THE BOOK OF REVELATION

 

Revelation Chapter 18

1 ¶ After these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was illuminated by his radiance.

2 And with a mighty voice he shouted, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of devils, and the refuge of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

3 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 have grown rich through her dissolute extravagance.

4 Then I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, so that you do not share in her sins, or suffer from any of her plagues.

5 For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.

6 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and pay her back double for what she has done: give her a double portion from the cup that she filled.

7 To the degree that she glorified herself, and lived sensuously, give her sorrow and torment: for she says in her heart, I sit as a queen, and am not a widow, and will never see sorrow.

8 For that reason her plagues will come in one day, death, mourning, and famine; and she will be utterly consumed by fire: for the Lord God who judges her is mighty.

9 ¶ When the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived sensuously with her, see the smoke of her burning, they will weep, and mourn over her,

10 Standing afar off for fear of her torment, crying, Alas, alas, O great city, O mighty Babylon! For in one hour your judgment has come.

11 And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her; because no one buys their merchandise any more:

12 Merchandise of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet; every kind of scented wood, and every article made of ivory, costly wood, brass, iron, and marble,

13 And cinnamon, and perfume, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and cattle, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.

14 And the fruits that your soul lusted after are gone, and all things that were dainty and glamorous are gone, and you will never find them again.

15 The merchants who sold those things, and were made rich by her, will stand afar off for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,

16 Saying, Alas, alas, O great city, that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet; and adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls!

17 Because in a single hour such fabulous riches have been laid waste. And every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, and sailors, and all who trade by sea, stood afar off,

18 And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, Was there ever a city like this great city!

19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, O great city, whose treasures have made all who had ships on the sea rich! for in one hour she was laid waste.

20 Rejoice over her, O heaven, rejoice O saints, apostles and prophets; for God has avenged you on her.

21 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, With such violence that great city Babylon will be thrown down, and will never be found again.

22 And the music of harpers, musicians, pipers, and trumpeters, will never be heard in you again; and no craftsman, of any trade, will ever be found in you again; and the sound of a millstone will never be heard in you again;

23 And the light of a candle will never shine in you again; and the voice of the bride and bridegroom will never be heard in you again: for your merchants were the great men of the earth; and all nations were deceived by your sorcery.

24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all who have been slain on the earth.