People of Jerusalem, go up to Lebanon and cry out in mourning. Go to the land of Bashan and cry out loudly. Cry out in mourning from the mountains of Moab. For your allies have all been defeated.

I made all of these other people drink it: Pharaoh, king of Egypt; his attendants, his officials, his people,

the people of Dedan, Tema, Buz, all the desert people who cut their hair short at the temples;

Then some of the elders of Judah stepped forward and spoke to all the people gathered there. They said,

But listen to what I say to you and to all these people.

“The Lord God of Israel who rules over all says to all those he sent into exile to Babylon from Jerusalem,

‘So pay attention to what I, the Lord, have said, all you exiles whom I have sent to Babylon from Jerusalem.’

The descendants of Jacob will enjoy their former privileges. Their community will be reestablished in my favor and I will punish all who try to oppress them.

The land of Judah will be inhabited by people who live in its towns as well as by farmers and shepherds with their flocks.

Rather, each person will die for his own sins. The teeth of the person who eats the sour grapes will themselves grow numb.

The prophet Jeremiah told all this to King Zedekiah of Judah in Jerusalem.

We have lived in tents. We have obeyed our ancestor Jonadab and done exactly as he commanded us.

Micaiah, who was the son of Gemariah and the grandson of Shaphan, heard Baruch read from the scroll everything the Lord had said.

Johanan and all the officers of the troops that had been hiding in the open country came to Gedaliah at Mizpah.

This day I have told you what he said. But you do not want to obey the Lord by doing what he sent me to tell you.

on Kerioth and Bozrah. It will come on all the towns of Moab, both far and near.

Babylon hammered the whole world to pieces. But see how that ‘hammer’ has been broken and shattered! See what an object of horror Babylon has become among the nations!

Kill all her soldiers! Let them be slaughtered! They are doomed, for their day of reckoning has come, the time for them to be punished.”

So her young men will fall in her city squares. All her soldiers will be destroyed at that time,” says the Lord.

You will stumble and fall, you proud city; no one will help you get up. I will set fire to your towns; it will burn up everything that surrounds you.”