“Stand fast in your enchantments!
Stand fast in your many sorceries!
You have labored from your youth
With these actions.
Perhaps you may be able to succeed.
Perhaps you may inspire terror.
You are wearied
With your many consultations.
Let those who study the heavens
Stand up!
Let them save you!
Let those who gaze at the stars
Predict what shall befall you!
Let those who gaze at each new moon
Predict what shall befall you!”
Yahweh taunted Babylon by saying that they should rely on their sorcerers, their enchanters, their astrologists, and magicians. They had followed them since they were young. Maybe they will succeed. Maybe they will scare people. However, they are weary from all their consultations. Let those who study the heavens stand up and save you. Can those who gaze at the stars and the new moon predict what is going to happen to you? This is a direct challenge to the people of Babylon.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 