A message about Babylon
1This is the word the Lord spoke through Jeremiah the prophet concerning Babylon and the land of the Babylonians50:1 Or Chaldeans; also in verses 8, 25, 35 and 45:
2‘Announce and proclaim among the nations,
lift up a banner and proclaim it;
keep nothing back, but say,
“Babylon will be captured;
Bel will be put to shame,
Marduk filled with terror.
Her images will be put to shame
and her idols filled with terror.”
3A nation from the north will attack her
and lay waste her land.
No-one will live in it;
both people and animals will flee away.
4‘In those days, at that time,’ declares the Lord,
‘the people of Israel and the people of Judah together
will go in tears to seek the Lord their God.
5They will ask the way to Zion
and turn their faces towards it.
They will come and bind themselves to the Lord
in an everlasting covenant
that will not be forgotten.
6‘My people have been lost sheep;
their shepherds have led them astray
and caused them to roam on the mountains.
They wandered over mountain and hill
and forgot their own resting-place.
7Whoever found them devoured them;
their enemies said, “We are not guilty,
for they sinned against the Lord, their verdant pasture,
the Lord, the hope of their ancestors.”
8‘Flee out of Babylon;
leave the land of the Babylonians,
and be like the goats that lead the flock.
9For I will stir up and bring against Babylon
an alliance of great nations from the land of the north.
They will take up their positions against her,
and from the north she will be captured.
Their arrows will be like skilled warriors
who do not return empty-handed.
10So Babylonia50:10 Or Chaldea will be plundered;
all who plunder her will have their fill,’
declares the Lord.
11‘Because you rejoice and are glad,
you who pillage my inheritance,
because you frolic like a heifer threshing corn
and neigh like stallions,
12your mother will be greatly ashamed;
she who gave you birth will be disgraced.
She will be the least of the nations –
a wilderness, a dry land, a desert.
13Because of the Lord’s anger she will not be inhabited
but will be completely desolate.
All who pass Babylon will be appalled;
they will scoff because of all her wounds.
14‘Take up your positions round Babylon,
all you who draw the bow.
Shoot at her! Spare no arrows,
for she has sinned against the Lord.
15Shout against her on every side!
She surrenders, her towers fall,
her walls are torn down.
Since this is the vengeance of the Lord,
take vengeance on her;
do to her as she has done to others.
16Cut off from Babylon the sower,
and the reaper with his sickle at harvest.
Because of the sword of the oppressor
let everyone return to their own people,
let everyone flee to their own land.
17‘Israel is a scattered flock
that lions have chased away.
The first to devour them
was the king of Assyria;
the last to crush their bones
was Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.’
18Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says:
‘I will punish the king of Babylon and his land
as I punished the king of Assyria.
19But I will bring Israel back to their own pasture,
and they will graze on Carmel and Bashan;
their appetite will be satisfied
on the hills of Ephraim and Gilead.
20In those days, at that time,’ declares the Lord,
‘search will be made for Israel’s guilt,
but there will be none,
and for the sins of Judah,
but none will be found,
for I will forgive the remnant I spare.
21‘Attack the land of Merathaim
and those who live in Pekod.
Pursue, kill and completely destroy50:21 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them; also in verse 26. them,’
declares the Lord.
‘Do everything I have commanded you.
22The noise of battle is in the land,
the noise of great destruction!
23How broken and shattered
is the hammer of the whole earth!
How desolate is Babylon
among the nations!
24I set a trap for you, Babylon,
and you were caught before you knew it;
you were found and captured
because you opposed the Lord.
25The Lord has opened his arsenal
and brought out the weapons of his wrath,
for the Sovereign Lord Almighty has work to do
in the land of the Babylonians.
26Come against her from afar.
Break open her granaries;
pile her up like heaps of grain.
Completely destroy her
and leave her no remnant.
27Kill all her young bulls;
let them go down to the slaughter!
Woe to them! For their day has come,
the time for them to be punished.
28Listen to the fugitives and refugees from Babylon
declaring in Zion
how the Lord our God has taken vengeance,
vengeance for his temple.
29‘Summon archers against Babylon,
all those who draw the bow.
