Now it is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty land.

No one will live there again; no one will ever reside there again. No bedouin will camp there, no shepherds will rest their flocks there.

O my downtrodden people, crushed like stalks on the threshing floor, what I have heard from the Lord who commands armies, the God of Israel, I have reported to you.

Bel kneels down, Nebo bends low. Their images weigh down animals and beasts. Your heavy images are burdensome to tired animals.

Leave! Leave! Get out of there! Don’t touch anything unclean! Get out of it! Stay pure, you who carry the Lord’s holy items!

From Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their colleagues – the judges, the rulers, the officials, the secretaries, the Erechites, the Babylonians, the people of Susa (that is, the Elamites),

I have received a distressing message: “The deceiver deceives, the destroyer destroys. Attack, you Elamites! Lay siege, you Medes! I will put an end to all the groaning!”

I was angry at my people; I defiled my special possession and handed them over to you. You showed them no mercy; you even placed a very heavy burden on old people.

Work to see that the city where I sent you as exiles enjoys peace and prosperity. Pray to the Lord for it. For as it prospers you will prosper.’

The Lord says, “Attack the land of Merathaim and the people who live in Pekod! Pursue, kill, and completely destroy them! Do just as I have commanded you!

For the music director; written by the Korahites, a psalm. O Lord, you showed favor to your land; you restored the well-being of Jacob.

Look, I am stirring up the Medes to attack them; they are not concerned about silver, nor are they interested in gold.

My heart palpitates, I shake in fear; the twilight I desired has brought me terror.

You should have reprimanded Jeremiah from Anathoth who is pretending to be a prophet among you!

For the Lord says, “Look! Like an eagle with outspread wings a nation will swoop down on Moab.

“A lion coming up from the thick undergrowth along the Jordan scatters the sheep in the pastureland around it. So too I will chase the Babylonians off of their land. Then I will appoint over it whomever I choose. For there is no one like me. There is no one who can call me to account. There is no ruler that can stand up against me.

Let them fall slain in the land of Babylonia, mortally wounded in the streets of her cities.

Here is the official record of the number of people Nebuchadnezzar carried into exile: In the seventh year, 3,023 Jews;

He plucked off its topmost shoot; he brought it to a land of merchants and planted it in a city of traders.

so it would be a lowly kingdom which could not rise on its own but must keep its treaty with him in order to stand.