A message for the Israeli people

45 Yahweh also says, “My people, come out of Babylon!

Run away from there!

Run, because I, Yahweh, am extremely angry [MTY] with the people of Babylon, and I will get rid of them!

46 Do not be discouraged/worried [IDM] or afraid

when you hear reports about what is happening in Babylon.

People will report rumors like that every year,

rumors about violent things being done in the land,

and rumors about leaders fighting against each other.

47 But it will soon be the time for me to get rid of the idols in Babylon.

People all over the land will be ashamed because of being defeated;

and the corpses of their soldiers will lie in the streets.

48 Then all the angels in heaven and all the people on [PRS] the earth will rejoice,

because from the north will come armies that will destroy Babylon.

49 Like the soldiers of Babylon killed the people of Israel

and also killed others all over the world [HYP],

the people of Babylon must also be killed.

50 You Israeli people who have not been killed [MTY], get out of Babylon!

Do not wait!

Even though you are in a land far away from Israel,

think about Yahweh, and think about Jerusalem!”

51 The Israeli people say,

“We are ashamed.

We are completely disgraced [DOU],

because foreigners have entered Yahweh’s temple and ◄defiled it/caused it to become unfit for worship►.”

52 Yahweh replies, “That is true, but there will soon be a time when I will destroy the idols in Babylon,

and throughout Babylonia there will be wounded people who will groan.

53 Even if the walls around Babylon could extend up to the sky,

and if its walls/fortifications were extremely strong,

I will send armies that will destroy the city.

That will surely happen because I, Yahweh, have said it.”