Encamp all round her;
let no-one escape.
Repay her for her deeds;
do to her as she has done.
For she defied the Lord,
the Holy One of Israel.
30Therefore, her young men will fall in the streets;
all her soldiers will be silenced in that day,’
declares the Lord.
31‘See, I am against you, you arrogant one,’
declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty,
‘for your day has come,
the time for you to be punished.
32The arrogant one will stumble and fall
and no-one will help her up;
I will kindle a fire in her towns
that will consume all who are around her.’
33This is what the Lord Almighty says:
‘The people of Israel are oppressed,
and the people of Judah as well.
All their captors hold them fast,
refusing to let them go.
34Yet their Redeemer is strong;
the Lord Almighty is his name.
He will vigorously defend their cause
so that he may bring rest to their land,
but unrest to those who live in Babylon.
35‘A sword against the Babylonians!’
declares the Lord –
‘against those who live in Babylon
and against her officials and wise men!
36A sword against her false prophets!
They will become fools.
A sword against her warriors!
They will be filled with terror.
37A sword against her horses and chariots
and all the foreigners in her ranks!
They will become weaklings.
A sword against her treasures!
They will be plundered.
38A drought on50:38 Or A sword against her waters!
They will dry up.
For it is a land of idols,
idols that will go mad with terror.
39‘So desert creatures and hyenas will live there,
and there the owl will dwell.
It will never again be inhabited
or lived in from generation to generation.
40As I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah
along with their neighbouring towns,’
declares the Lord,
‘so no-one will live there;
no people will dwell in it.
41‘Look! An army is coming from the north;
a great nation and many kings
are being stirred up from the ends of the earth.
42They are armed with bows and spears;
they are cruel and without mercy.
They sound like the roaring sea
as they ride on their horses;
they come like men in battle formation
to attack you, Daughter Babylon.
43The king of Babylon has heard reports about them,
and his hands hang limp.
Anguish has gripped him,
pain like that of a woman in labour.
44Like a lion coming up from Jordan’s thickets
to a rich pasture-land,
I will chase Babylon from its land in an instant.
Who is the chosen one I will appoint for this?
Who is like me and who can challenge me?
And what shepherd can stand against me?’
45Therefore, hear what the Lord has planned against Babylon,
what he has purposed against the land of the Babylonians:
the young of the flock will be dragged away;
their pasture will be appalled at their fate.
46At the sound of Babylon’s capture the earth will tremble;
its cry will resound among the nations.
Obubaka ku Babulooni
150:1 Lub 10:10; Is 13:1Kino kye kigambo Mukama Katonda kye yayogerera mu nnabbi Yeremiya ekikwata ku Babulooni n’ensi ey’Abakaludaaya.
250:2 a Yer 4:16 b Yer 51:31 c Is 46:1 d Yer 51:47“Buulira mu mawanga era olangirire,
yimusa bendera olangirire,
tolekaayo kintu kyonna ogambe nti,
‘Babulooni eriwambibwa;
Beri kiswale,
ne Meroddaaki kijjule entiisa.
Ebifaananyi bya bakatonda abakole n’emikono bijja kuswala
era bitye.’
350:3 a nny 13; Is 14:22-23 b Zef 1:3Eggwanga okuva mu bukiikakkono lijja kukirumba
lyonoone ensi y’Abakaludaaya.
Tewali muntu alisigalamu;
abantu bonna balikiddukamu era n’ensolo zonna.
450:4 a Yer 3:18; Kos 1:11 b Ezr 3:12; Yer 31:9 c Kos 3:5“Mu nnaku ezo, era mu kiseera ekyo,”
bw’ayogera Mukama,
“abantu ba Isirayiri awamu n’abantu ba Yuda
balikaaba amaziga nga banoonya Mukama Katonda waabwe.
550:5 a Yer 33:7 b Is 55:3; Yer 32:40; Beb 8:6-10Balibuuza ekkubo eridda e Sayuuni
era bakyuse obwenyi bwabwe okukitunuulira, nga boogera nti,
Mujje twesibe ku Mukama Katonda
mu ndagaano ey’emirembe gyonna
etegenda kwerabirwa.
