Jeremiah · Bible in Basic English
Jeremiah 50 Bible in Basic English
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 The word which the Lord said about Babylon, about the land of the Chaldaeans, by Jeremiah the prophet.
1 The word that Yahweh spoke concerning Babylon, concerning the land of the Chaldeans, by Jeremiah the prophet.
2 Give it out among the nations, make it public, and let the flag be lifted up; give the word and keep nothing back; say, Babylon is taken, Bel is put to shame, Merodach is broken, her images are put to shame, her gods are broken.
2 “Declare among the nations and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and don’t conceal; say, ‘Babylon has been taken, Bel is disappointed, Merodach is dismayed! Her images are disappointed. Her idols are dismayed.’
3 For out of the north a nation is coming up against her, which will make her land waste and unpeopled: they are in flight, man and beast are gone.
3 For a nation comes up out of the north against her, which will make her land desolate, and no one will dwell in it. They have fled. They are gone, both man and animal.
4 In those days and in that time, says the Lord, the children of Israel will come, they and the children of Judah together; they will go on their way weeping and making prayer to the Lord their God.
4 “In those days, and in that time,” says Yahweh, “the children of Israel will come, they and the children of Judah together; they will go on their way weeping, and will seek Yahweh their God.
5 They will be questioning about the way to Zion, with their faces turned in its direction, saying, Come, and be united to the Lord in an eternal agreement which will be kept in mind for ever.
5 They will inquire concerning Zion with their faces turned toward it, saying, ‘Come, and join yourselves to Yahweh in an everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten.’
6 My people have been wandering sheep: their keepers have made them go out of the right way, turning them loose on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, having no memory of their resting-place.
6 My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have caused them to go astray. They have turned them away on the mountains. They have gone from mountain to hill. They have forgotten their resting place.
7 They have been attacked by all those who came across them: and their attackers said, We are doing no wrong, because they have done evil against the Lord in whom is righteousness, against the Lord, the hope of their fathers.
7 All who found them have devoured them. Their adversaries said, ‘We are not guilty, because they have sinned against Yahweh, the habitation of righteousness, even Yahweh, the hope of their fathers.’
8 Go in flight out of Babylon, go out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and be like he-goats before the flocks.
8 “Flee out of the middle of Babylon! Go out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the male goats before the flocks.
9 For see, I am moving and sending up against Babylon a band of great nations from the north country: and they will put their armies in position against her; and from there she will be taken: their arrows will be like those of an expert man of war; not one will come back without getting its mark.
9 For, behold, I will stir up and cause to come up against Babylon a company of great nations from the north country; and they will set themselves in array against her. She will be taken from there. Their arrows will be as of an expert mighty man. None of them will return in vain.
10 And the wealth of Chaldaea will come into the hands of her attackers: all those who take her wealth will have enough, says the Lord.
10 Chaldea will be a prey. All who prey on her will be satisfied,” says Yahweh.
11 Because you are glad, because you are lifted up with pride, you wasters of my heritage, because you are playing like a young cow put out to grass, and you make a noise like strong horses;
11 “Because you are glad, because you rejoice, O you who plunder my heritage, because you are wanton as a heifer that treads out the grain, and neigh as strong horses,
12 Your mother will be put to shame; she who gave you birth will be looked down on: see, she will be the last of the nations, a waste place, a dry and unwatered land.
12 your mother will be utterly disappointed. She who bore you will be confounded. Behold, she will be the least of the nations, a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert.
13 Because of the wrath of the Lord no one will be living in it, and it will be quite unpeopled: everyone who goes by Babylon will be overcome with wonder, and make sounds of fear at all her punishments.
13 Because of Yahweh’s wrath she won’t be inhabited, but she will be wholly desolate. Everyone who goes by Babylon will be astonished, and hiss at all her plagues.
14 Put your armies in position against Babylon on every side, all you bowmen; let loose your arrows at her, not keeping any back: for she has done evil against the Lord.
