Revelation 18
International Standard Version
The Vision of the Fall of Babylon
18Â After these things, I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority,[a] and the earth was made bright by his splendor. 2Â He cried out in a powerful voice,
âFallen! Babylon the Great has fallen!
She has become a home for demons.
She is a prison for every unclean spirit,
a prison for every unclean bird,
and a prison for every unclean
and hated beast.
3Â For all the nations have drunk
from the wine of her sexual immorality,
and the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality with her.
The worldâs businesses have become rich
from her luxurious excesses.â
The Warning to Leave Babylon
4Â Then I heard another voice from heaven saying,
âCome out of her, my people,
so that you donât participate in her sins
and also suffer from her diseases.
5Â For her sins are piled as high as heaven,
and God has remembered her crimes.
6Â Do to her as she herself has done,
and give her double for her deeds.
Mix a double drink for her in the cup she mixed.
7Â Just as she glorified herself and lived in luxury,
inflict on her just as much torture and misery.
In her heart she says,
âI am a queen on a throne, not a widow.
I will never see misery.â
8Â For this reason, her diseases that result in death, misery, and famine
will come in a single day.
She will be burned up in a fire,
because powerful is the Lord God who judges her.â
9Â The kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality with her and lived in luxury with her, will cry and mourn over her when they see the smoke rising from the fire that consumes her.[b] 10Â Frightened by the torture that she experiences,[c] they will stand far away and cry out,
âHow terrible, how terrible it is for that great city,
the powerful city Babylon,
because your judgment arrived in a single hour!â
11Â The worldâs businesses cry and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargo anymoreâ 12Â cargo of gold, silver, gems, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, all kinds of scented wood, all articles made of ivory, all articles made of very costly wood, bronze, iron, marble, 13Â cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, olive oil, flour, wheat, cattle, sheep, horses, chariots, and slaves (that is, human souls)â
14Â âThe fruit that you crafted has abandoned you.
All your dainties and your splendor are lost,[d]
and no one will ever find them again.â
15Â Frightened by the severity of her punishment, businesses that had become rich because of her will stand at a distance, crying and mourning:
16Â âHow terrible, how terrible it is for the great city
that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet
and was adorned with gold, gems, and pearls,
17Â because all this wealth has been destroyed in a single hour!â
Every shipâs captain, everyone who traveled by ship, sailors, and everyone who made a living from the sea stood far away. 18Â When they saw the smoke rising from the fire that consumed her,[e] they began to cry out, âWhat city was like that great city?â 19Â Then they threw dust on their heads and shouted while crying and mourning:
âHow terrible, how terrible it is for the great city,
where all who had ships at sea became rich from her wealth,
because it has been destroyed in a single hour!
20Â Be happy about her, heaven, saints, apostles, and prophets,
for God has condemned her for you!â
The Vision of the Powerful Angel with the Millstone
21Â Then a powerful angel picked up a stone that was like a large millstone and threw it into the sea, saying,
âThe great city Babylon will be thrown down violentlyâ
and will never be found again.
22Â The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters
will never be heard within you again.
No artisan of any trade
will ever be found within you again.
The sound of a millstone
will never be heard within you again.
23Â The light from a lamp
will never shine within you again.
The voice of a bridegroom and bride
will never be heard within you again.
For your merchants were the important people of the world,
and all the nations were deceived by your witchcraft.
24Â The blood of the worldâs prophets, saints,
and all who had been murdered
was found within her.â
Footnotes
- Revelation 18:1 Or tremendous power
- Revelation 18:9 Lit. from her fire
- Revelation 18:10 Lit. by her torture
- Revelation 18:14 Lit. lost to you
- Revelation 18:18 Lit. from her fire
Revelation 18
New International Version
Lament Over Fallen Babylon
18Â After this I saw another angel(A) coming down from heaven.(B) He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor.(C) 2Â With a mighty voice he shouted:
ââFallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!â[a](D)
She has become a dwelling for demons
and a haunt for every impure spirit,(E)
a haunt for every unclean bird,
a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal.(F)
3Â For all the nations have drunk
the maddening wine of her adulteries.(G)
The kings of the earth committed adultery with her,(H)
and the merchants of the earth grew rich(I) from her excessive luxuries.â(J)
Warning to Escape Babylonâs Judgment
4Â Then I heard another voice from heaven say:
ââCome out of her, my people,â[b](K)
so that you will not share in her sins,
so that you will not receive any of her plagues;(L)
5Â for her sins are piled up to heaven,(M)
and God has remembered(N) her crimes.
6Â Give back to her as she has given;
pay her back(O) double(P) for what she has done.
Pour her a double portion from her own cup.(Q)
7Â Give her as much torment and grief
as the glory and luxury she gave herself.(R)
In her heart she boasts,
âI sit enthroned as queen.
I am not a widow;[c]
I will never mourn.â(S)
8Â Therefore in one day(T) her plagues will overtake her:
death, mourning and famine.
She will be consumed by fire,(U)
for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.
Threefold Woe Over Babylonâs Fall
9Â âWhen the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her(V) and shared her luxury(W) see the smoke of her burning,(X) they will weep and mourn over her.(Y) 10Â Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off(Z) and cry:
ââWoe! Woe to you, great city,(AA)
you mighty city of Babylon!