650:6 a Is 53:6; Mat 9:36; 10:6 b Yer 3:6; Ez 34:6 c nny 19“Abantu bange babadde ndiga ezibuze;
abasumba baabwe babawabizza
ne babatuusa ku kutaataaganira ku nsozi.
Baava ku lusozi ne badda ku kasozi
ne beerabira ekifo kyabwe eky’okuwummuliramu.
750:7 a Yer 2:3 b Yer 14:8Buli eyabasanganga nga abatulugunya;
abalabe baabwe ne bagamba nti, ‘Tetulina musango gwe tuzza,
kubanga baajeemera Mukama Katonda, obuddukiro bwabwe obwa nnama ddala,
ye Mukama, essuubi lya bakitaabwe.’
850:8 Is 48:20; Yer 51:6; Kub 18:4“Mudduke okuva e Babulooni;
muleke ensi y’Abakaludaaya,
mubeere ng’embuzi ezikulembera ekisibo.
9Kubanga, laba, ndigolokosa ekibiina ky’amawanga amanene
okuva mu nsi ey’obukiikakkono okulumba Babulooni.
Baliyimirira mu nnyiriri zaabwe bakirumbe,
bakiwambe nga basinzira mu bukiikakkono.
Obusaale bwabwe buliba ng’obw’abalwanyi abakugu,
abataddira awo ngalo nsa.
10Noolwekyo ensi y’Abakaludaaya erinyagibwa;
abo bonna abaliginyaga balitwala byonna bye baagala,”
bw’ayogera Mukama Katonda.
1150:11 Is 47:6“Kubanga musanyuka ne mujaguza,
mmwe abaanyaga omugabo gwabwe,
kubanga muligita ng’ente enduusi ewuula emmere ey’empeke,
ne muleekaana ng’embalaasi ennume enkulu,
12nnyammwe alikwatibwa ensonyi;
oyo eyakuzaala aliswazibwa.
Aliba ensi esemberayo ddala,
ensiko, ensi enkalu, eddungu.
1350:13 a Yer 18:16 b Yer 49:17Olw’obusungu bwa Mukama Katonda tajja kubeeramu bantu,
naye alisigala matongo.
Bonna abayita e Babulooni balyewuunya batye era bakisooze
olw’ebiwundu bye byonna.
1450:14 nny 29, 42“Musimbe ennyiriri okwetooloola Babulooni,
mwenna abanaanuula omutego.
Mumulase! Temulekaawo kasaale n’akamu,
kubanga yajeemera Mukama Katonda.
1550:15 a Yer 51:14 b Yer 51:44, 58 c Yer 51:6 d Zab 137:8; Kub 18:6Mumukube olube ku buli ludda.
Ajeemulukuse, eminaala gye gigwa,
n’ebisenge bye bimenyeddwa.
Kubanga kuno kwe kwesasuza kwa Mukama Katonda,
mumwesasuzeeko;
mumukole nga bw’akoze abalala.
1650:16 a Yer 25:38 b Is 13:14 c Yer 51:9Asiga mumuggye mu Babulooni,
n’omukunguzi oyo akwata ekiwabyo mumuggye mu makungula.
Olw’ekitala ky’omujoozi,
leka buli omu addukire mu nsi y’ewaabwe,
buli muntu adde eri abantu be.
1750:17 a Yer 2:15 b 2Bk 17:6 c 2Bk 24:10, 14 d 2Bk 25:7“Isirayiri kisibo kya ndiga ezisaasaanye,
empologoma kye zigobye.
Eyasooka okumulya
yali kabaka wa Bwasuli;
eyasembayo okumenya amagumba ge
yali Nebukadduneeza kabaka w’e Babulooni.”
1850:18 a Is 10:12 b Ez 31:3Noolwekyo bw’ati bw’ayogera Mukama ow’Eggye, Katonda wa Isirayiri nti,
“Ndibonereza kabaka w’e Babulooni n’ensi ye
nga bwe nabonereza kabaka w’e Bwasuli.
