2 From high on a barren hill give a signal, shout the orders,
     and point the way to enter the gates of Babylon's proud rulers.

3 The Lord has commanded his very best warriors
and his proud heroes to show how angry he is.

4 Listen to the noisy crowds on the mountains!
Kingdoms and nations are joining forces.
The Lord All-Powerful is bringing together an army for battle.

5 From a distant land the Lord is coming
     fierce and furious— he brings his weapons
     to destroy the whole earth.

6 Cry and weep! The day is coming
when the mighty Lord will bring destruction.

7 All people will be terrified. Hands will grow limp;
courage will melt away.

8 Everyone will tremble with pain
     like a woman giving birth; they will stare at each other
     with horror on their faces.

9 I, the Lord, will show no mercy or pity
     when that time comes. In my anger I will destroy
the world and every sinner who lives on it.

10 Light will disappear from the stars in the sky;
the dawning sun will turn dark, and the moon
     will lose its brightness.

11 I will punish this evil world and its people
     because of their sins. I will crush the horrible pride
     of those who are cruel.

12 Survivors will be harder to find
     than the purest gold.

13 I, the Lord All-Powerful, am terribly angry—
I will make the sky tremble and the earth shake loose.

14 Everyone will run to their homelands,
just as hunted deer run, and sheep scatter
     when they have no shepherd.

15 Those men who are captured will be killed by a sword.

16 They will see their children beaten against rocks,
their homes robbed, and their wives abused.

17 The Medes can't be bought off
     with silver or gold, and I'm sending them
     to attack Babylonia.

18 Their arrows will slaughter the young men;
no pity will be shown to babies and children.