1The Lord says,
“I will stir up the spirits of destroyers.
They will march out against Babylon and its people.
2I will send other nations against it
to separate the straw from the grain.
I will send them to destroy Babylon completely.
They will oppose it on every side.
At that time it will be destroyed.
3Do not let its soldiers get their bows ready to use.
Do not let them put on their armor.
Do not spare their young men.
Destroy their armies completely.
4They will fall down dead in Babylon.
They will receive deadly wounds in its streets.
5The land of Israel and Judah is full of guilt.
Its people have sinned against me.
But I have not deserted them. I am their God.
I am the Lord who rules over all.
I am the Holy One of Israel.
6“People of Judah, run away from Babylon!
Run for your lives!
Do not be destroyed because of the sins of its people.
It is time for me to pay them back.
I will punish them for what they have done.
7Babylon was like a gold cup in my hand.
That city made the whole earth drunk.
The nations drank its wine.
So now they have gone crazy.
8Babylon will suddenly fall and be broken.
Weep for it!
Get healing lotion for its pain.
Perhaps it can be healed.
9“The nations say, ‘We would have healed Babylon.
But it can’t be healed.
So let’s leave it. Let’s each go to our own land.
Babylon’s sins reach all the way to the skies.
They rise up as high as the heavens.’
10“The people of Judah say,
‘The Lord has made things right for us again.
So come. Let’s tell in Zion
what the Lord our God has done.’
11“I have stirred up you kings of the Medes.
So sharpen your arrows!
Get your shields!
I plan to destroy Babylon.
I will pay the Babylonians back.
They have destroyed my temple.
12Lift up a banner! Attack Babylon’s walls!
Put more guards on duty!
Station more of them to watch over you!
Hide and wait to attack them!
I will do what I have planned.
I will do what I have decided to do
against the people of Babylon.
13You who live by the rivers of Babylon,
your end has come.
You who are rich in treasures,
it is time for you to be destroyed.
14I am the Lord who rules over all.
I have made a promise in my own name.
I have said, ‘I will certainly fill your land with soldiers.
They will be as many as a huge number of locusts.
They will win the battle over you.
They will shout for joy.’
15“I used my power to make the earth.
I used my wisdom to set the world in place.
I used my understanding to spread out the heavens.
16When I thunder, the waters in the heavens roar.
I make clouds rise from one end of the earth to the other.
I send lightning with the rain.
I bring out the wind from my storerooms.
17“No one has any sense.
No one knows anything.
Everyone who works with gold is put to shame
by his wooden gods.
His metal gods are fakes.
They can’t even breathe.
18They are worthless, and people make fun of them.
When I judge them, they will be destroyed.
19But I, the God of Jacob, am not like them.
I give my people everything they need.
I can do this because I made everything, including Israel.
They are the people who belong to me.
My name is the Lord Who Rules Over All.
20“Babylon, you are my war club.
You are my weapon for battle.
I use you to destroy nations.
I use you to wipe out kingdoms.
21I use you to destroy horses and their riders.
I use you to destroy chariots and their drivers.
22I use you to destroy men and women.
I use you to destroy old people and young people.
I use you to destroy young men and young women.
23I use you to destroy shepherds and their flocks.
I use you to destroy farmers and their oxen.
I use you to destroy governors and officials.
24“Judah, I will pay Babylon back. You will see it with your own eyes. I will pay back all those who live in Babylon. I will pay them back for all the wrong things they have done in Zion,” announces the Lord.
25“Babylon, I am against you.
Your kingdom is like a destroying mountain.
You have destroyed the whole earth,”
announces the Lord.
“I will reach out my hand against you.
I will roll you off the cliffs.
I will make you like a mountain that has been burned up.
26No rock will be taken from you to be used
as the most important stone for a building.
No stones will be taken from you
to be used for a foundation.
Your land will be empty forever,”
announces the Lord.
27“Nations, lift up a banner in the land of Babylon!
Blow a trumpet among yourselves!
Prepare yourselves for battle against Babylon.