1950:19 a Yer 31:10; Ez 34:13 b Yer 31:5; 33:12Naye ndikomyawo Isirayiri mu kisibo kye
era aliriira ku Kalumeeri ne Basani;
alikuttira
ku busozi bwa Efulayimu, ne mu Gireyaadi.
2050:20 a Mi 7:18, 19 b Yer 31:34 c Is 1:9Mu nnaku ezo, era mu biseera ebyo,” bw’ayogera Mukama Katonda, “omusango ku Isirayiri gulinoonyezebwa, naye tegulibaawo, era n’ebibi bya Yuda birinoonyezebwa, naye tewaliba na kimu, kubanga ndisonyiwa abo bendeseewo.
2150:21 Ez 23:23“Mulumbe ensi ye Merasayimu
n’abo abali mu Pekodi.
Mubagoberere mubatte, mubazikiririze ddala,”
bw’ayogera Mukama Katonda.
“Mukole byonna bye mbalagidde.
2250:22 Yer 4:19-21; 51:54Oluyoogaano lw’olutalo luwulirwa mu ggwanga,
eddoboozi ery’okuzikiriza okunene!
2350:23 Is 14:16Ennyondo y’ensi yonna
ng’ekubiddwa n’emenyeka!
Babulooni kifuuse matongo
mu mawanga!
2450:24 a Dan 5:30-31 b Yer 51:31 c Yob 9:4Nakutegera omutego, ggwe Babulooni,
babagwiikiriza ne babakwata nga tebategedde,
baakukwata ne bakuwamba
kubanga wawakanya Mukama.
2550:25 a Is 13:5 b Yer 51:25, 55Mukama agguddewo etterekero ly’ebyokulwanyisa bye
naggyamu ebyokulwanyisa eby’ekiruyi kye,
kubanga Mukama Katonda ow’Eggye alina omulimu ogw’okukola
mu nsi y’Abakaludaaya.
2650:26 Is 14:22-23Mujje mumulumbe mmwe abava mu buli nsonda,
mumenye ebyagi eby’emmere y’empeke,
mumukuŋŋaanye abe ng’entuumo y’emmere y’empeke.
Mumuzikiririze ddala;
waleme kusigalawo n’omu ku bo.
27Mutte ennume zaabwe zonna,
muzitwale zittibwe.
Zibasanze kubanga olunaku lwabwe lutuuse,
kye kiseera kyabwe eky’okubonerezebwa.
2850:28 a Is 48:20; Yer 51:10 b nny 15Muwulire eby’abadduka n’abanoonyi b’obubudamu okuva mu Babulooni
nga balangirira mu Sayuuni
engeri Mukama Katonda waffe gye yeesasuzza,
gye yeesasuzza olwa yeekaalu ye.
2950:29 a nny 14 b Kub 18:6 c Yer 51:56 d Is 47:10“Koowoola abalasi b’obusaale balumbe Babulooni,
ne bonna abanaanuula omutego.
Mumwetooloole yenna;
tewaba n’omu awona.
Mumusasule olw’ebikolwa bye byonna;
mumukole nga bwe yakola banne.
Kubanga yanyooma Mukama,
Omutukuvu wa Isirayiri.
3050:30 Is 13:18; Yer 49:26Noolwekyo, abavubuka be baligwa mu nguudo;
abaserikale be balisirisibwa ku lunaku olwo,”
bw’ayogera Mukama Katonda.
3150:31 Yer 21:13“Laba, ndi mulabe wo, ggwe ow’amalala,”
bw’ayogera Mukama, Mukama Katonda ow’Eggye,
“Kubanga olunaku lwo lutuuse,
ekiseera ky’on’obonerezebwamu.
3250:32 Yer 21:14; 49:27Oyo ow’amalala alyesittala agwe
era teri n’omu alimuyamba kuyimuka;
Ndikoleeza omuliro mu bibuga bye
oguliyokya bonna abamwetoolodde.”
3350:33 a Is 58:6 b Is 14:17Bw’ati bw’ayogera Mukama Katonda ow’Eggye nti,
“Abantu ba Isirayiri banyigirizibwa
awamu n’abantu ba Yuda;
Bonna ababawambye babanywezezza,
bagaanye okubata.
