Lord, who is a God like you? You forgive sin. You forgive your people when they do what is wrong. You don’t stay angry forever. Instead, you take delight in showing your faithful love to them.
Then a mighty angel picked up a huge rock. It was the size of a large millstone. He threw it into the sea. Then he said,“ That is how the great city of Babylon will be thrown down. Never again will it be found.The songs of musicians will never be heard in you again. Gone will be the music of harps, flutes and trumpets. No worker of any kind will ever be found in you again. The sound of a millstone will never be heard in you again.The light of a lamp will never shine in you again. The voices of brides and grooms will never be heard in you again. Your traders were among the world’s most important people. By your magic spell all the nations were led astray.
Don’t be so angry with us, Lord. Don’t remember our sins anymore. Please have mercy on us. All of us belong to you.Your sacred cities have become a desert. Even Zion is a desert. Jerusalem is a dry and empty place.Our people of long ago used to praise you in our holy and glorious temple. But now it has been burned down. Everything we treasured has been destroyed.Lord, won’t you help us even after everything that’s happened? Will you keep silent and punish us more than we can stand?
Some will be killed by the sword. Others will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be taken over by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles come to an end.
