He says, “Build it! Build it! Clear a way! Remove all the obstacles out of the way of my people!”

You are still exalting yourself against my people by not releasing them.

Esteem her highly and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her.

Come through! Come through the gates! Prepare the way for the people! Build it! Build the roadway! Remove the stones! Lift a signal flag for the nations!

The way of the sluggard is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is like a highway.

His troops advance together; they throw up a siege ramp against me, and they camp around my tent.

On my right the young rabble rise up; they drive me from place to place, and build up siege ramps against me.

Sing to God! Sing praises to his name! Exalt the one who rides on the clouds! For the Lord is his name! Rejoice before him!

Yet my people have forgotten me and offered sacrifices to worthless idols! This makes them stumble along in the way they live and leave the old reliable path of their fathers. They have left them to walk in bypaths, in roads that are not smooth and level.

Come from far away and attack Babylonia! Open up the places where she stores her grain! Pile her up in ruins! Destroy her completely! Do not leave anyone alive!