3450:34 a Yer 51:19 b Yer 15:21; 51:36 c Is 14:7Omununuzi waabwe w’amaanyi,
Mukama Katonda ow’Eggye lye linnya lye.
Alirwanirira ensonga zaabwe awatali kubuusabuusa,
alyoke aleete emirembe mu nsi yaabwe;
wabula alireeta okutabukatabuka mu bantu ba Babulooni.
3550:35 a Yer 47:6 b Dan 5:7“Ekitala kyolekedde Abakaludaaya,”
bw’ayogera Mukama,
“n’eri abo ababeera mu Babulooni,
n’abakungu baabwe n’abasajja baabwe abajjudde amagezi!
3650:36 Yer 49:22Ekitala kyolekedde bannabbi baabwe ab’obulimba!
Balifuuka balisiriwala,
ekitala kyolekedde abalwanyi baabwe.
Balijjula entiisa.
3750:37 a Yer 51:21 b Yer 51:30; Nak 3:13Ekitala kyolekedde embalaasi ze n’amagaali
n’abagwira bonna abamubeeramu!
Balifuuka banafu ng’abakazi.
Ekitala kyolekedde eby’obugagga bwe!
Birinyagibwa!
3850:38 a Yer 51:36 b nny 2Ekyeya kyolekedde amazzi gaamu!
Galikalira.
Kubanga ggwanga erisinza ebifaananyi,
ebifaananyi ebirigwa eddalu olw’entiisa.
3950:39 Is 13:19-22; 34:13-15; Yer 51:37; Kub 18:2“Noolwekyo ensolo z’omu nsiko ziribeera eyo n’empisi,
era eyo ekiwuugulu nakyo gye kiribeera.
Ekibuga ekyo tekiriddamu kubeeramu bantu
wadde kutuulwamu bantu emirembe gyonna.
4050:40 Lub 19:24Katonda nga bwe yazikiriza Sodomu ne Ggomola
n’ebibuga ebiriraanyeewo,”
bw’ayogera Mukama,
“bw’atyo bw’alikikola ne mutaba muntu n’omu alikibeeramu;
tewaliba n’omu alikisigalamu.
4150:41 a Yer 6:22 b Is 13:4; Yer 51:22-28“Laba, eggye liva mu bukiikakkono;
ensi ey’amaanyi ne bakabaka bangi,
bakuŋŋaana okuva ku nkomerero y’ensi.
4250:42 a nny 14 b Is 13:18 c Is 5:30 d Yer 6:23Balina obusaale n’amafumu,
bakambwe si ba kisa.
Beebagadde embalaasi zaabwe
ne baba ng’amayengo agawuluguma mu nnyanja;
bali ng’abasajja abalwanyi abajjira mu nnyiriri z’entalo
okukulumba, ggwe Muwala wa Babulooni.
43Kabaka w’e Babulooni afunye amawulire agabafaako,
n’emikono gye girebedde.
Entiisa emugwiridde,
ng’omukazi alumwa okuzaala.
4450:44 a Kbl 16:5 b Yob 41:10; Is 46:9; Yer 49:19Ng’empologoma eva mu kibira kya Yoludaani
okugenda mu ddundiro eggimu,
Babulooni ndimugoba mu nsi ye awatali kutemya kikowe.
Ani oyo omulonde gwe nnaawa okukola kino?
Ani ali nga nze, era ani ayinza okunsomooza?
Era musumba ki ayinza okuyimirirawo okumpakanya?”
4550:45 Zab 33:11; Is 14:24; Yer 51:11Noolwekyo, wulira Mukama ky’ategekedde Babulooni,
ky’ategese okuleeta ku nsi y’Abakaludaaya.
Obwana bw’ebisibo byabwe bulitwalibwa,
alizikiririza ddala ebisibo byabwe ng’abalanga obujeemu bwabwe.
4650:46 Kub 18:9-10Olw’oluyoogaano lw’okuwambibwa kwa Babulooni, ensi erikankana;
okukaaba kwe kuliwulirwa mu mawanga.