Jeremiah 51:53

⁵¹ “We are ashamed because we have heard reproach; disgrace has covered our faces, because foreigners have entered the holy places of the LORD’s house.”

⁵² “Therefore, behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will punish her idols, and throughout her land the wounded will groan.

Even if Babylon ascends to the heavens and fortifies her lofty stronghold, the destroyers I send will come against her,” declares the LORD.

⁵⁴ “The sound of a cry comes from Babylon, the sound of great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans!

⁵⁵ For the LORD will destroy Babylon; He will silence her mighty voice. The waves will roar like great waters; the tumult of their voices will resound.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: Even if Babylon ascends to the heavens and fortifies her lofty stronghold, the destroyers I send will come against her,” declares the LORD.
KJV: Though Babylon should mount up to heaven, and though she should fortify the height of her strength, yet from me shall spoilers come unto her, saith the LORD.
WEB: Though Babylon should mount up to the sky, and though she should fortify the height of her strength, yet destroyers will come to her from me,” says the LORD.
ASV: Though Babylon should mount up to heaven, and though she should fortify the height of her strength, yet from me shall destroyers come unto her, saith Jehovah.
DARBY: Though Babylon should mount up to the heavens, and though she should fortify the height of her strength, yet from me shall spoilers come unto her, saith Jehovah.
BLB: Though Babylon were to go up [to] the heavens, and though she were to gather the height of her strength, from Me would come destroyers against her!” A declaration of YHWH.

ÅB: Om Babel enn vil stige opp til himmelen, og om det enn vil gjøre sin høye festning utilgjengelig, så skal allikevel ødeleggere fra meg komme over det, sier Herren.
OTB: «‘Og Babylon skal bli en haug i ørkenen, Et tørt land og en villmark, Et land der ingen mann bor eller passerer gjennom.
B1930: Om Babel enn vil stige op til himmelen, og om det enn vil gjøre sin høie festning utilgjengelig, så skal allikevel ødeleggere fra mig komme over det, sier Herren.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Genesis 11:4
“Come,” they said, “let us build for ourselves a city with a tower that reaches to the heavens, that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of all the earth.”
Read in context
Jeremiah 49:16
The terror you cause and the pride of your heart have deceived you, O dwellers in the clefts of the rocks, O occupiers of the mountain summit. Though you elevate your nest like the eagle, even from there I will bring you down,” declares the LORD.
Read in context
Jeremiah 51:25
“Behold, I am against you, O destroying mountain, you who devastate the whole earth, declares the LORD. I will stretch out My hand against you; I will roll you over the cliffs and turn you into a charred mountain.
Read in context
Psalms 139:8–10
If I ascend to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there.
Read in context
Obadiah 1:3–4
The pride of your heart has deceived you, O dwellers in the clefts of the rocks whose habitation is the heights, who say in your heart, ‘Who can bring me down to the ground?’
Read in context
Isaiah 14:12–15
How you have fallen from heaven, O day star, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the ground, O destroyer of nations.
Read in context
Jeremiah 50:45
Therefore hear the plans that the LORD has drawn up against Babylon and the strategies He has devised against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely the little ones of the flock will be dragged away; certainly their pasture will be made desolate because of them.
Read in context
Jeremiah 51:1–4
This is what the LORD says: “Behold, I will stir up against Babylon and against the people of Leb-kamai the spirit of a destroyer.
Read in context