The Lord says, "Family of Jacob, listen to me! You people call yourself 'Israel,' but you are from Judah's family. You use the Lord's name to make promises. You claim to worship the God of Israel, but you are not honest and sincere.
So long ago I told you what would happen. I told you about those things long before they happened. I did this so that you could not say, 'The gods we made did this. Our idols, our statues, made this happen.'"
"You heard what I said would happen. And you can see it has all been done. Shouldn't you tell this to others? Now I will tell you about new things, secrets you have not known before.
But even in the past, you didn't listen. You didn't learn anything. You never listen to what I say. I have always known that you would turn against me. You have rebelled against me from the time you were born.
"All of you, come here and listen to me. Did any of the false gods say these things would happen? No!" The Lord's friend will do what he wants to Babylon and the Chaldeans.
Come here and listen to me! I was there when Babylon began as a nation. And from the beginning, I spoke clearly so that people could know what I said." Now the Lord God sends me and his Spirit to tell you these things.
If you had obeyed me, then peace would have come to you like a full flowing river. Good things would have come to you again and again, like the waves of the sea.
If you had obeyed me, you would have had as many children as there are grains of sand. And they would have always been mine and would never have been destroyed."
My people, leave Babylon! My people, run from the Chaldeans! Tell the news with joy. Spread the news around the world. Tell them, "The Lord rescued his servant Jacob."