14 Set yourselves in array against Babylon all around, all you who bend the bow; shoot at her. Spare no arrows, for she has sinned against Yahweh.
15 Give a loud cry against her on every side; she has given herself up, her supports are overturned, her walls are broken down: for it is the payment taken by the Lord; give her payment; as she has done, so do to her.
15 Shout against her all around. She has submitted herself. Her bulwarks have fallen. Her walls have been thrown down, for it is the vengeance of Yahweh. Take vengeance on her. As she has done, do to her.
16 Let the planter of seed be cut off from Babylon, and everyone using the curved blade at the time of the grain-cutting: for fear of the cruel sword, everyone will be turned to his people, everyone will go in flight to his land.
16 Cut off the sower from Babylon, and him who handles the sickle in the time of harvest. For fear of the oppressing sword, they will each return to their own people, and they will each flee to their own land.
17 Israel is a wandering sheep; the lions have been driving him away: first he was attacked by the king of Assyria, and now his bones have been broken by Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon.
17 “Israel is a hunted sheep. The lions have driven him away. First, the king of Assyria devoured him, and now at last Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has broken his bones.”
18 So this is what the Lord of armies, the God of Israel, has said: See, I will send punishment on the king of Babylon and on his land, as I have given punishment to the king of Assyria.
18 Therefore Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says: “Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, as I have punished the king of Assyria.
19 And I will make Israel come back to his resting-place, and he will get his food on Carmel and Bashan, and have his desire in full measure on the hills of Ephraim and in Gilead.
19 I will bring Israel again to his pasture, and he will feed on Carmel and Bashan. His soul will be satisfied on the hills of Ephraim and in Gilead.
20 In those days and in that time, says the Lord, when the evil-doing of Israel is looked for, there will be nothing; and in Judah no sins will be seen: for I will have forgiveness for those whom I will keep safe.
20 In those days, and in that time,” says Yahweh, “the iniquity of Israel will be sought for, and there will be none, also the sins of Judah, and they won’t be found; for I will pardon them whom I leave as a remnant.
21 Go up against the land of Merathaim, even against it, and against the people of Pekod; put them to death and send destruction after them, says the Lord, and do everything I have given you orders to do.
21 “Go up against the land of Merathaim, even against it, and against the inhabitants of Pekod. Kill and utterly destroy after them,” says Yahweh, “and do according to all that I have commanded you.
22 There is a sound of war in the land and of great destruction.
22 A sound of battle is in the land, and of great destruction.
23 How is the hammer of all the earth cut in two and broken! how has Babylon become a waste among the nations!
23 How the hammer of the whole earth is cut apart and broken! How Babylon has become a desolation among the nations!
24 I have put a net for you, and you have been taken, O Babylon, without your knowledge: you have been uncovered and taken because you were fighting against the Lord.
24 I have laid a snare for you, and you are also taken, Babylon, and you weren’t aware. You are found, and also caught, because you have fought against Yahweh.
25 From his store-house the Lord has taken the instruments of his wrath: for the Lord, the Lord of armies, has a work to do in the land of the Chaldaeans.
25 Yahweh has opened his armory, and has brought out the weapons of his indignation; for the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, has a work to do in the land of the Chaldeans.
26 Come up against her one and all, let her store-houses be broken open: make her into a mass of stones, give her to the curse, till there is nothing of her to be seen.
26 Come against her from the farthest border. Open her storehouses. Cast her up as heaps. Destroy her utterly. Let nothing of her be left.
27 Put all her oxen to the sword; let them go down to death: sorrow is theirs, for their day has come, the time of their punishment.
27 Kill all her bulls. Let them go down to the slaughter. Woe to them! For their day has come, the time of their visitation.
28 The voice of those who are in flight, who have got away safe from the land of Babylon, to give news in Zion of punishment from the Lord our God, even payment for his Temple.
28 Listen to those who flee and escape out of the land of Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of Yahweh our God, the vengeance of his temple.
