Jeremiah 25:12

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

'But when the seventy years are completed,' declares the LORD, 'I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation, the land of the Chaldeans, for their guilt, and I will make it desolate forever.'

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וְהָיָ֣ה כִמְלֹ֣אות שִׁבְעִ֣ים שָׁנָ֡ה אֶפְקֹ֣ד עַל־מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶל֩ וְעַל־הַגּ֨וֹי הַה֧וּא נְאֻם־יְהוָ֛ה אֶת־עֲוֺנָ֖ם וְעַל־אֶ֣רֶץ כַּשְׂדִּ֑ים וְשַׂמְתִּ֥י אֹת֖וֹ לְשִֽׁמְמ֥וֹת עוֹלָֽם׃

Transliteration

And hāyāh as kimlōʾôt seventy šānāh ʾepqōd upon melek-Bābel and upon the gôy the that nĕʾum-YHWH ʾet their ʿăwōnām and upon ʾereṣ Kaśdîm, and śamtî ʾōtô for šimĕmôt ʿôlām.

Grammar Details

• *hāyāh*: verb, qal perfect, 3rd masculine singular - it will happen
• *kimlōʾôt*: preposition + verb, qal infinitive construct - at fulfilling/completing
• *šānāh*: noun, feminine, singular - year
• *ʾepqōd*: verb, qal imperfect, 1st singular - I will visit/punish
• *melek*: noun, masculine, singular construct - king
• *Bābel*: proper noun - Babylon
• *gôy*: noun, masculine, singular - nation
• *nĕʾum*: noun, masculine, singular construct - declaration of
• *YHWH*: proper noun - LORD/Yahweh
• *ʾet*: direct object marker
• *ʿăwōnām*: noun, masculine, singular + 3rd plural suffix - their iniquity
• *ʾereṣ*: noun, feminine, singular construct - land of
• *Kaśdîm*: proper noun - Chaldeans
• *śamtî*: verb, qal perfect, 1st singular - I will make
• *ʾōtô*: direct object marker + 3rd masculine singular suffix - it
• *šimĕmôt*: noun, feminine, plural - desolations
• *ʿôlām*: noun, masculine, singular - forever/eternity

Word Meanings

• *hāyāh*: it will happen/come to pass
• *kimlōʾôt*: as fulfilling/when completing
• *ʾepqōd*: I will visit/punish/attend to
• *gôy*: nation/people
• *nĕʾum*: declaration/oracle/utterance
• *ʿăwōnām*: their iniquity/guilt/punishment
• *ʾereṣ*: land/country/territory
• *Kaśdîm*: Chaldeans/Babylonians
• *śamtî*: I will make/set/place
• *šimĕmôt*: desolations/wasteland
• *ʿôlām*: forever/perpetuity/ancient time

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the LORD, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are completed, that I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation, says the LORD, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the LORD, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And it shall come to pass, when seventy{H7657} years{H8141} are accomplished,{H4390} that I will punish{H6485} the king{H4428} of Babylon,{H894} and that nation,{H1471} saith{H5002} Jehovah,{H3068} for their iniquity,{H5771} and the land{H776} of the Chaldeans;{H3778} and I will make{H7760} it desolate{H8077} for ever.{H5769}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And it shall come to pass, when seventy{H7657} years{H8141} are accomplished{H4390}{(H8800)}, that I will punish{H6485}{(H8799)} the king{H4428} of Babylon{H894}, and that nation{H1471}, saith{H5002}{(H8803)} the LORD{H3068}, for their iniquity{H5771}, and the land{H776} of the Chaldeans{H3778}, and will make{H7760}{(H8804)} it perpetual{H5769} desolations{H8077}.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  When the lxx yeares are expyred, I wil viset also the wickednesse of the kinge of Babylon & his people, saieth the LORDE: yee & the londe of the Caldees, & wil make it a perpetuall wildernes,

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And when the seuentie yeres are accomplished, I will visite the King of Babel and that nation, saith the Lorde, for their iniquities, euen the land of the Caldeans, and will make it a perpetuall desolation,

