Ang Mensahe Tungkol sa Babilonia
1Ito ang sinabi ng Panginoon kay Jeremias tungkol sa Babilonia at sa mga mamamayan nito:
2“Ipahayag sa mga bansa ang balita nang walang inililihim! At itaas ang watawat na tanda ng pagkawasak ng Babilonia! Madudurog at mapapahiya ang mga dios-diosan niya pati na ang dios-diosang si Bel at Marduk. 3Sapagkat sasalakayin ang Babilonia ng isang bansa mula sa hilaga, at magiging mapanglaw ang lugar na ito. Wala nang maninirahan dito dahil tatakas ang mga mamamayan niya pati ang mga hayop.
4“Ako, ang Panginoon, ay nagsasabing sa panahong iyon, ang mga mamamayan ng Israel at Juda ay iiyak na lalapit sa akin, ang Panginoon na kanilang Dios. 5Magtatanong sila ng daan papuntang Jerusalem50:5 Jerusalem: sa Hebreo, Zion. Ganito rin sa talatang 28. at pupunta sila roon. Gagawa sila ng walang hanggang kasunduan sa akin at hindi na nila ito kakalimutan.
6“Ang mga mamamayan ko ay parang mga tupang naliligaw. Pinabayaan sila ng mga pastol nila roon sa kabundukan at kaburulan at hindi na nila alam ang daan pauwi. 7Sinasakmal sila ng mga nakakakita sa kanila. Sinasabi ng mga kaaway nila, ‘Nagkasala sila sa Panginoon na siyang tunay nilang kapahingahan at pag-asa ng mga ninuno nila kaya wala tayong kasalanan sa ating pagsalakay sa kanila.’
8“Tumakas kayo mula sa Babilonia! Iwanan na ninyo ang bansang iyan! Mauna na kayong tumakas katulad ng mga kambing na nangunguna sa mga kawan! 9Sapagkat ipapasalakay ko ang Babilonia sa alyansa ng mga makapangyarihang bansa mula sa hilaga. Sasalakayin nila ang Babilonia at masasakop nila ito. Bihasa ang mga tagapana nila at walang mintis ang kanilang pagpana. 10Sasamsamin nila ang mga ari-arian ng Babilonia at talagang magsasawa sila. Ako, ang Panginoon, ang nagsasabi nito.
11“Mga taga-Babilonia, sinamsam nʼyo ang pag-aari ng mga mamamayan ko. Tuwang-tuwa kayo at masaya na parang dumalagang baka sa pastulan o kabayong humahalinghing. 12Pero ilalagay ko sa kahihiyan ang inyong bansa.50:12 bansa: sa literal, ina. Magiging pinakaaba ito sa lahat ng bansa, at magiging isa itong mapanglaw at disyerto. 13Dahil sa aking poot, wala nang maninirahan sa Babilonia at magiging mapanglaw ito. Masisindak at mangingilabot ang lahat ng dadaan dito dahil sa lahat ng nangyari sa bansang ito.
14“Kayong mga tagapana, humanay na kayo sa pwesto nʼyo sa palibot ng Babilonia. Panain nʼyo siya dahil nagkasala siya sa Panginoon. 15Sumigaw kayo laban sa kanya sa lahat ng dako! Tingnan nʼyo! Sumuko na ang Babilonia! Nawawasak na ang mga tore niya at gumuho na ang mga pader niya. Ang Panginoon ang naghiganti sa kanya. Kaya paghigantihan ninyo siya at gawin ninyo sa kanya ang ginawa niya sa iba. 16Paalisin ninyo sa Babilonia ang mga nagtatanim at nag-aani. Iligtas ninyo ang mga bihag sa espada ng mga kaaway at patakasin ninyo sila at pauwiin sa sarili nilang lupain.
17“Ang mga Israelita ay parang mga tupang nagkalat na hinahabol ng mga leon. Una, sinakmal sila ng hari ng Asiria, pagkatapos ang pinakahuling ngumatngat ng mga buto nila ay si Haring Nebucadnezar ng Babilonia.