29 Send for the archers to come together against Babylon, all the bowmen; put up your tents against her on every side; let no one get away: give her the reward of her work; as she has done, so do to her: for she has been uplifted in pride against the Lord, against the Holy One of Israel.
29 “Call together the archers against Babylon, all those who bend the bow. Encamp against her all around. Let none of it escape. Pay her back according to her work. According to all that she has done, do to her; for she has been proud against Yahweh, against the Holy One of Israel.
30 For this cause her young men will be falling in her streets, and all her men of war will be cut off in that day, says the Lord.
30 Therefore her young men will fall in her streets. All her men of war will be brought to silence in that day,” says Yahweh.
31 See, I am against you, O pride, says the Lord, the Lord of armies, for your day has come, the time when I will send punishment on you.
31 “Behold, I am against you, you proud one,” says the Lord, Yahweh of Armies; “for your day has come, the time that I will visit you.
32 And pride will go with uncertain steps and have a fall, and there will be no one to come to his help: and I will put a fire in his towns, burning up everything round about him.
32 The proud one will stumble and fall, and no one will raise him up. I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it will devour all who are around him.”
33 This is what the Lord of armies has said: The children of Israel and the children of Judah are crushed down together: all those who took them prisoner keep them in a tight grip; they will not let them go.
33 Yahweh of Armies says: “The children of Israel and the children of Judah are oppressed together. All who took them captive hold them fast. They refuse to let them go.
34 Their saviour is strong; the Lord of armies is his name: he will certainly take up their cause, so that he may give rest to the earth and trouble to the people of Babylon.
34 Their Redeemer is strong. Yahweh of Armies is his name. He will thoroughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the earth, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.
35 A sword is on the Chaldaeans, says the Lord, and on the people of Babylon, and on her rulers and on her wise men.
35 “A sword is on the Chaldeans,” says Yahweh, “and on the inhabitants of Babylon, on her princes, and on her wise men.
36 A sword is on the men of pride, and they will become foolish: a sword is on her men of war, and they will be broken.
36 A sword is on the boasters, and they will become fools. A sword is on her mighty men, and they will be dismayed.
37 A sword is on all the mixed people in her, and they will become like women: a sword is on her store-houses, and they will be taken by her attackers.
37 A sword is on their horses, on their chariots, and on all the mixed people who are in the middle of her; and they will become as women. A sword is on her treasures, and they will be robbed.
38 A sword is on her waters, drying them up; for it is a land of images, and their minds are fixed on false gods.
38 A drought is on her waters, and they will be dried up; for it is a land of engraved images, and they are mad over idols.
39 For this reason the beasts of the waste land with the wolves will make their holes there and the ostriches will be living in it: never again will men be living there, it will be unpeopled from generation to generation.
39 Therefore the wild animals of the desert with the wolves will dwell there. The ostriches will dwell therein. It will be inhabited no more forever, neither will it be lived in from generation to generation.
40 As when Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighbouring towns were overturned by God, says the Lord, so no man will be living in it, and no son of man will have a resting-place there.
40 As when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and its neighbor cities,” says Yahweh, “so no man will dwell there, neither will any son of man live therein.
41 See, a people is coming from the north; a great nation and a number of kings will be put in motion from the inmost parts of the earth.
41 “Behold, a people comes from the north. A great nation and many kings will be stirred up from the uttermost parts of the earth.
42 Bows and spears are in their hands; they are cruel and have no mercy; their voice is like the thunder of the sea, and they go on horses; everyone in his place like men going to the fight, against you, O daughter of Babylon.
42 They take up bow and spear. They are cruel, and have no mercy. Their voice roars like the sea. They ride on horses, everyone set in array, as a man to the battle, against you, daughter of Babylon.
43 The king of Babylon has had news of them, and his hands have become feeble: trouble has come on him and pain like the pain of a woman in childbirth.
43 The king of Babylon has heard the news of them, and his hands become feeble. Anguish has taken hold of him, pains as of a woman in labor.