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  When the threscore and ten yeres are expired, I wil visite all the wickednesse of the kyng of Babylon and his people saith the Lorde, yea and the lande of the Chaldees, and wyll make it a perpetuall wildernesse,

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, [that] I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the LORD, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  It shall happen, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, says Yahweh, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans; and I will make it desolate forever.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  `And it hath come to pass, at the fulness of seventy years, I charge against the king of Babylon, and against that nation -- an affirmation of Jehovah -- their iniquity, and against the land of the Chaldeans, and have appointed it for desolations age-during.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith Jehovah, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans; and I will make it desolate for ever.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith Jehovah, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans; and I will make it desolate for ever.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And it will come about, after seventy years are ended, that I will send punishment on the king of Babylon, and on that nation, says the Lord, for their evil-doing, and on the land of the Chaldaeans; and I will make it a waste for ever.

• World English Bible (2000)

  It shall happen, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, says Yahweh, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans; and I will make it desolate forever.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  “‘But when the seventy years are over, I will punish the king of Babylon and his nation for their sins. I will make the land of Babylon an everlasting ruin. I, the LORD, affirm it!

Referenced Verses

• Isa 13:19 : 19 Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms, the glory of the pride of the Chaldeans, will be like Sodom and Gomorrah when God overthrew them.
• Dan 9:2 : 2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the books the number of years that, according to the word of the LORD given to Jeremiah the prophet, must be fulfilled for the desolation of Jerusalem—seventy years.
• Jer 29:10 : 10 This is what the LORD says: When seventy years for Babylon are complete, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place.
• Jer 50:1-9 : 1 This is the word that the LORD spoke concerning Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans, through the prophet Jeremiah. 2 Declare among the nations and proclaim it; raise a banner and proclaim it! Do not hide it. Say, 'Babylon has been captured; Bel is put to shame, Marduk is dismayed. Her idols are disgraced, her images shattered.' 3 For a nation has come against her from the north; it will make her land desolate. No one will live there—neither man nor beast—all will flee and be gone. 4 In those days and at that time,' declares the LORD, 'the people of Israel and the people of Judah will come together, weeping as they go, seeking the LORD their God. 5 They will ask the way to Zion and turn their faces toward it. They will come and join themselves to the LORD in an everlasting covenant that will never be forgotten. 6 My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have led them astray, causing them to wander on the mountains. They have gone from mountain to hill and forgotten their resting place. 7 All who found them devoured them. Their enemies said, 'We are not guilty, for they sinned against the LORD, their true pasture and the hope of their ancestors—the LORD.' 8 Flee from Babylon, leave the land of the Chaldeans, and be like male goats leading the flock. 9 For behold, I am stirring up and bringing against Babylon a coalition of great nations from the north. They will line up for battle against her; from there she will be captured. Their arrows are like skilled warriors; they will not return empty-handed. 10 Chaldea will become plunder; all who plunder her will be satisfied,' declares the LORD. 11 'Because you rejoice and celebrate, you who plunder my inheritance; because you frolic like a threshing heifer and neigh like stallions,' 12 your mother will be greatly ashamed; she who bore you will be disgraced. Behold, she will become the least of the nations—a wilderness, a dry and arid land. 13 Because of the LORD's wrath, she will not be inhabited but will become completely desolate. Everyone who passes by Babylon will be appalled and will scoff at all her wounds. 14 Take your positions around Babylon, all you who draw the bow. Shoot at her! Spare no arrows, for she has sinned against the LORD. 15 Raise a shout against her on every side! She has surrendered; her towers have fallen, her walls are torn down. This is the vengeance of the LORD. Take vengeance on her; do to her as she has done to others. 16 Cut off the sower from Babylon, and the one who handles the sickle at harvest time. Because of the oppressing sword, let each one return to his own people, and let every one flee to his own land. 17 Israel is a scattered sheep chased by lions. The first to devour him was the king of Assyria; the last to gnaw at his bones was Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. 