1. This is a message about Babylon, which Isaiah son of Amoz received from God.
2. On the top of a barren hill raise the battle flag! Shout to the soldiers and raise your arm as the signal for them to attack the gates of the proud city.
3. The Lord has called out his proud and confident soldiers to fight a holy war and punish those he is angry with.
4. Listen to the noise on the mountains — the sound of a great crowd of people, the sound of nations and kingdoms gathering. The Lord of Armies is preparing his troops for battle.
5. They are coming from far-off countries at the ends of the earth. In his anger the Lord is coming to devastate the whole country.
6. Howl in pain! The day of the Lord is near, the day when the Almighty brings destruction.
7. Everyone's hands will hang limp, and everyone's courage will fail.
8. They will all be terrified and overcome with pain, like the pain of a woman in labour. They will look at each other in fear, and their faces will burn with shame.