Send the kingdoms
of Ararat, Minni and Ashkenaz against it.
Appoint a commander against it.
Send many horses against it.
Let them be as many as a huge number of locusts.
28Prepare yourselves for battle against Babylon.
Prepare the kings of the Medes.
Prepare their governors and all their officials.
Prepare all the countries they rule over.
29The Babylonians tremble and shake with fear.
My plans against them stand firm.
I plan to destroy their land completely.
Then no one will live there.
30Babylon’s soldiers have stopped fighting.
They remain in their forts.
Their strength is all gone.
They have become weak.
Their buildings are set on fire.
The metal bars that lock their gates are broken.
31One messenger after another
comes to the king of Babylon.
All of them announce that
his entire city is captured.
32The places where people go across the Euphrates River have been captured.
The swamps have been set on fire.
And the soldiers are terrified.”
33The Lord who rules over all is the God of Israel. He says,
“The city of Babylon is like a threshing floor
when cattle are walking on it.
The time to destroy it will soon come.”
34The people of Jerusalem say,
“Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, has destroyed us.
He has thrown us into a panic.
He has emptied us out like a jar.
Like a snake he has swallowed us up.
He has filled his stomach with our rich food.
Then he has spit us out of his mouth.”
35The people continue, “May the people of Babylon
pay for the harmful things they have done to us.
May those who live in Babylon
pay for spilling the blood of our people.”
That’s what the people who live in Zion say.
36So the Lord says,
“I will stand up for you.
I will pay the Babylonians back for what they did to you.
I will dry up their water supply.
I will make their springs run dry.
37Babylon will have all its buildings knocked down.
It will be a home for wild dogs.
No one will live there.
People will be shocked at it.
They will make fun of it.
38All its people roar like young lions.
They growl like lion cubs.
39They are stirred up.
So I will set a feast in front of them.
I will make them drunk.
And they will shout and laugh.
But then they will lie down and die.
They will never wake up,”
announces the Lord.
40“I will lead them down like lambs to be put to death.
They will be like rams and goats that have been killed.
41“Babylon will be captured!
The whole earth was very proud of it.
But it will be taken over by others!
It will be a deserted place among the nations.
42Babylon’s enemies will sweep over it like an ocean.
Like roaring waves they will cover it.
43The towns of Babylon will be empty.
It will become a dry and desert land.
No one will live there.
No one will even travel through it.
44I will punish the god named Bel in Babylon.
I will make Bel spit out what he has swallowed.
The nations will not come and worship him anymore.
And Babylon’s walls will fall down.
45“Come out of there, my people!
Run for your lives!
Run away from my great anger.
46You will hear about terrible things
that are happening in Babylon.
But do not lose hope. Do not be afraid.
You will hear one thing this year.
And you will hear something else next year.
You will hear about awful things in the land.
You will hear about one ruler fighting against another.
47I will punish the gods of Babylon.
That time will certainly come.
Then the whole land will be full of shame.
Its people will lie down and die there.
48So heaven and earth and everything in them will shout for joy.
They will be glad because of what will happen to Babylon.
Armies will attack it from the north.
And they will destroy it,”
announces the Lord.
49“Babylon’s people have killed my people Israel.
They have also killed people all over the earth.
So now Babylon itself must fall.
50You who have not been killed in the war against Babylon,
leave! Do not wait!
In a land far away remember me.
And think about Jerusalem.”
51The people of Judah reply, “No one honors us anymore.
People make fun of us.
Our faces are covered with shame.
People from other lands have entered
the holy places of the Lord’s house.”
52“But the days are coming,” announces the Lord.
“At that time I will punish the gods of Babylon.
And all through its land
wounded people will groan.
53What if Babylon reached all the way to the heavens?
What if it made its high walls even stronger?
I would still send destroyers against it,”
announces the Lord.
54“The noise of people screaming comes from Babylon.
A terrible sound comes from its land.
It is the sound of a mighty city being destroyed.
55I will destroy Babylon.
I will put an end to all its noise.
Waves of enemies will sweep through it like great waters.