18 Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: 'I will punish the king of Babylon and his land just as I punished the king of Assyria.' 19 I will restore Israel to his pasture, and he will graze on Carmel and Bashan; his soul will be satisfied on the hills of Ephraim and Gilead. 20 In those days and at that time, declares the LORD, the guilt of Israel will be sought, but there will be none; and the sins of Judah, but none will be found, for I will forgive those I leave as a remnant. 21 Attack the land of Merathaim and those who live in Pekod! Pursue them, kill them completely, and devote them to destruction, declares the LORD. Do everything I have commanded you. 22 The sound of battle is in the land—a great destruction. 23 How the hammer of the whole earth has been cut down and broken! Babylon has become an object of horror among the nations. 24 I set a trap for you, Babylon, and you were caught before you knew it. You were found and captured because you challenged the LORD. 25 The LORD has opened His armory and brought out the weapons of His wrath, for the Sovereign LORD of Hosts has a task to accomplish in the land of the Chaldeans. 26 Come against her from the farthest borders; open her granaries. Heap her up like piles of grain and destroy her completely. Let nothing be left of her. 27 Slaughter all her young bulls; let them go down to the slaughter. Woe to them, for their day has come, the time of their punishment. 28 Listen to the voice of those fleeing and escaping from the land of Babylon, proclaiming in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God, the vengeance for His temple. 29 Summon archers against Babylon, all who draw the bow. Encamp around her on every side, and let no one escape. Repay her according to her deeds; do to her as she has done. For she has defied the LORD, the Holy One of Israel. 30 Therefore, her young men will fall in her streets, and all her soldiers will perish on that day, declares the LORD. 31 Behold, I am against you, O arrogant one, declares the Sovereign LORD of Hosts, for your day has come, the time for Me to punish you. 32 The arrogant one will stumble and fall, and no one will help him up. I will set fire to his cities, and it will devour all around him. 33 This is what the LORD of Hosts says: The people of Israel and the people of Judah are oppressed together. All their captors hold them fast and refuse to let them go. 34 But their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of Hosts is His name. He will vigorously defend their cause to bring rest to the land but unrest to the inhabitants of Babylon. 35 A sword is against the Chaldeans, declares the LORD, against the inhabitants of Babylon, against her officials and wise men. 36 A sword is against her diviners, and they will act foolishly. A sword is against her warriors, and they will be shattered. 37 A sword is against her horses and her chariots, and against all the mixed multitude in her midst. They will become like women. A sword is against her treasures, and they will be plundered. 38 A drought is upon her waters; they will dry up. For it is a land of idols, and they go mad over terrifying images. 39 Therefore, desert creatures and hyenas will dwell there, and ostriches will inhabit it. It will never again be inhabited or settled from generation to generation. 40 As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah along with their neighbors, declares the LORD, no one will live there, and no human being will dwell in it. 41 Behold, a people is coming from the north; a great nation and many kings are being stirred up from the farthest parts of the earth. 42 They hold bows and spears; they are cruel and show no mercy. Their roar is like the roaring sea, and they ride on horses, arrayed like men ready for battle against you, Daughter of Babylon. 43 The king of Babylon has heard the report about them, and his hands hang limp. Anguish grips him, pain like that of a woman in labor. 44 Behold, like a lion coming up from the thickets of the Jordan to a secure pasture, I will drive them away suddenly from it. I will appoint whoever is chosen for it. For who is like me? Who can summon me? And what shepherd can stand against me? 45 Therefore, hear the counsel of the LORD that He has purposed against Babylon and the plans He has devised against the land of the Chaldeans. Surely, the little ones of the flock will be dragged away; surely, their pasture will be appalled at their fate. 46 At the sound of Babylon’s capture, the earth will quake, and the outcry will be heard among the nations.
• Jer 51:62-64 : 62 Then say, 'O Lord, You have said concerning this place that You will cut it off, so that no one will dwell in it—neither man nor beast—but it will lie desolate forever.' 63 When you finish reading this scroll, tie a stone to it and throw it into the Euphrates. 64 Then you shall say, 'This is how Babylon will sink and never rise again because of the disaster I will bring upon her. Her people will grow weary.' This is the end of Jeremiah's words.
• Isa 14:23 : 23 I will make her a possession for hedgehogs and swamps of water, and I will sweep her away with the broom of destruction,' declares the LORD of Hosts.
