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55 For the Lord is ready to destroy Babylon,
and put an end to her loud noise.
Their waves[a] will roar like turbulent[b] waters.
They will make a deafening noise.[c]
56 For a destroyer is attacking Babylon.[d]
Her warriors will be captured;
their bows will be broken.[e]
For the Lord is a God who punishes;[f]
he pays back in full.[g]
57 “I will make her officials and wise men drunk,
along with her governors, leaders,[h] and warriors.
They will fall asleep forever and never wake up,”[i]
says the King whose name is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.[j]

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 51:55 tn The antecedent of the third masculine plural pronominal suffix is not entirely clear. It probably refers back to the “destroyers” mentioned in v. 53 as the agents of God’s judgment on Babylon.
  2. Jeremiah 51:55 tn Or “mighty waters.”
  3. Jeremiah 51:55 tn Heb “and the noise of their sound will be given.”
  4. Jeremiah 51:56 tn Heb “for a destroyer is coming against her, against Babylon.”
  5. Jeremiah 51:56 tn The Piel form (which would be intransitive here, see GKC 142 §52.k) should probably be emended to Qal.
  6. Jeremiah 51:56 tn Or “God of retribution.”
  7. Jeremiah 51:56 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.”
  8. Jeremiah 51:57 sn For discussion of the terms “governors” and “leaders,” see the note at Jer 51:23.
  9. Jeremiah 51:57 sn See the note at Jer 51:39.
  10. Jeremiah 51:57 tn For the title “Yahweh of Armies” see the study note on Jer 2:19.