54 A cry of distress came from Babylon—

terrible destruction from the land of the Chaldeans

55 because Yahweh is about to destroy Babylon.

He’s causing its loud voice to die away.

Their enemies roar like violent ocean waves—

their noise becomes very prominent

56 because a destroyer has come against it, against Babylon,

and their soldiers have been captured.

Their weapons are shattered because Yahweh is a god of vengeance—

he’ll definitely repay them fully.

57 I’ll make its princes, advisors, officials, and its soldiers drunk,

and they will sleep in a permanent stupor and never wake up.

That is the king’s declaration—Commander-in-chief Yahweh is his name.

58 Commander-in-chief Yahweh says this:

Babylon’s thick walls will be completely demolished,

and its tall gates will be set on fire.

The peoples coming to their aid will waste their time trying—

everything that the nations try to do for it will be burnt up.