• Isa 15:6 : 6 The waters of Nimrim are desolate. The grass is withered, the vegetation has vanished, and nothing green remains.
• Isa 20:1-21:17 : 1 In the year that the commander came to Ashdod, when Sargon, the king of Assyria, sent him, and he fought against Ashdod and captured it, 2 at that time, the LORD spoke through Isaiah son of Amoz, saying, 'Go, untie the sackcloth from around your waist and remove the sandals from your feet.' And he did so, walking around naked and barefoot. 3 Then the LORD said, 'Just as my servant Isaiah has walked around naked and barefoot for three years as a sign and a warning against Egypt and Cush,' 4 'so will the king of Assyria lead away the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Cush—young and old—naked and barefoot, with their buttocks exposed, bringing shame to Egypt.' 5 Then they will be dismayed and ashamed because of Cush, their hope, and Egypt, their pride. 6 On that day, the inhabitants of this coastland will say, 'See what has happened to those we relied on for help and deliverance from the king of Assyria! How then can we escape?' 1 This is a prophecy about the wilderness by the sea: Like whirlwinds sweeping through the Negev, it comes from the desert, from a dreadful land. 2 A harsh vision has been shown to me: The betrayer betrays, and the destroyer devastates. Go up, Elam! Surround, Media! I have put an end to all her groaning. 3 Therefore my body is filled with trembling; pangs have seized me, like the pangs of a woman in labor. I am bent over by what I heard; I am dismayed by what I saw. 4 My heart staggers; terror overwhelms me. The twilight I longed for has been turned into trembling for me. 5 Prepare the table, set a watchman in the watchtower, eat and drink. Rise up, you princes, and anoint the shield! 6 For this is what the Lord said to me: 'Go, station a watchman, and let him report what he sees.' 7 When he sees chariots with pairs of horsemen, riders on donkeys, riders on camels, let him carefully listen, paying close attention. 8 Then he called out, 'Lion! My Lord, I stand continually on the watchtower by day, and I stay at my guard post through all the nights.' 9 And behold, here comes a chariot of men, with pairs of horsemen. And he answered, saying, 'Fallen, fallen is Babylon! All the carved images of her gods are shattered to the ground.' 10 O my threshed people and my people crushed on the threshing floor, what I have heard from the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, I have declared to you. 11 This is a prophecy concerning Dumah: Someone is calling to me from Seir, saying, 'Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, how much of the night has passed?' 12 The watchman replies, 'Morning is coming, but also the night. If you want to inquire, inquire. Come back again.' 13 This is a prophecy about Arabia: You will camp in the thickets of Arabia, O caravans of Dedanites. 14 Bring water to the thirsty, you inhabitants of the land of Tema; bring bread for the fugitives. 15 For they fled from swords, from drawn swords, from bent bows, and from the severity of battle. 16 For this is what the Lord said to me: 'In one year, as if it were the years of a hired worker, all the glory of Kedar will come to an end.' 17 And the remaining number of the archers, the warriors of the sons of Kedar, will be few, for the LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken.
• Isa 46:1-47:1 : 1 Bel has stooped; Nebo has bowed down. Their idols are placed on animals and livestock. These burdens you carry are heavy, a load for the weary. 2 They collapse and bow down together; they cannot rescue the burden, but they themselves go into captivity. 3 Listen to Me, house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, you who have been carried by Me from the womb, lifted up from birth. 4 Even to your old age, I am the same, and even to your gray hairs, I will carry you. I have made you, and I will bear you; I will carry and save you. 5 To whom will you compare Me or make Me equal? Who will you liken Me to, that we may be alike? 6 They pour out gold from their purses and weigh silver on a scale. They hire a craftsman to make it into a god, and they bow down and even worship it. 7 They lift it on their shoulders and carry it; they set it in its place, and there it stays. It does not move from its spot. If someone cries to it, it cannot answer or save them from their troubles. 8 Remember this and show yourselves to be men; take it to heart, you transgressors. 9 Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other. I am God, and there is no one like Me. 10 I declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times what is still to come. I say, 'My purpose will stand, and I will accomplish all that I desire.' 11 I call a bird of prey from the east, a man to fulfill My purpose from a distant land. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, and I will make it happen. 12 Listen to Me, you stubborn-hearted, who are far from righteousness. 13 I bring My righteousness near; it is not far off, and My salvation will not delay. I will grant salvation to Zion and My glory to Israel. 1 Come down and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon. Sit on the ground without a throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans, for you will no longer be called tender and delicate.