18“Kaya ako, ang Panginoong Makapangyarihan, ang Dios ng Israel ay nagsasabi, ‘Parurusahan ko si Haring Nebucadnezar at ang Babilonia katulad ng pagpaparusa ko sa hari ng Asiria. 19Pero pababalikin ko ang mga Israelita sa bansa nila. Magiging parang mga tupa silang nanginginain sa kabundukan ng Carmel at sa kapatagan ng Bashan, at sa kaburulan ng Efraim at Gilead, at mabubusog sila. 20Sa mga araw na iyon, wala nang makikitang mga kasalanan at pagsuway sa mga natitirang mga mamamayan ng Israel at Juda dahil patatawarin ko na sila. Ako, ang Panginoon, ang nagsasabi nito.’ ”
Ang Parusa ng Panginoon sa Babilonia
21Sinabi pa ng Panginoon, “Salakayin nʼyo ang Merataim at ang Pekod. Patayin ninyo sila at lipulin nang lubusan bilang handog para sa akin. Gawin ninyo ang lahat ng iniuutos ko sa inyo. 22Iparinig nʼyo ang sigawan ng labanan at ingay ng puspusang pangwawasak. 23Ang Babilonia ay parang martilyong dumurog ng mga bansa, pero ngayon siya na ang nadurog. Nakita ng mga bansa kung paano nawasak ang Babilonia!
24“O Babilonia, nahuli ka sa bitag na inilagay ko para sa iyo. Nahuli ka dahil lumaban ka sa akin. 25Binuksan ko ang aking taguan ng mga armas at inilabas ko ang mga sandata dahil sa aking galit. Sapagkat ako, ang Panginoong Dios na Makapangyarihan ay may gagawin sa iyo, O Babilonia.
26“Mga kalaban ng Babilonia, na nasa malayong lugar, salakayin nʼyo na ang Babilonia! Buksan nʼyo ang mga bodega niya. Ipunin nʼyo ang mga nasamsam nʼyo katulad ng trigo. Lipulin nʼyong lubos ang mga taga-Babilonia at huwag kayong magtitira kahit isa. 27Patayin ninyo ang lahat ng kanilang mga kawal na tulad sa batang toro. Patayin ninyo silang lahat. Nakakaawa sila dahil dumating na ang panahon na dapat silang parusahan.
28“Pakinggan nʼyo ang mga taong nakatakas sa Babilonia habang isinasalaysay nila sa Jerusalem kung paano naghiganti ang Panginoon na ating Dios dahil sa ginawa ng mga taga-Babilonia sa templo natin.
29“Ipatawag nʼyo ang mga tagapana para sumalakay sa Babilonia! Palibutan nʼyo para walang makatakas. Paghigantihan nʼyo siya sa ginawa niya; gawin nʼyo sa kanya ang ginawa niya sa iba dahil kinalaban niya ang Panginoon, ang Banal na Dios ng Israel. 30Sa mga araw na iyon, mamamatay sa mga lansangan ang mga kabataan niyang lalaki pati ang lahat niyang kawal.
31“Ako, ang Panginoong Dios na Makapangyarihan, ay nagsasabing kalaban kita, Babiloniang mapagmataas! Dumating na ang araw na parurusahan kita. 32Ikaw na palalo ay mawawasak at walang tutulong sa iyo para ibangon ka. Susunugin ko ang mga bayan mo at ang lahat ng nasa paligid nito.”
33Sinabi pa ng Panginoong Makapangyarihan, “Inaapi ang mga mamamayan ng Israel at Juda. Binihag sila at binantayang mabuti para hindi sila makauwi sa bayan nila. 34Pero ako ang kanilang Manunubos, Panginoong Makapangyarihan ang pangalan ko. Ipagtatanggol ko sila at bibigyan ng kapayapaan, pero guguluhin ko ang mga mamamayan ng Babilonia.
35“Ako, ang Panginoon, ay nagsasabing ang espada ng kapahamakan ay tatama sa mga taga-Babilonia pati sa mga pinuno at matatalinong tao niya. 36Tatama rin ito sa kanyang mga bulaang propeta at magiging mga mangmang sila. Tatama rin ito sa mga sundalo niya at matatakot sila! 37Tatama ito sa kanyang mga kabayo, karwahe, at sa lahat ng kumakampi sa kanya. At manghihina sila na parang babae! Tatama rin ito sa mga kayamanan niya at sasamsamin itong lahat. 38Matutuyo ang lahat ng pinagkukunan niya ng tubig! Sapagkat ang Babilonia ay lugar na punong-puno ng napakaraming dios-diosan – mga dios-diosang nagliligaw sa mga tao.
