Babylon is Fallen
1 After these things, I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority. The earth was illuminated with his glory. 2 He cried with a mighty voice, saying,
“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!
She has become a dwelling place for demons,
a prison for every unclean spirit,
and a cage for every unclean bird!
3 For all the nations have drunk of the wine
of the wrath of her sexual immorality,
the kings of the earth
committed sexual immorality with her,
and the merchants of the earth
grew rich from the abundance of her luxury.”
4 I heard another voice from heaven, saying,
“Come out of her, my people,
that you would have no participation in her sins,
and that you do not contract her plagues,
5 for her sins have reached to the heavens,
and the Lord has remembered her iniquities.
6 Return to her just as she returned
and repay her double as she did,
and according to her works.
In the cup which she mixed, mix double for her.
7 However much she glorified herself
and grew wanton,
give back to her, torment and mourning.
For she says in her heart,
‘I sit a queen and am no widow
and will never mourn.’
8 Therefore in one day her plagues will come:
death, mourning, and famine,
and she will be utterly burned with fire,
for the Lord God who has judged her is strong.
Lament over Babylon
9 The kings of the earth who committed sexual immorality and lived wantonly with her will weep and wail over her when they look at the smoke from her burning, 10 standing far away for the fear of her torment, saying,
‘Woe, woe, the great city,
Babylon, the strong city!
For your judgment has come in one hour.’
11 The merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise any more: 12 merchandise of gold, silver, precious stones, pearls, fine linen, purple, silk, scarlet, all expensive wood, every vessel of ivory, every vessel made of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble; 13 and cinnamon, incense, perfume, frankincense, wine, olive oil, fine flour, wheat, sheep, horses, chariots, and people’s bodies and souls.
14 The fruits which you lusted after
have been lost to you.
All things that were dainty and sumptuous
have perished from you,
and you will never find them again.
15 The merchants of these things, whom she made rich, will stand far away for the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning, 16 saying,
‘Woe, woe, the great city,
she who was dressed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet,
and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls!
17 For in an hour such great riches are destroyed.’
Every ship master, and everyone who sails anywhere, and mariners, and as many as gain their living by sea, stood far away, 18 and cried out as they looked at the smoke from her burning, saying, ‘What is like the great city?’
19 They cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and mourning, saying,
‘Woe, woe, the great city,
in which all who had their ships in the sea
were made rich because of her great wealth!’
For she is made desolate in one hour.
The Saints Rejoice
20 “Rejoice over her, O heaven,
you saints, apostles, and prophets;
for God has avenged you in his judgment on her.”
21 A mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying,
“Thus with violence will Babylon,
the great city, be thrown down,
and will never be found again.
22 The sound of harpists, minstrels, flute players, and trumpeters
will no longer be heard in you.
No craftsman of any craft
will ever be found in you again.
The sound of a mill will never be heard in you again.
23 The light of a lamp will never shine in you again.
The sound of the bridegroom and of the bride will never be heard in you again,
for your merchants were the leaders of the earth,
for all the nations were deceived with your sorcery.
24 In her was found the blood of prophets and of saints and of all who have been slain on the earth.”