A reading from the book of Jeremiah.

Thus says the Lord,

Behold, I will stir up the spirit of a destroyer against Babylon,

against the inhabitants of Lebkhamai,

and I will send to Babylon winnowers,

and they shall winnow her,

and they shall empty her land,

when they come against her from every side on the day of trouble.

Let not the archer bend his bow,

and let him not stand up in his armor. Spare not her young men. Devote to destruction all her army.

They shall fall down slain in the land of the Chaldeans and wounded in her streets, for Israel and Judah have not been forsaken by their God, the Lord of hosts,

but the land of the Chaldeans is full of guilt against the Holy One of Israel.

Flee from the midst of Babylon. Let everyone save his life, be not cut off in her punishment,

for this is the time of the Lord's vengeance, the repayment he is rendering her.

Babylon was a golden cup in the Lord's hand, making all the earth drunken, the Lord's vengeance, the repayment he is rendering her. Babylon was a golden cup in the Lord's

hand, making all the earth drunken, the nations drank of her wine, therefore the nations

went mad. Suddenly Babylon has fallen and been broken, well for her, take balm for her pain,

perhaps she may be healed. We would have healed Babylon, but she was not healed. For sake her,

let us go each to his own country, for her judgment has reached up to heaven, and has been lifted

up even to the skies. The Lord has brought about our vindication. Come, let us declare in Zion,

the work of the Lord our God, sharpen the arrows, take up the shields. The Lord has stirred

up the spirit of the kings of the Medes, because his purpose concerning Babylon is to destroy

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