39“At ang Babilonia ay titirhan na lang ng mga hayop sa gubat, mababangis na hayop, mga asong-gubat, at mga kuwago. At hindi na titirhan ng tao ang Babilonia magpakailanman. 40Kung paanong winasak ng Dios ang Sodom at Gomora, at ang mga bayan sa palibot nito, ganoon din ang mangyayari sa Babilonia. Wala nang maninirahan doon. Ako, ang Panginoon, ang nagsasabi nito.
41“Tingnan ninyo! May mga sundalong dumarating mula sa hilaga. Isang makapangyarihang bansa mula sa malayong lupain na lalaban sa Babilonia. 42Ang dala nilang mga sandata ay mga pana at mga sibat. Malulupit sila at walang habag. Ang ingay nilaʼy parang malalakas na alon habang nakasakay sila sa kanilang mga kabayo. Darating sila na handang-handa para salakayin kayong mga taga-Babilonia. 43Nabalitaan ito ng hari ng Babilonia at nanlupaypay siya. Nakaramdam siya ng takot at sakit katulad ng babaeng manganganak na.
44“Bigla kong sasalakayin ang Babilonia katulad ng leon na galing sa kagubatan malapit sa Ilog ng Jordan, sasalakay patungo sa pastulan ng maraming tupa. Magsisitakas sila, at pipili ako ng taong mamamahala sa Babilonia. Sino ang maitutulad sa akin? Sino ang mangangahas na kalabanin ako? Sino ang pinunong makakalaban sa akin? 45Kaya pakinggan mo ang balak kong gawin laban sa Babilonia. Kahit ang mga anak nilaʼy bibihagin at ang mga bahay nilaʼy gigibain. 46Sa pagbagsak ng Babilonia, yayanig ang lupa at maririnig sa ibang bansa ang iyakan nila.”
A Message About Babylon
1Here is the message the Lord spoke through Jeremiah the prophet. It was about the city of Babylon and the land of Babylon. He said,
2“Announce this message among the nations.
Lift up a banner.
Let the nations hear the message.
Do not keep anything back.
Say, ‘Babylon will be captured.
The god named Bel will be put to shame.
The god named Marduk will be filled with terror.
Babylon’s gods will be put to shame.
The gods its people made will be filled with terror.’
3A nation from the north will attack it.
That nation will destroy Babylon.
No one will live there.
People and animals alike will run away.
4“The days are coming,”
announces the Lord.
“At that time the people of Israel and Judah will gather together.
They will come in tears to me.
I am the Lord their God.
5They will ask how to get to Zion.
Then they will turn their faces toward it.
They will come and join themselves to me.
They will enter into the covenant I make with them.
It will last forever.
It will never be forgotten.
6“My people have been like lost sheep.
Their shepherds have led them astray.
They have caused them to wander in the mountains.
They have wandered over mountains and hills.
They have forgotten that I am their true resting place.
7Everyone who found them destroyed them.
Their enemies said, ‘We aren’t guilty.
They sinned against the Lord.
He gave them everything they needed.
He has always been Israel’s hope.’
8“People of Judah, run away from Babylon.
Leave the land of Babylon.
Be like the goats that lead the flock.
9I will stir up great nations
that will join forces against Babylon.
I will bring them from the land of the north.
They will take up their battle positions against Babylon.
They will come from the north and capture it.
Their arrows will be like skilled soldiers.
They will not miss their mark.
10So the riches of Babylon will be taken away.
All those who steal from it will have more than enough,”
announces the Lord.
11“People of Babylon, you have stolen what belongs to me.
That has made you glad and full of joy.
You dance around like a young cow on a threshing floor.
You neigh like stallions.
12Because of that, you will bring great shame on your land.
Your whole nation will be dishonored.
It will become the least important of the nations.
It will become a dry and empty desert.
13Because I am angry with it, no one will live there.
It will be completely deserted.
All those who pass by Babylon will be shocked.
They will make fun of it because of all its wounds.
14“All you who shoot arrows,
take up your battle positions around Babylon.
Shoot at it! Do not spare any arrows!
Its people have sinned against me.
15Shout against them on every side!
They are giving up.
The towers of the city are falling.
Its walls are being pulled down.
The Lord is paying back its people.
So pay them back yourselves.
Do to them what they have done to others.
16Do not leave anyone in Babylon to plant the fields.
Do not leave anyone to harvest the grain.
Let each of them return to their own people.
Let them run away to their own land.
If they don’t, their enemy’s sword will bring them great harm.
17“Israel is like a scattered flock
that lions have chased away.
The first lion that ate them up
was the king of Assyria.
The last one that broke their bones
was Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon.”
