8 Babylon has suddenly ^afallen and been destroyed.
^bWail for her!
^cTake balm for her pain;
Perhaps she may be healed. ‡

9 We would have healed Babylon,
But she is not healed.
Forsake her, and ^alet us go everyone to his own country;
^bFor her judgment reaches to heaven and is lifted up to the skies. ‡

11 ^aMake¹ the arrows bright!
Gather the shields!
^bThe Lord has raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes.
^cFor His plan is against Babylon to destroy it,
Because it is ^dthe vengeance of the Lord,
The vengeance for His temple. ‡

12 ^aSet up the standard on the walls of Babylon;
Make the guard strong,
Set up the watchmen,
Prepare the ambushes.
For the Lord has both devised and done
What He spoke against the inhabitants of Babylon. ‡