• Jer 23:2 : 2 Therefore, this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says concerning the shepherds who tend My people: You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I am about to punish you for your evil deeds, declares the LORD.
• Jer 25:14 : 14 For many nations and great kings will make them serve, and I will repay them according to their deeds and the work of their hands.
• Deut 32:35-42 : 35 Vengeance belongs to Me; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip, for their day of disaster is near, and their doom is quickly approaching. 36 For the LORD will vindicate His people and have compassion on His servants when He sees that their strength is gone and no one is left—neither slave nor free. 37 And He will say: 'Where are their gods? The rock they sought refuge in? 38 The ones who ate the fat of their sacrifices and drank the wine of their drink offerings? Let them rise up and help you; let them be your shelter! 39 See now that I, I alone, am He, and there is no god besides Me. I put to death and I bring to life, I wound and I heal, and no one can deliver out of My hand. 40 For I lift My hand to the heavens and declare: As surely as I live forever, 41 when I sharpen My flashing sword and My hand takes hold of judgment, I will bring vengeance on My adversaries and repay those who hate Me. 42 I will make My arrows drunk with blood, and My sword will devour flesh, the blood of the slain and the captives, the heads of the enemy leaders.
• 2 Kgs 24:1 : 1 During Jehoiakim's reign, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant for three years. Then he turned and rebelled against him.
• Ezra 1:1-2 : 1 In the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia, to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus, king of Persia. He made a proclamation throughout his kingdom and put it in writing, saying: 2 This is what Cyrus, king of Persia, says: 'The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and He has appointed me to build Him a temple in Jerusalem, in Judah.'
• Isa 13:1-9 : 1 The burden against Babylon which Isaiah, the son of Amoz, saw. 2 Lift up a banner on a bare hill; shout to them. Wave your hand so they may enter the gates of the nobles. 3 I have commanded My consecrated ones; I have also summoned My mighty ones, those who exult in My majesty, to carry out My anger. 4 Listen! A tumult on the mountains, like that of a great multitude. Listen! An uproar of kingdoms, of nations gathering together. The LORD of Hosts is mustering an army for battle. 5 They come from a distant land, from the ends of the heavens—the LORD and the weapons of His wrath—to destroy the whole earth. 6 Wail, for the day of the LORD is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty. 7 Because of this, every hand will go limp and every human heart will melt with fear. 8 They will be terrified; pain and anguish will grip them. They will writhe like a woman in labor. They will look at each other in dismay, their faces aflame. 9 See, the day of the LORD is coming—a cruel day with wrath and fierce anger—to make the land desolate and to destroy the sinners within it. 10 The stars of heaven and their constellations will not give their light. The sun will be darkened as it rises, and the moon will not shine its light. 11 I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the proud and humble the pride of the ruthless. 12 I will make people scarcer than fine gold, and mankind rarer than the gold of Ophir. 13 Therefore I will make the heavens tremble, and the earth will shake from its place at the wrath of the LORD of Hosts, on the day of His fierce anger. 14 Like a hunted gazelle, like sheep without a shepherd, each will return to his own people, each will flee to his own land.
• Ezek 35:9 : 9 I will make you a perpetual desolation, and your cities will not be inhabited. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
• Dan 5:1-9 : 1 King Belshazzar held a great feast for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine in their presence. 2 Under the influence of the wine, Belshazzar commanded that the gold and silver vessels his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem be brought in, so that the king, his nobles, his wives, and his concubines could drink from them. 3 So the gold vessels taken from the temple of God in Jerusalem were brought in, and the king, his nobles, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. 4 They drank the wine and praised the gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone. 5 At that very moment, the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote. 6 Then the king’s face turned pale, and his thoughts terrified him. His hips became weak, and his knees knocked together. 7 The king called out loudly to bring in the enchanters, Chaldeans, and diviners. He declared to the wise men of Babylon, 'Whoever reads the writing and tells me its interpretation will be clothed in purple, have a gold chain placed around their neck, and be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.' 8 Then all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or tell the king what it meant. 9 So King Belshazzar became even more terrified, his face turned pale, and his nobles were baffled. 