Yeremia 51:56

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 

Yeremia 51:58

51:58 This is what the Lord who rules over all ⁵  says,

“Babylon’s thick wall ⁶  will be completely demolished. ⁷ 

Her high gates will be set on fire.

The peoples strive for what does not satisfy. ⁸ 

The nations grow weary trying to get what will be destroyed.” ⁹ 

Yeremia 51:64

51:64 Then say, ‘In the same way Babylon will sink and never rise again because of the judgments ¹⁰  I am ready to bring upon her; they will grow faint.’”

The prophecies of Jeremiah end here. ¹¹ 

[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.”

[51:58]  ⁵ sn See the note at Jer 2:19.

[51:58]  ⁶ 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]  ⁷ tn The infinitive absolute emphasizes the following finite verb. Another option is to translate, “will certainly be demolished.”

[51:58]  ⁸ tn Heb “for what is empty.”

[51:58]  ⁹ tn Heb “and the nations for fire, and they grow weary.”

[51:64]  ¹⁰ tn Or “disaster”; or “calamity.”

[51:64]  ¹¹ sn The final chapter of the book of Jeremiah does not mention Jeremiah or record any of his prophecies.