44 See, he will come up like a lion from the thick growth of Jordan against the resting-place of Teman: but I will suddenly make them go in flight from her; and I will put over her the man of my selection: for who is like me? and who will put forward his cause against me? and what keeper of sheep will keep his place before me?
44 Behold, the enemy will come up like a lion from the thickets of the Jordan against the strong habitation; for I will suddenly make them run away from it. Whoever is chosen, I will appoint him over it, for who is like me? Who will appoint me a time? Who is the shepherd who can stand before me?”
45 So give ear to the decision of the Lord which he has made against Babylon, and to his purposes designed against the land of the Chaldaeans; Truly, they will be pulled away by the smallest of the flock; truly, he will make waste their fields with them.
45 Therefore hear the counsel of Yahweh that he has taken against Babylon; and his purposes that he has purposed against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely they will drag them away, even the little ones of the flock. Surely he will make their habitation desolate over them.
46 At the cry, Babylon is taken! the earth is shaking, and the cry comes to the ears of the nations.
46 The earth trembles at the noise of the taking of Babylon. The cry is heard among the nations.
Cross references (46)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Jeremiah 25:26–27; Isaiah 13:1–3; Jeremiah 51:1–14; 2 Samuel 23:2; Isaiah 47:1–15
- 2 Isaiah 46:1; Isaiah 21:9; Jeremiah 51:44; Jeremiah 51:47; Isaiah 12:4
- 3 Zephaniah 1:3; Jeremiah 51:11; Jeremiah 50:9; Jeremiah 51:62; Isaiah 14:22–24
- 4 Hosea 3:5; Jeremiah 31:31; Hosea 1:11; Isaiah 11:12–13; Jeremiah 50:19–20
- 5 Jeremiah 32:40; Isaiah 35:8; Jeremiah 6:16; Hebrews 8:6–10; Isaiah 55:3
- 6 Isaiah 53:6; Matthew 9:36; Matthew 10:6; Ezekiel 34:14; Jeremiah 50:17
- 7 Jeremiah 2:3; Jeremiah 14:8; Zechariah 11:5; Jeremiah 40:2–3; Jeremiah 31:23
- 8 Isaiah 48:20; Jeremiah 51:6; Revelation 18:4; Jeremiah 51:45; Proverbs 30:31
- 9 Isaiah 13:17–18; Jeremiah 50:26; Jeremiah 50:14; Jeremiah 51:27–28; Jeremiah 51:11
- 10 Jeremiah 25:12; Isaiah 45:3; Jeremiah 27:7; Isaiah 33:23; Isaiah 33:4
- 11 Isaiah 47:6; Deuteronomy 32:15; Jeremiah 50:17; Jeremiah 5:8; Jeremiah 46:21
- 12 Jeremiah 51:43; Jeremiah 50:35–40; Revelation 17:5; Galatians 4:26; Jeremiah 49:2
- 13 Jeremiah 18:16; Jeremiah 49:17; Habakkuk 2:6–18; Lamentations 2:15–16; Job 27:23
- 14 Jeremiah 50:29; Habakkuk 2:17; Jeremiah 50:9; 1 Samuel 17:20; Habakkuk 2:8
- 15 Jeremiah 51:58; Revelation 18:6; Jeremiah 51:6; Jeremiah 46:10; 1 Chronicles 29:24
- 16 Jeremiah 51:9; Jeremiah 46:16; Isaiah 13:14; Joel 1:11; Jeremiah 25:38