10 The queen, hearing the words of the king and his nobles, entered the banquet hall. She said, 'May the king live forever! Don’t let your thoughts terrify you, and don’t let your face be pale.' 11 There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the days of your father, he was found to have insight, intelligence, and wisdom like that of the gods. Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and diviners. 12 Because he was found to have an extraordinary spirit, knowledge, intelligence, and the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve difficult problems, this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar, can solve these mysteries. Now summon Daniel, and he will give the interpretation. 13 So Daniel was brought before the king, and the king said to him, 'Are you Daniel, one of the exiles from Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah?' 14 I have heard about you, that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that you have enlightenment, insight, and extraordinary wisdom. 15 Now, the wise men and enchanters were brought before me to read this writing and make its interpretation known to me, but they could not explain the meaning. 16 But I have heard that you can give interpretations and solve problems. If you can read this writing and give me its interpretation, you will be clothed in purple, have a gold chain placed around your neck, and be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom. 17 Then Daniel answered the king, 'You may keep your gifts or give your rewards to someone else; nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means.' 18 'O king, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty, greatness, glory, and splendor.' 19 Because of the greatness that He gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. He killed whomever he wanted, spared whomever he wanted, exalted whomever he wanted, and humbled whomever he wanted. 20 But when his heart became arrogant and his spirit hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne, and his glory was taken from him. 21 He was driven away from people, his mind became like that of an animal, and he lived among the wild donkeys. He ate grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until he acknowledged that the Most High God rules over the kingdom of men and sets over it whomever He wishes. 22 But you, his son Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this. 23 Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven. You had the vessels from His house brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives, and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised gods of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which cannot see, hear, or understand. But the God who holds your breath in His hand and controls all your ways, you have not glorified. 24 Therefore, He sent the hand that wrote this inscription. 25 And this is the writing that was inscribed: Mene, Mene, Tekel, and Parsin. 26 This is the interpretation of the message: Mene means that God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end. 27 Tekel means that you have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. 28 Peres means that your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians. 29 Then Belshazzar gave the command, and they clothed Daniel in purple, put a gold chain around his neck, and proclaimed him the third highest ruler in the kingdom. 30 That very night, Belshazzar, the Chaldean king, was killed.
• Jer 51:24-26 : 24 Before your eyes, I will repay Babylon and all the inhabitants of Chaldea for all the evil they have done in Zion, declares the Lord. 25 Behold, I am against you, the destroying mountain, declares the Lord, you who destroy the whole earth. I will stretch out My hand against you, roll you off the cliffs, and make you a burned-out mountain. 26 No stone will be taken from you for a cornerstone or foundation, for you will be desolate forever, declares the Lord.
• Hab 2:1-9 : 1 I will stand at my watch post and station myself on the rampart; I will wait to see what He will say to me and what I will answer regarding my complaint. 2 Then the LORD answered me and said: Write down the vision and make it plain on tablets so that a runner may read it clearly. 3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it may delay, wait for it, for it will surely come and will not be late. 4 Look! The proud person—his soul is not upright within him, but the righteous one will live by his faith. 5 Indeed, because wine betrays, and an arrogant man is restless, enlarging his appetite like Sheol and never satisfied, he gathers all the nations to himself and collects all peoples as his own. 6 Will not all these take up a taunt against him, with mocking sayings and riddles? They will say, "Woe to him who amasses what is not his! How long will this go on? And who weighs himself down with stolen goods?" 7 Will not your creditors suddenly arise? Will not those who make you tremble wake up? Then you will become their plunder. 8 Because you have plundered many nations, the remnant of peoples will plunder you—because of human bloodshed and violence against the land, the cities, and everyone who lives in them. 9 Woe to the one who gains unjust wealth for his house, to set his nest on high, to be safe from the reach of calamity! 