Revelation: Chapter 18
1. After these things, I saw another angel coming
down out of the sky, having great authority. The earth was illuminated with
his glory.
2. He cried with a mighty voice, saying,
"Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and she has become a habitation of
demons, a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and
hateful 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 have no participation in her sins, and
that you don't receive of her plagues,
5. for her sins have reached to the sky, and God 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
to her double.
7. However much she glorified herself, and grew
wanton, so much give her of torment and mourning. For she says in her heart, 'I
sit a queen, and am no widow, and will in no way see mourning.'
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.
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 of 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 your soul lusted after have been
lost to you, and all things that were dainty and sumptuous have perished from
you, and you will find them no more at all.
15. The merchants of these things, who were made rich
by her, 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 made
desolate.' Every shipmaster, 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 of 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 by reason of her great wealth!' For in one hour is
she made desolate.
20. "Rejoice over her, O heaven, you saints,
apostles, and prophets; for God has judged your 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 be found no more at all.
22. The voice of harpists, minstrels, flute players,
and trumpeters will be heard no more at all in you. No craftsman, of whatever
craft, will be found any more at all in you. The sound of a mill will be heard
no more at all in you.
23. The light of a lamp will shine no more at all in
you. The voice of the bridegroom and of the bride will be heard no more at all
in you; for your merchants were the princes of the earth; for with your sorcery
all the nations were deceived.
24. In her was found the blood of prophets and of
saints, and of all who have been slain on the earth."