4-5. “In those days, at that time”—God’s Decree—“the people of Israel will come,And the people of Judah with them.Walking and weeping, they’ll seek me, their God.They’ll ask directions to Zionand set their faces toward Zion.They’ll come and hold tight to God,bound in a covenant eternal they’ll never forget.
41-43. “And now, watch this! People pouringout of the north, hordes of people,A mob of kings stirred upfrom far-off places.Flourishing deadly weapons,barbarians they are, cruel and pitiless.Roaring and relentless, like ocean breakers,they come riding fierce stallions,In battle formation, ready to fightyou, Daughter Babylon!Babylon’s king hears them coming.He goes white as a ghost, limp as a dishrag.Terror-stricken, he doubles up in pain, helpless to fight,like a woman giving birth to a baby.
44. “And now watch this: Like a lion coming upfrom the thick jungle of the Jordan,Looking for prey in the mountain pastures,I’ll take over and pounce.I’ll take my pick of the flock—and who’s to stop me?All the so-called shepherds are helpless before me.”