- 17 Jeremiah 2:15; John 10:10–12; Joel 3:2; 2 Kings 18:9–13; 1 Peter 2:25
- 18 Nahum 1:1–3; Isaiah 10:12; Zephaniah 2:13–15; Isaiah 37:36–38; Ezekiel 31:3–17
- 19 Jeremiah 30:10; Jeremiah 31:8–10; Jeremiah 30:18; Jeremiah 31:14; Jeremiah 23:3
- 20 Micah 7:19; Jeremiah 31:34; Isaiah 43:25; Isaiah 1:9; Hebrews 10:17–18
- 21 Ezekiel 23:23; 2 Samuel 16:11; 1 Samuel 15:11–24; Jeremiah 48:10; Jeremiah 50:9
- 22 Jeremiah 4:19–21; Jeremiah 51:54–56; Isaiah 21:2–4
- 23 Jeremiah 51:20–24; Revelation 18:16; Isaiah 14:4–6; Isaiah 14:12–17
- 24 Daniel 5:30–31; Job 9:4; Job 40:9; Job 40:2; Isaiah 45:9
- 25 Jeremiah 51:55; Jeremiah 51:25; Amos 3:6; Jeremiah 50:15; Jeremiah 51:20
- 26 Isaiah 14:23; Jeremiah 50:10; Isaiah 45:3; Jeremiah 50:23; Jeremiah 50:13
- 27 Jeremiah 46:21; Isaiah 34:7; Psalm 37:13; Psalm 22:12; Jeremiah 48:44
- 28 Lamentations 1:10; Jeremiah 50:15; Isaiah 48:20; Lamentations 2:6–7; Daniel 5:23
- 29 Isaiah 47:10; Jeremiah 51:56; Jeremiah 50:14–15; Daniel 4:37; Exodus 10:3
- 30 Jeremiah 49:26; Jeremiah 18:21; Jeremiah 9:21; Isaiah 13:15–18; Jeremiah 50:36
- 31 Jeremiah 21:13; Jeremiah 50:29; Nahum 2:13; Habakkuk 2:4–5; James 4:6
- 32 Jeremiah 21:14; Jeremiah 49:27; Isaiah 10:12–15; Amos 2:5; Revelation 18:8
- 33 Exodus 9:2–3; Isaiah 14:17; Isaiah 58:6; Exodus 9:17–18; Jeremiah 50:17–18
- 34 Isaiah 54:5; Jeremiah 15:21; Isaiah 47:4; Isaiah 41:14; Jeremiah 51:36
- 35 Jeremiah 47:6; Hosea 11:6; Daniel 5:30; Daniel 5:1–2; Jeremiah 51:57
- 36 Jeremiah 49:22; Isaiah 44:25; Nahum 3:13; Revelation 22:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:9–11
- 37 Jeremiah 51:30; Nahum 3:13; Jeremiah 25:20; Jeremiah 51:21; Jeremiah 48:41
- 38 Jeremiah 50:2; Isaiah 44:27; Revelation 16:12; Jeremiah 51:52; Jeremiah 51:47
- 39 Isaiah 13:20–22; Revelation 18:2; Jeremiah 25:12; Jeremiah 50:12–13; Jeremiah 51:62–64
- 40 Genesis 19:24–25; Luke 17:28–30; Jeremiah 49:18; 2 Peter 2:6; Isaiah 13:19–20
- 41 Jeremiah 51:27–28; Isaiah 13:2–5; Jeremiah 50:9; Jeremiah 6:22–23; Revelation 17:16
- 42 Isaiah 5:30; Isaiah 13:17–18; Isaiah 47:6; Jeremiah 47:3; Jeremiah 8:16
- 43 Jeremiah 49:24; Jeremiah 51:31; Daniel 5:5–6; Isaiah 13:6–8; Isaiah 21:3–4
- 44 Jeremiah 49:19–21; Exodus 15:11; Isaiah 46:11; Isaiah 46:9; Isaiah 41:25
- 45 Jeremiah 49:20; Jeremiah 51:10–11; Ephesians 1:11; Revelation 17:16–17; Isaiah 14:24–27
- 46 Jeremiah 49:21; Revelation 18:9–19; Ezekiel 26:18; Ezekiel 31:16; Isaiah 14:9–10
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
I am to speak against persons who pride themselves on their eloquence; so, to begin with a text of Scripture, "Behold, I am against thee, O thou proud one," not only in thy system of teaching, but also in thy hearing, and in thy tone of mind.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)