18The Lord who rules over all is the God of Israel. He says,
“I punished the king of Assyria.
In the same way, I will punish
the king of Babylon and his land.
19But I will bring Israel back to their own grasslands.
I will feed them on Mount Carmel and in Bashan.
I will satisfy their hunger
on the hills of Ephraim and Gilead.
20The days are coming,”
announces the Lord.
“At that time people will search for Israel’s guilt.
But they will not find any.
They will search for Judah’s sins.
But they will not find any.
That is because I will forgive the people I have spared.
21“Enemies of Babylon, attack their land of Merathaim.
Make war against those who live in Pekod.
Chase them and kill them. Destroy them completely,”
announces the Lord.
“Do everything I have commanded you to do.
22The noise of battle is heard in the land.
It is the noise of a great city being destroyed!
23It has been broken to pieces.
It was the hammer that broke the whole earth.
How empty Babylon is among the nations!
24Babylon, I set a trap for you.
And you were caught before you knew it.
You were found and captured.
That is because you opposed me.
25I have opened up my storeroom.
I have brought out the weapons I use when I am angry.
I am the Lord and King who rules over all.
I have work to do in the land of the Babylonians.
26So come against it from far away.
Open up its storerooms.
Stack everything up like piles of grain.
Completely destroy that country.
Do not leave anyone alive there.
27Kill all Babylon’s strongest warriors.
Let them die in battle.
How terrible it will be for them!
Their time to be judged has come.
Now they will be punished.
28Listen to those who have escaped.
Listen to those who have returned from Babylon.
They are announcing in Zion
how I have paid Babylon back.
I have paid it back for destroying my temple.
29“Send for men armed with bows and arrows.
Send them against Babylon.
Set up camp all around it.
Do not let anyone escape.
Pay it back for what its people have done.
Do to them what they have done to others.
They have dared to disobey me.
I am the Holy One of Israel.
30You can be sure its young men will fall dead in the streets.
All its soldiers will be put to death at that time,”
announces the Lord.
31“Proud Babylonians, I am against you,”
announces the Lord.
The Lord who rules over all says,
“Your day to be judged has come.
It is time for you to be punished.
32You proud people will trip and fall.
No one will help you up.
I will start a fire in your towns.
It will burn up everyone around you.”
33The Lord who rules over all says,
“The people of Israel are being treated badly.
So are the people of Judah.
Those who have captured them are holding them.
They refuse to let them go.
34But I am strong and will save them.
My name is the Lord Who Rules Over All.
I will stand up for them.
I will bring peace and rest to their land.
But I will bring trouble to those who live in Babylon.
35“A sword is coming against the Babylonians!”
announces the Lord.
“It is coming against those who live in Babylon.
It is coming against their officials and wise men.
36A sword is coming against their prophets.
But they are not really prophets at all!
So they will look foolish.
A sword is coming against their soldiers!
They will be filled with terror.
37A sword is coming against their horses and chariots!
It is coming against all the hired soldiers in their armies.
They will become weak.
A sword is coming against their treasures!
They will be stolen.
38There will not be any rain for their rivers.
So they will dry up.
Those things will happen because their land is full of statues of gods.
Those gods will go crazy with terror.
39“Desert creatures and hyenas will live in Babylon.
And so will owls.
People will never live there again.
It will not be lived in for all time to come.
40I destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.
I also destroyed the towns that were near them,”
announces the Lord.
“Babylon will be just like them.
No one will live there.
No human beings will stay there.
41“Look! An army is coming from the north.
I am stirring up a great nation and many kings.
They are coming from a land that is very far away.
42Their soldiers are armed with bows and spears.
They are mean.
They do not show any mercy at all.
They come riding in on their horses.
They sound like the roaring ocean.
They are lined up for battle.
They are coming to attack you, city of Babylon.
43The king of Babylon has heard reports about them.
His hands can’t help him.
He is in great pain.
It is like the pain of a woman having a baby.
44I will be like a lion coming up from the bushes by the Jordan River.
I will hunt in rich grasslands.
I will chase the people of Babylon from their land in an instant.
What nation will I choose to do this?
Which one will I appoint?
Is anyone like me? Who would dare to argue with me?
What leader can stand against me?”
45So listen to what the Lord has planned against Babylon.
Hear what he has planned against the land of the Babylonians.
Their young people will be dragged away.
Their grasslands will be shocked at their fate.
46At the news of Babylon’s capture,
the earth will shake.
The people’s cries will be heard among the nations.
