14 [a]Put yourselves in array against Babel round about: all ye that bend the bow, shoot at her, spare no arrows: for she hath [b]sinned against the Lord.

15 Cry against her round about: she hath [c]given her hand: her foundations are fallen, and her walls are destroyed: for it is the vengeance of the Lord: take vengeance upon her: as she hath done, do unto her.

16 Destroy the [d]sower from Babel, and him that handleth the scythe in the time of harvest: because of the sword of the oppressor they shall turn everyone to his people, and they shall flee everyone to his own land.

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 50:14 He speaketh to the enemies the Medes and Persians.
  2. Jeremiah 50:14 Though the Lord called the Babylonians his servants, and their work his work in punishing his people, yet because they did it not to glorify God, but for their own malice, and to profit themselves, it is here called sin.
  3. Jeremiah 50:15 Or, yielded, or made peace.
  4. Jeremiah 50:16 Destroy her so that none be left to labor the ground, or to take the fruit thereof.

14 “Take up your positions around Babylon,
    all you who draw the bow.(A)
Shoot at her! Spare no arrows,(B)
    for she has sinned against the Lord.
15 Shout(C) against her on every side!
    She surrenders, her towers fall,
    her walls(D) are torn down.
Since this is the vengeance(E) of the Lord,
    take vengeance on her;
    do to her(F) as she has done to others.(G)
16 Cut off from Babylon the sower,
    and the reaper with his sickle at harvest.
Because of the sword(H) of the oppressor
    let everyone return to their own people,(I)
    let everyone flee to their own land.(J)

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