Revelation 17:1-6

New International Version

Babylon, the Prostitute on the Beast

17 One of the seven angels^(A) who had the seven bowls^(B) came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment^(C) of the great prostitute,^(D) who sits by many waters.^(E) ²With her the kings of the earth committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.”^(F)

³Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit^(G) into a wilderness.^(H) There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet^(I) beast that was covered with blasphemous names^(J) and had seven heads and ten horns.^(K) ⁴The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls.^(L) She held a golden cup^(M) in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries.^(N) ⁵The name written on her forehead was a mystery:^(O)

babylon the great^(P)

the mother of prostitutes^(Q)

and of the abominations of the earth.

⁶I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people,^(R) the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus.

When I saw her, I was greatly astonished.

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Revelation 18:9-20

New International Version

Threefold Woe Over Babylon’s Fall

⁹“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) ¹⁰Terrified 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)— ¹²cargoes 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) ¹³cargoes 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.’ ¹⁵The 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) ¹⁶and 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)
¹⁷In 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) ¹⁸When they see the smoke of her burning,^(V) they will exclaim, ‘Was there ever a city like this great city^(W)?’^(X) ¹⁹They 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)