The roar of their voices will fill the air.
56A destroying army will come against Babylon.
The soldiers in the city will be captured.
Their bows will be broken.
I am the Lord God who pays people back.
I will pay them back in full.
57I will make Babylon’s officials and wise men drunk.
I will do the same thing to its governors, officers and soldiers.
They will lie down and die. They will never wake up,”
announces the King. His name is the Lord Who Rules Over All.
58The Lord who rules over all says,
“Babylon’s thick walls will fall down flat.
Its high gates will be set on fire.
The nations wear themselves out for no reason at all.
Their hard work will only be burned up in the flames.”
59Jeremiah the prophet gave a message to the staff officer Seraiah, the son of Neriah. Neriah was the son of Mahseiah. Jeremiah told Seraiah to take the message with him to Babylon. Seraiah went there with Zedekiah, the king of Judah. He left in the fourth year of Zedekiah’s rule. 60Jeremiah had written about all the trouble that would come on Babylon. He had written it down on a scroll. It included everything that had been recorded about Babylon. 61Jeremiah said to Seraiah, “When you get to Babylon, here’s what I want you to do. Make sure that you read all these words out loud. 62Then say, ‘Lord, you have said you will destroy this place. You have said that no people or animals will live here. It will be empty forever.’ 63Finish reading the scroll. Tie a stone to it. Throw it into the Euphrates River. 64Then say, ‘In the same way, Babylon will sink down. It will never rise again. That is because I will bring such horrible trouble on it. And its people will fall along with it.’ ”
The words of Jeremiah end here.
1Así dice el Señor:
«Voy a levantar un viento destructor
contra Babilonia y la gente de Leb Camay.51:1 Leb Camay es un criptograma que alude a Caldea, es decir, Babilonia.
2Enviaré contra Babilonia
gente que la lance por los aires,
que la aviente como se avienta el trigo,
hasta dejarla vacía.
En el día de su calamidad
la atacarán por todas partes.
3Que no tense el arquero su arco,51:3 Que no tense el arquero su arco. Frase de difícil traducción.
ni se vista la coraza.
No perdonéis a sus jóvenes;
destruid a su ejército por completo.
4Caerán muertos en el país de los babilonios;
serán traspasados en las calles.
5Aunque Israel y Judá están llenos de culpa
delante del Santo de Israel,
no han sido abandonados por su Dios,
el Señor Todopoderoso.
6»¡Huid de Babilonia!
¡Sálvese quien pueda!
No perezcáis por causa de su iniquidad.
Porque ha llegado la hora
de que el Señor tome venganza;
¡él le dará su merecido!
7En la mano del Señor
Babilonia era una copa de oro
que embriagaba a toda la tierra.
Las naciones bebieron de su vino
y enloquecieron.
8Pero de pronto Babilonia cayó hecha pedazos.
¡Gemid por ella!
Traed bálsamo para su dolor;
tal vez pueda ser curada.
9»“Quisimos curar a Babilonia,
pero no pudo ser sanada;
abandonémosla, y regrese cada uno a su país,
porque llega su condena hasta los cielos;
¡se eleva hasta las nubes!”
10»“¡El Señor nos ha vindicado!
Venid, que en Sión daremos a conocer
lo que ha hecho el Señor, nuestro Dios”.
11»¡Afilad las flechas!
¡Armaos con escudos!
El Señor ha despertado el espíritu
de los reyes de Media
para destruir a Babilonia.
Esta es la venganza del Señor,
la venganza por su templo.
12¡Levantad el estandarte
contra los muros de Babilonia!
¡Reforzad la guardia!
¡Poned centinelas!
¡Preparad la emboscada!
El Señor cumplirá su propósito;
cumplirá su decreto contra los babilonios.
13Tú, que habitas junto a muchas aguas
y eres rica en tesoros,
has llegado a tu fin,
al final de tu existencia.
14El Señor Todopoderoso ha jurado por sí mismo:
“Te llenaré de enemigos, como de langostas,
y sobre ti lanzarán gritos de victoria”.
