16 Destroy the [a]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.

17 Israel is like scattered sheep: the lions have dispersed them: first the king of [b]Assyria hath devoured him, and last this Nebuchadnezzar king of Babel hath broken his [c]bones.

18 Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel, Behold, I will visit the king of Babel, and his land, as I have visited the King of Assyria.

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 50:16 Destroy her so that none be left to labor the ground, or to take the fruit thereof.
  2. Jeremiah 50:17 Meaning, Tiglath-Pilesar, who carried away the ten tribes.
  3. Jeremiah 50:17 He carried away the rest, to wit, Judah, and Benjamin.

16 Cut off from Babylon the sower,
    and the reaper with his sickle at harvest.
Because of the sword(A) of the oppressor
    let everyone return to their own people,(B)
    let everyone flee to their own land.(C)

17 “Israel is a scattered flock(D)
    that lions(E) have chased away.
The first to devour(F) them
    was the king(G) of Assyria;
the last to crush their bones(H)
    was Nebuchadnezzar(I) king(J) of Babylon.”

18 Therefore 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(K) of Assyria.(L)

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