In one hour(AB) your doom has come!â
11Â âThe merchants(AC) of the earth will weep and mourn(AD) over her because no one buys their cargoes anymore(AE)â 12Â 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;(AF) 13Â 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.(AG)
14Â âThey will say, âThe fruit you longed for is gone from you. All your luxury and splendor have vanished, never to be recovered.â 15Â The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her(AH) will stand far off,(AI) terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn(AJ) 16Â and cry out:
ââWoe! Woe to you, great city,(AK)
dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet,
and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls!(AL)
17Â In one hour(AM) such great wealth has been brought to ruin!â(AN)
âEvery sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea,(AO) will stand far off.(AP) 18Â When they see the smoke of her burning,(AQ) they will exclaim, âWas there ever a city like this great city(AR)?â(AS) 19Â They will throw dust on their heads,(AT) and with weeping and mourning(AU) cry out:
ââWoe! Woe to you, great city,(AV)
where all who had ships on the sea
became rich through her wealth!
In one hour she has been brought to ruin!â(AW)
20Â âRejoice over her, you heavens!(AX)
Rejoice, you people of God!
Rejoice, apostles and prophets!
For God has judged her
with the judgment she imposed on you.â(AY)
The Finality of Babylonâs Doom
21Â Then a mighty angel(AZ) picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea,(BA) and said:
âWith such violence
the great city(BB) of Babylon will be thrown down,
never to be found again.
22Â The music of harpists and musicians, pipers and trumpeters,
will never be heard in you again.(BC)
No worker of any trade
will ever be found in you again.
The sound of a millstone
will never be heard in you again.(BD)
23Â The light of a lamp
will never shine in you again.
The voice of bridegroom and bride
will never be heard in you again.(BE)
Your merchants were the worldâs important people.(BF)
By your magic spell(BG) all the nations were led astray.
24Â In her was found the blood of prophets and of Godâs holy people,(BH)
of all who have been slaughtered on the earth.â(BI)
Footnotes
- Revelation 18:2 Isaiah 21:9
- Revelation 18:4 Jer. 51:45
- Revelation 18:7 See Isaiah 47:7,8.
Revelation 18
King James Version
18Â And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
2Â And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
3Â For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
4Â And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
5Â For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
6Â Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.
7Â How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.
8Â Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.
9Â And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,
10Â Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.
11Â And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:
12Â The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,
13Â And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.
14Â And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.
15Â The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,
16Â And saying, Alas, alas that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!
17Â For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,
18Â And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!
19Â And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.
20Â Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.
21Â And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.
22Â And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;
23Â And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.
24Â And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.
Revelation 18
New King James Version
The Fall of Babylon the Great
18Â After(A) these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, (B)and the earth was illuminated with his glory. 2Â And he cried [a]mightily with a loud voice, saying, (C)âBabylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and (D)has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and (E)a cage for every unclean and hated bird! 3Â For all the nations (F)have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, (G)and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the [b]abundance of her luxury.â
4Â And I heard another voice from heaven saying, (H)âCome out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. 5Â (I)For her sins [c]have reached to heaven, and (J)God has remembered her iniquities. 6Â (K)Render to her just as she rendered [d]to you, and repay her double according to her works; (L)in the cup which she has mixed, (M)mix double for her. 7Â (N)In the measure that she glorified herself and lived [e]luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, âI sit as (O)queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow.â 8Â Therefore her plagues will come (P)in one dayâdeath and mourning and famine. And (Q)she will be utterly burned with fire, (R)for strong is the Lord God who [f]judges her.
The World Mourns Babylonâs Fall
9Â (S)âThe kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her (T)will weep and lament for her, (U)when they see the smoke of her burning, 10Â standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, (V)âAlas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! (W)For in one hour your judgment has come.â
11Â âAnd (X)the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore: 12Â (Y)merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; 13Â and cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and (Z)souls of men. 14Â The fruit that your soul longed for has gone from you, and all the things which are rich and splendid have [g]gone from you, and you shall find them no more at all. 15Â The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, 16Â and saying, âAlas, alas, (AA)that great city (AB)that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls! 17Â (AC)For in one hour such great riches [h]came to nothing.â (AD)Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance 18Â (AE)and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, (AF)âWhat is like this great city?â
19Â (AG)âThey threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, âAlas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! (AH)For in one hour she [i]is made desolate.â
20Â (AI)âRejoice over her, O heaven, and you [j]holy apostles and prophets, for (AJ)God has avenged you on her!â
Finality of Babylonâs Fall
21Â Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, (AK)âThus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and (AL)shall not be found anymore. 22Â (AM)The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters shall not be heard in you anymore. No craftsman of any craft shall be found in you anymore, and the sound of a millstone shall not be heard in you anymore. 23Â (AN)The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore, (AO)and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore. For (AP)your merchants were the great men of the earth, (AQ)for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived. 24Â And (AR)in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who (AS)were slain on the earth.â
Footnotes
- Revelation 18:2 NU, M omit mightily
- Revelation 18:3 Lit. strengths
- Revelation 18:5 NU, M have been heaped up
- Revelation 18:6 NU, M omit to you
- Revelation 18:7 sensually
- Revelation 18:8 NU, M has judged
- Revelation 18:14 NU, M been lost to you
- Revelation 18:17 have been laid waste
- Revelation 18:19 have been laid waste
- Revelation 18:20 NU, M saints and apostles
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