1. I saw another angel come from heaven. This one had great power, and the earth was bright because of his glory.
2. The angel shouted,“Fallen! Powerful Babylonhas fallenand is now the homeof demons.It is the denof every filthy spiritand of all unclean birds,and every dirtyand hated animal.
3. Babylon's evil and immoral winehas made all nations drunk.Every king on earthhas slept with her,and every merchant on earthis rich because ofher evil desires.”
4. Then I heard another voicefrom heaven shout,“My people, you must escapefrom Babylon.Don't take part in her sinsand share her punishment.
5. Her sins are piledas high as heaven.God has remembered the evilshe has done.
6. Treat her as shehas treated others.Make her pay doublefor what she has done.Make her drink twice as muchof what she mixedfor others.
7. That woman honoured herselfwith a life of luxury.Reward her nowwith suffering and pain.“Deep in her heartBabylon said,‘I am the queen!Never will I be a widowor know what it meansto be sad.’
8. And so, in a single dayshe will suffer the painof sorrow, hunger, and death.Fire will destroyher dead body,because her judgeis the powerful Lord God.”
9. Every king on earth who slept with her and shared in her luxury will mourn. They will weep, when they see the smoke from that fire.
10. Her sufferings will frighten them, and they will stand at a distance and say,“Pity that greatand powerful city!Pity Babylon!In a single hourher judgment has come.”
11. Every merchant on earth will mourn, because there is no one to buy their goods.
12. There won't be anyone to buy their gold, silver, jewels, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, sweet-smelling wood, fancy carvings of ivory and wood, as well as things made of bronze, iron, or marble.
13. No one will buy their cinnamon, spices, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, olive oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle, sheep, horses, chariots, slaves, and other humans.
14. Babylon, the thingsyour heart desiredhave all escapedfrom you.Every luxuryand all your glorywill be lost for ever.You will neverget them back.
15. The merchants had become rich because of her. But when they saw her sufferings, they were terrified. They stood at a distance, crying and mourning.
16. Then they shouted,“Pity the great cityof Babylon!She dressed in fine linenand wore purpleand scarlet cloth.She had jewellerymade of goldand precious stonesand pearls.
17. Yet in a single hourher riches disappeared.”Every ship's captain and passenger and sailor stood at a distance, together with everyone who does business by travelling on the sea.
18. When they saw the smoke from her fire, they shouted, “This was the greatest city ever!”
19. They cried loudly, and in their sorrow they threw dust on their heads, as they said,“Pity the great cityof Babylon!Everyone who sailed the seasbecame richfrom her treasures.But in a single hourthe city was destroyed.
20. The heavens should be happywith God's peopleand apostles and prophets.God has punished herfor them.”
21. A powerful angel then picked up a huge stone and threw it into the sea. The angel said,“This is how the great cityof Babylonwill be thrown down,never to rise again.
22. The music of harps and singersand of flutes and trumpetswill no longer be heard.No workers will everset up shop in that city,and the soundof grinding grainwill be silenced for ever.
23. Lamps will no longer shineanywhere in Babylon,and couples will never againsay wedding vows there.Her merchants ruledthe earth,and by her witchcraftshe fooled all nations.
24. On the streets of Babylonis found the bloodof God's peopleand of his prophets,and everyone else.”