 : woe H1945 unto H5921 them! for H3588 their day H3117 is come H935 , the time H6256 of their visitation H6486 .
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28. Listen! Fugitives and refugees are coming from the land of Babylon. They are coming to Zion to declare there how the LORD our God is getting revenge, getting revenge for what they have done to his temple.
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28. The voice H6963 of them that flee H5127 and escape H6412 out of the land H4480 H776 of Babylon H894 , to declare H5046 in Zion H6726 H853 the vengeance H5360 of the LORD H3068 our God H430 , the vengeance H5360 of his temple H1964 .
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29. "Call for archers to come against Babylon! Summon against her all who draw the bow! Set up camp all around the city! Do not allow anyone to escape! Pay her back for what she has done. Do to her what she has done to others. For she has proudly defied me, the Holy One of Israel.
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29. Call together H8085 the archers H7228 against H413 Babylon H894 : all H3605 ye that bend H1869 the bow H7198 , camp H2583 against H5921 it round about H5439 ; let H1961 none H408 thereof escape H6413 : recompense H7999 her according to her work H6467 ; according to all H3605 that H834 she hath done H6213 , do H6213 unto her: for H3588 she hath been proud H2102 against H413 the LORD H3068 , against H413 the Holy One H6918 of Israel H3478 .
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30. So her young men will fall in her city squares. All her soldiers will be destroyed at that time," says the LORD.
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30. Therefore H3651 shall her young men H970 fall H5307 in the streets H7339 , and all H3605 her men H376 of war H4421 shall be cut off H1826 in that H1931 day H3117 , saith H5002 the LORD H3068 .
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31. "Listen! I am opposed to you, you proud city," says the Lord GOD who rules over all. "Indeed, your day of reckoning has come, the time when I will punish you.
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31. Behold H2009 , I am against H413 thee, O thou most proud H2087 , saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD H3069 of hosts H6635 : for H3588 thy day H3117 is come H935 , the time H6256 that I will visit H6485 thee.
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32. You will stumble and fall, you proud city; no one will help you get up. I will set fire to your towns; it will burn up everything that surrounds you."
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32. And the most proud H2087 shall stumble H3782 and fall H5307 , and none H369 shall raise him up H6965 : and I will kindle H3341 a fire H784 in his cities H5892 , and it shall devour H398 all H3605 round about H5439 him.
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33. The LORD who rules over all says, "The people of Israel are oppressed. So too are the people of Judah. All those who took them captive are holding them prisoners. They refuse to set them free.
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33. Thus H3541 saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 ; The children H1121 of Israel H3478 and the children H1121 of Judah H3063 were oppressed H6231 together H3162 : and all H3605 that took them captives H7617 held them fast H2388 ; they refused H3985 to let them go H7971 .
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34. But the one who will rescue them is strong. He is known as the LORD who rules over all. He will strongly champion their cause. As a result he will bring peace and rest to the earth, but trouble and turmoil to the people who inhabit Babylonia.
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34. Their Redeemer H1350 is strong H2389 ; the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 is his name H8034 : he shall throughly plead H7378 H7378 H853 their cause H7379 , that H4616 he may give rest H7280 H853 to the land H776 , and disquiet H7264 the inhabitants H3427 of Babylon H894 .
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35. "Destructive forces will come against the Babylonians," says the LORD. "They will come against the people who inhabit Babylonia, against her leaders and her men of wisdom.
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35. A sword H2719 is upon H5921 the Chaldeans H3778 , saith H5002 the LORD H3068 , and upon H413 the inhabitants H3427 of Babylon H894 , and upon H413 her princes H8269 , and upon H413 her wise H2450 men .
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36. Destructive forces will come against her false prophets; they will be shown to be fools! Destructive forces will come against her soldiers; they will be filled with terror!
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36. A sword H2719 is upon H413 the liars H907 ; and they shall dote H2973 : a sword H2719 is upon H413 her mighty men H1368 ; and they shall be dismayed H2865 .
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37. Destructive forces will come against her horses and her chariots. Destructive forces will come against all the foreign troops within her; they will be as frightened as women! Destructive forces will come against her treasures; they will be taken away as plunder!
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37. A sword H2719 is upon H413 their horses H5483 , and upon H413 their chariots H7393 , and upon H413 all H3605 the mingled people H6154 that H834 are in the midst H8432 of her ; and they shall become H1961 as women H802 : a sword H2719 is upon H413 her treasures H214 ; and they shall be robbed H962 .
