50:9 For I will rouse into action and bring against Babylon
a host of mighty nations 4 from the land of the north.
They will set up their battle lines against her.
They will come from the north and capture her. 5
Their arrows will be like a skilled soldier 6
who does not return from the battle empty-handed. 7
50:41 “Look! An army is about to come from the north.
A mighty nation and many kings 8 are stirring into action
in faraway parts of the earth.
51:6 Get out of Babylonia quickly, you foreign people. 9
Flee to save your lives.
Do not let yourselves be killed because of her sins.
For it is time for the Lord to wreak his revenge.
He will pay Babylonia 10 back for what she has done. 11
51:27 “Raise up battle flags throughout the lands.
Sound the trumpets calling the nations to do battle.
Prepare the nations to do battle against Babylonia. 12
Call for these kingdoms to attack her:
Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz. 13
Appoint a commander to lead the attack. 14
Send horses 15 against her like a swarm of locusts. 16
51:28 Prepare the nations to do battle against her. 17
Prepare the kings of the Medes.
Prepare their governors and all their leaders. 18
Prepare all the countries they rule to do battle against her. 19
45:1 This is what the Lord says to his chosen 21 one,
to Cyrus, whose right hand I hold 22
in order to subdue nations before him,
and disarm kings, 23
to open doors before him,
so gates remain unclosed:
45:2 “I will go before you
and level mountains. 24
Bronze doors I will shatter
and iron bars 25 I will hack through.
45:3 I will give you hidden treasures, 26
riches stashed away in secret places,
so you may recognize that I am the Lord,
the one who calls you by name, the God of Israel.
2:8 Because you robbed many countries, 28
all who are left among the nations 29 will rob you.
You have shed human blood
and committed violent acts against lands, cities, 30 and those who live in them.
2:9 The one who builds his house by unjust gain is as good as dead. 31
He does this so he can build his nest way up high
and escape the clutches of disaster. 32
2:10 Your schemes will bring shame to your house.
Because you destroyed many nations, you will self-destruct. 33
2:11 For the stones in the walls will cry out,
and the wooden rafters will answer back. 34
2:12 The one who builds a city by bloodshed is as good as dead 35 –
he who starts 36 a town by unjust deeds.
2:13 Be sure of this! The Lord who commands armies has decreed:
The nations’ efforts will go up in smoke;
their exhausting work will be for nothing. 37
2:14 For recognition of the Lord’s sovereign majesty will fill the earth
just as the waters fill up the sea. 38
2:15 “You who force your neighbor to drink wine 39 are as good as dead 40 –
you who make others intoxicated by forcing them to drink from the bowl of your furious anger, 41
so you can look at their genitals. 42
2:16 But you will become drunk 43 with shame, not majesty. 44
Now it is your turn to drink and expose your uncircumcised foreskin! 45
The cup of wine in the Lord’s right hand 46 is coming to you,
and disgrace will replace your majestic glory!