“Look, an army is coming
    from the land of the north;^(A)
a great nation is being stirred up
    from the ends of the earth.^(B)

⁴¹ “Look! An army is coming from the north;^(A)
    a great nation and many kings
    are being stirred^(B) up from the ends of the earth.^(C)
42 They are armed with bows^(D) and spears;
    they are cruel^(E) and without mercy.^(F)
They sound like the roaring sea^(G)
    as they ride on their horses;
they come like men in battle formation
    to attack you, Daughter Babylon.^(H)
43 The king of Babylon has heard reports about them,
    and his hands hang limp.^(I)
Anguish has gripped him,
    pain like that of a woman in labor.^(J)

²² Listen! The report is coming—
    a great commotion from the land of the north!^(A)
It will make the towns of Judah desolate,^(B)
    a haunt of jackals.^(C)

¹⁵ People of Israel,” declares the Lord,
    “I am bringing a distant nation^(A) against you—
an ancient and enduring nation,
    a people whose language^(B) you do not know,
    whose speech you do not understand.

“Their kings will come and set up their thrones
    in the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem;
they will come against all her surrounding walls
    and against all the towns of Judah.^(B)