15»Con su poder hizo el Señor la tierra;
con su sabiduría afirmó el mundo;
con su inteligencia extendió los cielos.
16Ante su trueno, braman las lluvias en el cielo,
y desde los confines de la tierra
hace que suban las nubes;
entre relámpagos desata la lluvia,
y saca de sus depósitos el viento.
17»Todo hombre es necio e ignorante;
todo orfebre se avergüenza de sus ídolos.
Sus ídolos son una mentira;
no tienen aliento de vida.
18Son absurdos, objetos de burla;
en el tiempo del juicio serán destruidos.
19La porción de Jacob no es como aquellos;
su Dios es el creador de todas las cosas.
Su nombre es el Señor Todopoderoso;
Israel es la tribu de su heredad.
20»Tú eres mi mazo, mi arma de guerra;
contigo destrozo naciones y reinos.
21Contigo destrozo jinetes y caballos;
contigo destrozo aurigas y carros de guerra.
22Contigo destrozo hombres y mujeres;
contigo destrozo jóvenes y ancianos,
contigo destrozo jóvenes y doncellas.
23Contigo destrozo pastores y rebaños;
contigo destrozo labradores y yuntas,
contigo destrozo jefes y gobernantes.
24»Pero en vuestra presencia daré su merecido a Babilonia y a todos sus habitantes por todo el mal que han hecho en Sión —afirma el Señor—.
25»Estoy en contra de ti,
monte del exterminio,
que destruyes toda la tierra —afirma el Señor—.
Extenderé mi mano contra ti;
te haré rodar desde los peñascos
y te convertiré en monte quemado.
26No volverán a tomar de ti piedra angular,
ni piedra de cimiento,
porque para siempre quedarás desolada
—afirma el Señor—.
27»¡Levantad la bandera en el país!
¡Tocad la trompeta entre las naciones!
¡Convocad contra ella
a los reinos de Ararat, Mini y Asquenaz!
¡Poned al frente un general!
¡Que avancen los caballos cual plaga de langostas!
28¡Convocad contra ella a las naciones,
a los reyes de Media,
y a sus gobernadores y oficiales!
¡Convocad a todo su imperio!
29La tierra tiembla y se sacude;
se cumplen los planes de Dios contra Babilonia,
al convertirla en un desierto desolado
donde nadie ha de habitar.
30Dejaron de combatir los guerreros de Babilonia;
se escondieron en las fortalezas.
Sus fuerzas se agotaron;
se volvieron como mujeres.
Sus moradas fueron incendiadas
y destrozados sus cerrojos.
31Corre un emisario tras el otro;
un mensajero sigue a otro mensajero,
para anunciar al rey de Babilonia
que toda la ciudad ha sido conquistada.
32Los vados han sido ocupados,
e incendiados los cañaverales;
llenos de pánico quedaron los guerreros».
33Porque así dice el Señor Todopoderoso, el Dios de Israel:
«La bella Babilonia es como una era
en el momento de la trilla;
¡ya le llega el tiempo de la cosecha!»
34«Nabucodonosor, el rey de Babilonia,
me devoró, me confundió;
me dejó como un plato vacío.
Me tragó como un monstruo marino,
con mis delicias se ha llenado el estómago
para luego vomitarme.
35Dice Jerusalén:
“¡Que recaiga sobre Babilonia
la violencia que me hizo!”
Dice la moradora de Sión:
“¡Que mi sangre se derrame
sobre los babilonios!”»
36Por eso, así dice el Señor:
«Voy a defender tu causa,
y llevaré a cabo tu venganza;
voy a secar el agua de su mar,
y dejaré secos sus manantiales.
37Babilonia se convertirá en un montón de ruinas,
en guarida de chacales,
en objeto de horror y de burla,
en un lugar sin habitantes.
38Juntos rugen como leones;
gruñen como cachorros de león.
39Cuando entren en calor, les serviré bebida;
los embriagaré para que se diviertan.
Así dormirán un sueño eterno
del que ya no despertarán
—afirma el Señor—.
