Grief over Babylon

“And (A)the kings of the earth, who committed acts of sexual immorality and (B)lived luxuriously with her, will (C)weep and mourn over her when they (D)see the smoke of her burning, 10 (E)standing at a distance because of the fear of her torment, saying, ‘(F)Woe, woe, (G)the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For in (H)one hour your judgment has come.’

11 “And the (I)merchants of the earth (J)weep and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargo any more— 12 cargo of (K)gold, silver, precious [a]stones, and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet; every kind of citron wood, every article of ivory, and every article made from very valuable wood, [b]bronze, iron, and marble; 13 cinnamon, [c]spice, incense, perfume, frankincense, wine, olive oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle, sheep, and cargo of horses, carriages, [d]slaves, and (L)human lives. 14 The fruit [e]you long for has left you, and all things that were luxurious and splendid have passed away from you and people will no longer find them. 15 The (M)merchants of (N)these things, who became rich from her, will (O)stand at a distance because of the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning, 16 saying, ‘(P)Woe, woe, (Q)the great city, she who (R)was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and [f]adorned with gold, precious [g]stones, and pearls; 17 for in (S)one hour such great wealth has been laid (T)waste!’ And (U)every shipmaster and every [h]passenger and sailor, and all who [i]make their living by the sea, (V)stood at a distance, 18 and were (W)crying out as they (X)saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘(Y)What city is like (Z)the great city?’ 19 And they threw (AA)dust on their heads and were crying out, weeping and mourning, saying, ‘(AB)Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had ships at sea (AC)became rich from her prosperity, for in (AD)one hour she has been laid (AE)waste!’ 20 (AF)Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you [j]saints and (AG)apostles and prophets, because (AH)God has [k]pronounced judgment for you against her.”

21 Then [l]a (AI)strong angel (AJ)picked up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “So will Babylon, (AK)the great city, be thrown down with violence, and (AL)will never be found again. 22 And (AM)the sound of harpists, musicians, flute players, and trumpeters will never be heard in you again; and no craftsman of any craft will ever be found in you again; and the (AN)sound of a mill will never be heard in you again; 23 and the light of a lamp will never shine in you again; and the (AO)voice of the groom and bride will never be heard in you again; for your (AP)merchants were the powerful people of the earth, because all the nations were deceived (AQ)by your witchcraft. 24 And in her was found the (AR)blood of prophets and of [m]saints, and of (AS)all who have been slaughtered on the earth.”

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 18:12 Lit stone
  2. Revelation 18:12 Or brass
  3. Revelation 18:13 Gr amomon, an Indian spice plant
  4. Revelation 18:13 Lit bodies
  5. Revelation 18:14 Lit of your soul’s desire
  6. Revelation 18:16 Lit gilded
  7. Revelation 18:16 Lit stone and pearl
  8. Revelation 18:17 Lit one who sails to a place
  9. Revelation 18:17 Lit work the sea
  10. Revelation 18:20 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  11. Revelation 18:20 Lit judged your judgment of her
  12. Revelation 18:21 Lit one
  13. Revelation 18:24 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people

Threefold Woe Over Babylon’s Fall

“When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her(A) and shared her luxury(B) see the smoke of her burning,(C) they will weep and mourn over her.(D) 10 Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off(E) and cry:

“‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,(F)
    you mighty city of Babylon!
In one hour(G) your doom has come!’

11 “The merchants(H) of the earth will weep and mourn(I) over her because no one buys their cargoes anymore(J) 12 cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble;(K) 13 cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and human beings sold as slaves.(L)

14 “They will say, ‘The fruit you longed for is gone from you. All your luxury and splendor have vanished, never to be recovered.’ 15 The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her(M) will stand far off,(N) terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn(O) 16 and cry out:

“‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,(P)
    dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet,
    and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls!(Q)
17 In one hour(R) such great wealth has been brought to ruin!’(S)

“Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea,(T) will stand far off.(U) 18 When they see the smoke of her burning,(V) they will exclaim, ‘Was there ever a city like this great city(W)?’(X) 19 They will throw dust on their heads,(Y) and with weeping and mourning(Z) cry out:

“‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,(AA)
    where all who had ships on the sea
    became rich through her wealth!
In one hour she has been brought to ruin!’(AB)

20 “Rejoice over her, you heavens!(AC)
    Rejoice, you people of God!
    Rejoice, apostles and prophets!
For God has judged her
    with the judgment she imposed on you.”(AD)

The Finality of Babylon’s Doom

21 Then a mighty angel(AE) picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea,(AF) and said:

“With such violence
    the great city(AG) of Babylon will be thrown down,
    never to be found again.
22 The music of harpists and musicians, pipers and trumpeters,
    will never be heard in you again.(AH)
No worker of any trade
    will ever be found in you again.
The sound of a millstone
    will never be heard in you again.(AI)
23 The light of a lamp
    will never shine in you again.
The voice of bridegroom and bride
    will never be heard in you again.(AJ)
Your merchants were the world’s important people.(AK)
    By your magic spell(AL) all the nations were led astray.
24 In her was found the blood of prophets and of God’s holy people,(AM)
    of all who have been slaughtered on the earth.”(AN)

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