¹⁹ Babylon,^(A) the jewel of kingdoms,^(B)
    the pride and glory^(C) of the Babylonians,^[a]
will be overthrown^(D) by God
    like Sodom and Gomorrah.^(E)
20 She will never be inhabited^(F)
    or lived in through all generations;
there no nomads^(G) will pitch their tents,
    there no shepherds will rest their flocks.

¹¹ Disaster^(A) will come upon you,
    and you will not know how to conjure it away.
A calamity will fall upon you
    that you cannot ward off with a ransom;
a catastrophe you cannot foresee
    will suddenly^(B) come upon you.

¹³ Because of the Lord’s anger she will not be inhabited
    but will be completely desolate.^(A)
All who pass Babylon will be appalled;^(B)
    they will scoff^(C) because of all her wounds.^(D)

²⁶ No rock will be taken from you for a cornerstone,
    nor any stone for a foundation,
    for you will be desolate^(A) forever,”
declares the Lord.

⁴³ Her towns will be desolate,
    a dry and desert^(A) land,
a land where no one lives,
    through which no one travels.^(B)