40Voy a llevarlos al matadero,
como si fueran corderos;
como carneros y chivos.
41»¡Cómo ha sido capturada Sesac!51:41 Sesac es un criptograma que alude a Babilonia.
¡Cómo ha sido conquistado
el orgullo de toda la tierra!
Babilonia se ha convertido
en un horror para las naciones.
42El mar ha subido contra Babilonia;
agitadas olas la han cubierto.
43Desoladas han quedado sus ciudades:
como un sequedal, como un desierto.
Nadie habita allí;
nadie pasa por ese lugar.
44Voy a castigar al dios Bel en Babilonia;
haré que vomite lo que se ha tragado.
Ya no acudirán a él las naciones,
ni quedará en pie el muro de Babilonia.
45»¡Huye de ella, pueblo mío!
¡Sálvese quien pueda de mi ardiente ira!
46No desfallezcáis, no os acobardéis
por los rumores que corren por el país.
Año tras año surgen nuevos rumores;
cunde la violencia en el país,
y un gobernante se levanta contra otro.
47Se acercan ya los días
en que castigaré a los ídolos de Babilonia.
Toda su tierra será avergonzada;
caerán sus víctimas en medio de ella.
48Entonces el cielo y la tierra,
y todo lo que hay en ellos,
lanzarán gritos de júbilo contra Babilonia,
porque del norte vendrán sus destructores
—afirma el Señor—.
49»Babilonia tiene que caer
por las víctimas de Israel,
así como en toda la tierra
cayeron las víctimas de Babilonia.
50Vosotros, los que escapasteis de la espada,
huid sin demora.
Invocad al Señor en tierras lejanas,
y no dejéis de pensar en Jerusalén».
51«Sentimos vergüenza por los insultos;
estamos cubiertos de deshonra,
porque han penetrado extranjeros
en el santuario del Señor».
52«Por eso, vienen días
en que castigaré a sus ídolos;
a lo largo de todo el país
gemirán sus heridos
—afirma el Señor—.
53Aunque Babilonia suba hasta los cielos,
y en lo alto fortifique sus baluartes,
yo enviaré destructores contra ella
—afirma el Señor—.
54»Se oyen clamores por la gran destrucción
del país de Babilonia.
55El Señor la destruye por completo;
pone fin a su bullicio.
Rugen sus enemigos como olas agitadas;
resuena el estruendo de su voz.
56Llega contra Babilonia el destructor;
sus guerreros serán capturados,
y sus arcos serán hechos pedazos.
Porque el Señor es un Dios
que a cada cual le da su merecido.
57Voy a embriagar a sus jefes y a sus sabios;
a sus gobernadores, oficiales y guerreros;
y dormirán un sueño eterno,
del que no despertarán»,
afirma el Rey,
cuyo nombre es el Señor Todopoderoso.
58Así dice el Señor Todopoderoso:
«Los anchos muros de Babilonia
serán derribados por completo;
sus imponentes puertas serán incendiadas.
Los pueblos se agotan en vano,
y las naciones se fatigan
por lo que se desvanece como el humo».
59Este es el mandato que el profeta Jeremías dio a Seraías, hijo de Nerías y nieto de Maseías, cuando fue a Babilonia con Sedequías, rey de Judá, durante el año cuarto de su reinado. Seraías era el jefe de este viaje. 60Jeremías había descrito en un rollo todas las calamidades que le sobrevendrían a Babilonia, es decir, todo lo concerniente a ella. 61Jeremías le dijo a Seraías: «En cuanto llegues a Babilonia, asegúrate de leerles todas estas palabras. 62Luego diles: “Señor, tú has dicho que vas a destruir este lugar, y que lo convertirás en una desolación perpetua, hasta que no quede en él un solo habitante, ni hombre ni animal”. 63Cuando termines de leer el rollo, átale una piedra y arrójalo al Éufrates. 64Luego diles: “Así se hundirá Babilonia, y nunca más se levantará del desastre que voy a traer sobre ella”».
Aquí concluyen las palabras de Jeremías.