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38. A drought will come upon her land; her rivers and canals will be dried up. All of this will happen because her land is filled with idols. Her people act like madmen because of those idols they fear.
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38. A drought H2721 is upon H413 her waters H4325 ; and they shall be dried up H3001 : for H3588 it is the land H776 of graven images H6456 , and they H1931 are mad H1984 upon their idols H367 .
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39. Therefore desert creatures and jackals will live there. Ostriches will dwell in it too. But no people will ever live there again. No one will dwell there for all time to come.
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39. Therefore H3651 the wild beasts of the desert H6728 with H854 the wild beasts of the islands H338 shall dwell H3427 there , and the owls H1323 H3284 shall dwell H3427 therein : and it shall be no H3808 more H5750 inhabited H3427 forever H5331 ; neither H3808 shall it be dwelt in H7931 from H5704 generation H1755 to generation H1755 .
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40. I will destroy Babylonia just like I did Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighboring towns. No one will live there. No human being will settle in it," says the LORD.
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40. As God H430 overthrew H4114 H853 Sodom H5467 and Gomorrah H6017 and the neighbor H7934 cities thereof, saith H5002 the LORD H3068 ; so shall no H3808 man H376 abide H3427 there H8033 , neither H3808 shall any son H1121 of man H120 dwell H1481 therein.
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41. "Look! An army is about to come from the north. A mighty nation and many kings are stirring into action in faraway parts of the earth.
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41. Behold H2009 , a people H5971 shall come H935 from the north H4480 H6828 , and a great H1419 nation H1471 , and many H7227 kings H4428 shall be raised up H5782 from the coasts H4480 H3411 of the earth H776 .
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42. Its soldiers are armed with bows and spears. They are cruel and show no mercy. They sound like the roaring sea as they ride forth on their horses. Lined up in formation like men going into battle, they are coming against you, fair Babylon!
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42. They shall hold H2388 the bow H7198 and the lance H3591 : they H1992 are cruel H394 , and will not H3808 show mercy H7355 : their voice H6963 shall roar H1993 like the sea H3220 , and they shall ride H7392 upon H5921 horses H5483 , every one put in array H6186 , like a man H376 to the battle H4421 , against H5921 thee , O daughter H1323 of Babylon H894 .
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43. The king of Babylon will become paralyzed with fear when he hears news of their coming. Anguish will grip him, agony like that of a woman giving birth to a baby.
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43. The king H4428 of Babylon H894 hath heard H8085 H853 the report H8088 of them , and his hands H3027 waxed feeble H7503 : anguish H6869 took hold H2388 of him, and pangs H2427 as of a woman in travail H3205 .
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44. "A lion coming up from the thick undergrowth along the Jordan scatters the sheep in the pastureland around it. So too I will chase the Babylonians off of their land. Then I will appoint over it whomever I choose. For there is no one like me. There is no one who can call me to account. There is no ruler that can stand up against me.
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44. Behold H2009 , he shall come up H5927 like a lion H738 from the swelling H4480 H1347 of Jordan H3383 unto H413 the habitation H5116 of the strong H386 : but H3588 I will make them suddenly H7280 run away H7323 from H4480 H5921 her : and who H4310 is a chosen H977 man, that I may appoint H6485 over H413 her? for H3588 who H4310 is like me H3644 ? and who H4310 will appoint me the time H3259 ? and who H4310 is that H2088 shepherd H7462 that H834 will stand H5975 before H6440 me?
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45. So listen to what I, the LORD, have planned against Babylon, what I intend to do to the people who inhabit the land of Babylonia. Their little ones will be dragged off. I will completely destroy their land because of what they have done.
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45. Therefore H3651 hear H8085 ye the counsel H6098 of the LORD H3068 , that H834 he hath taken H3289 against H413 Babylon H894 ; and his purposes H4284 , that H834 he hath purposed H2803 against H413 the land H776 of the Chaldeans H3778 : Surely H518 H3808 the least H6810 of the flock H6629 shall draw them out H5498 : surely H518 H3808 he shall make their habitation H5116 desolate H8074 with H5921 them.
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46. The people of the earth will quake when they hear Babylon has been captured. Her cries of anguish will be heard by the other nations."
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46. At the noise H4480 H6963 of the taking H8610 of Babylon H894 the earth H776 is moved H7493 , and the cry H2201 is heard H8085 among the nations H1471 .
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