10 You have planned disgrace for your house by cutting off many peoples and forfeiting your own life. 11 For the stone will cry out from the wall, and the wooden beam will answer it. 12 Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and establishes a town with injustice! 13 Is it not from the LORD of Hosts that peoples labor for fire and nations grow weary for nothing? 14 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. 15 Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbor, pouring out your wrath and making him drunk, in order to gaze at their nakedness! 16 You are filled with shame instead of glory; drink, yes, you too, and be exposed! The cup from the LORD's right hand will come around to you, and disgrace will cover your glory. 17 The violence you have done to Lebanon will overwhelm you, and the destruction of beasts will terrify you, because of human bloodshed and violence against the land, the city, and all who live in it. 18 What profit is an idol when its maker has carved it, or a cast image that teaches falsehood? For its maker trusts in his own creation to make worthless idols that cannot speak. 19 Woe to him who says to wood, 'Awake!' or to silent stone, 'Arise!' Can it teach? Look, it is overlaid with gold and silver, yet there is no breath at all within it. 20 But the LORD is in His holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him.
• Rev 18:1-9 : 1 After these things, I saw another angel descending from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his glory. 2 He cried out with a mighty voice, saying, 'Fallen, fallen is Babylon the Great! She has become a dwelling place for demons, a prison for every unclean spirit, and a cage for every unclean and detested bird.' 3 For all the nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality, the kings of the earth committed immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the abundance of her luxurious living. 4 Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, 'Come out of her, my people, so that you do not share in her sins and so that you do not receive any of her plagues.' 5 For her sins have piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her injustices. 6 Repay her as she herself has repaid others, and pay her back double according to her deeds; in the cup she has mixed, mix a double portion for her. 7 As much as she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, give her that much torment and grief, because in her heart she says, 'I sit as a queen, I am no widow, and I will never see grief.' 8 Because of this, her plagues will come in a single day: death, mourning, and famine. She will be consumed by fire, for the mighty Lord God is the one who judges her. 9 The kings of the earth who committed sexual immorality with her and lived in luxury will weep and mourn over her when they see the smoke of her burning. 10 Standing far off because of the fear of her torment, they will say, 'Woe, woe to the great city, Babylon, the mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.' 11 The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn for her, because no one buys their cargo anymore— 12 cargo of gold, silver, precious stones, pearls, fine linen, purple, silk, crimson, all kinds of scented wood, every article of ivory, every article made of the most costly wood, and of bronze, iron, and marble, 13 and cinnamon, spice, incense, ointment, frankincense, wine, olive oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle, sheep, horses, chariots, and human bodies and souls. 14 The fruit your soul longed for has departed from you. All your luxurious and splendid things are lost to you, never to be found again. 15 The merchants who became rich from her will stand far off, out of fear for her torment, weeping and mourning, 16 saying, 'Woe, woe to the great city, dressed in fine linen, purple, and crimson, adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls!' 17 For in one hour such great wealth has been destroyed!' Every ship captain, all who travel by ship, sailors, and those who earn their living from the sea stood far off, 18 And they cried out as they watched the smoke of her burning, saying, 'What city is like the great city?' 19 And they threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and mourning, saying, 'Woe, woe to the great city, in which all who owned ships at sea became rich from her wealth! For in one hour she has been laid waste.' 20 Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints, apostles, and prophets, because God has pronounced your judgment against her! 21 Then a mighty angel picked up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, 'Thus, with violence, Babylon the great city will be thrown down, and it will never be found again.' 22 The sound of harpists, musicians, flute players, and trumpeters will never be heard in you again. No craftsman of any trade will ever be found in you again. The sound of a millstone will never be heard in you again. 23 The light of a lamp will never shine in you again. The voice of a bridegroom and bride will never be heard in you again. For your merchants were the great ones of the earth, and all the nations were deceived by your sorcery. 24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who have been slain on the earth.