Revelation 18
1 After this, I saw another angel coming down from heaven with great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his glory.
2 He cried out in a loud voice: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great. She has become a dwelling place for demons, a prison for every impure spirit, and a prison for every impure and detestable bird.
3 For all the nations have drunk the wine of the fury of her sexual immorality; the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from the power of her luxury.”
4 Then I heard another voice from heaven, saying: “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins or receive any of her plagues.
5 For her sins have piled up to heaven, and God remembered her injustices.
6 Repay her as she also repaid others, and pay her back twice over, according to her deeds; in the cup she poured, pour her a double portion.
7 To the extent that she glorified herself and lived in luxury, give her that much torment and mourning. For she says in her heart, ‘I sit as a queen; I am no widow, and I will never see mourning.’
8 Therefore her plagues will come in a single day: death, mourning, and famine; and she will be burned with fire, because the Lord God who judged her is strong.”
9 The kings of the earth who committed sexual immorality with her and lived in luxury with her will weep and mourn for her when they see the smoke of her burning.
10 Standing far away for fear of her torment, they will say: “Woe, woe to the great city, Babylon, the mighty city! For in a single hour your judgment has come.”
11 And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, because no one buys their goods anymore,
12 goods of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; fine linen, purple cloth, silk, and scarlet; every kind of citron wood, every ivory object, every object made of the most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble,
13 cinnamon, spice, incense, perfume, and frankincense; wine, olive oil, fine flour, and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and chariots; slaves and human lives.
14 The fruit you desired has gone from you; all that was rich and splendid has perished for you, and they will never find it again.
15 The merchants of these goods, who grew rich from her, will stand far away for fear of her torment, weeping and mourning.
16 They will say: “Woe, woe to the great city, dressed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls!
17 For in a single hour such great wealth was laid waste!” And every ship’s captain, everyone who sails to a destination, the sailors, and all who work at sea stood far away.
18 Seeing the smoke of her burning, they cried out: “What city is like the great city?”
19 They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and mourning: “Woe, woe to the great city, in which all who had ships at sea grew rich from her wealth! For in a single hour she was laid waste.”
20 Rejoice over her, O heaven; and you, saints, apostles, and prophets, because God has judged your case against her.
21 Then a mighty angel lifted a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying: “So with violence Babylon, the great city, will be thrown down, and will never be found again.
22 The sound of harpists, musicians, flute players, and trumpeters will never again be heard in you; no artisan of any craft will ever again be found in you; and the sound of a mill will never again be heard in you.
23 The light of a lamp will never again shine in you; and the voice of bridegroom and bride will never again be heard in you. For your merchants were the great ones of the earth, and by your sorcery all the nations were deceived.
24 In her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth.”
Read and listen to this chapter in the Shalem app, free: narration, chapter video and reading progress. Get the app