Jeremiah 51:56-58

51:56 For a destroyer is attacking Babylon. ¹ 

Her warriors will be captured;

their bows will be broken. ² 

For the Lord is a God who punishes; ³ 

he pays back in full. ⁴ 

51:57 “I will make her officials and wise men drunk,

along with her governors, leaders, ⁵  and warriors.

They will fall asleep forever and never wake up,” ⁶ 

says the King whose name is the Lord who rules over all. ⁷ 

51:58 This is what the Lord who rules over all ⁸  says,

“Babylon’s thick wall ⁹  will be completely demolished. ¹⁰ 

Her high gates will be set on fire.

The peoples strive for what does not satisfy. ¹¹ 

The nations grow weary trying to get what will be destroyed.” ¹² 

[51:56]  ¹ tn Heb “for a destroyer is coming against her, against Babylon.”

[51:56]  ² tn The Piel form (which would be intransitive here, see GKC 142 §52.k) should probably be emended to Qal.

[51:56]  ³ tn Or “God of retribution.”

[51:56]  ⁴ tn The infinitive absolute emphasizes the following finite verb. Another option is to translate, “he certainly pays one back.” The translation assumes that the imperfect verbal form here describes the Lord’s characteristic actions. Another option is to take it as referring specifically to his judgment on Babylon, in which case one should translate, “he will pay (Babylon) back in full.”

[51:57]  ⁵ sn For discussion of the terms “governors” and “leaders” see the note at Jer 51:23.

[51:57]  ⁶ sn See the note at Jer 51:39.

[51:57]  ⁷ tn For the title “Yahweh of armies” see the study note on Jer 2:19.

[51:58]  ⁹ sn See the note at Jer 2:19.

[51:58]  ¹⁰ tn The text has the plural “walls,” but many Hebrew mss read the singular “wall,” which is also supported by the ancient Greek version. The modifying adjective “thick” is singular as well.

[51:58]  ¹¹ tn The infinitive absolute emphasizes the following finite verb. Another option is to translate, “will certainly be demolished.”

[51:58]  ¹² tn Heb “for what is empty.”

[51:58]  ¹³ tn Heb “and the nations for fire, and they grow weary.”